Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-30
AVERSE TOCRI7ICISN
The Case OF CEN. WHEATON QUOTED
The Placing Of the Old Training ship Yer
mont Out Of Commission to Be In.
vsstigated by the House-A
Bill Defeated.

Washington, Jan. 2s.-An animated
and prolonged discussion was precip-
itated in the senate yesterday over
the right Of army officers to criticlse
utterances made in he senate or else.
where on the conduct Of affairs in
the Philippines. At times 1t became
somewhat acrimonious, officers in
the Philippines being taken sharply
to task for statements attributed to
them in dispatches from Manila.
Rising to question of privilege ear
ly in the session, Senator Dubois, of
Idaho, had read an Associated press
dispatch from Manila in which Gen.
Wheaton was quoted as criticising
some utterances OF Prof. Schurman
in a speech delivered in Boston. Sen
ator Dubois thought the. president, in
the circumstances, would be war
rantcd in reprimanding Gen. Wheat
on for his utterances. He declared
that such comment upon the action
OF the senate was Outrageous and
indecent" and that the minority had
had quite enough of threats and
blackmail.
The debate thus precipitated took
u wide range. Senator Lodge, OF
Massachusetts,; Senator Spooner, of
Wisconsin, and others maintained
that NO newspaper utterance ought
to be accepted as the basis of repri-
mand of any officer, unless it were
supported by an investigation indi-
eating the accuracy of the report.
Rising to speak on the pending
question, Senator Money, Of MIssis-
sippi, delivered an extended speech,
in the course Of which he went pref
ty thoroughly over the whole Philip
pine question. Senator Platt, Of Con-
necticut, took sharp issue with the
Mississippi senator on some Of his
conclusions Of constitutional law,
contending that the United States
could not be expected to grant indie
pendencs to the Filipinos and to re-
linqllish all rights in the islands
merely because Of the natives desire
for liberty.
Senator Nelson, in charge of the
of commerce bill, had
read a long letter from John W.
Hayes, general secretary-treasurer of
the Knights of Labor, in support of
the bill.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, read a
protest on the part of railroad en-
gineers, tiremen and other employees
against the transfer of the depart
ment of labor to the new department
OF commerce.
Senator Carmack submitted mi
nority report from the committee
on Philippines on the philippine tar
i'll bill. It says that opposition to the
measure Is not based on any mere
question of revenue or any theory
concerning forms and principles of
taxation, but because the bill vio-
lates constitutional rights and trans
ccnds the limits of constitutional
power. The objection of the minor
ity is to the whole policy of colonial
empire, to the control by this gov
eminent Of vassal provinces, to the
spirit of military aggression and Of
war for the sake OF spells. The re-
port says that the bill reported by
he majority of the committee is a
characteristic manifestation of such
a policy and spirit.
The senate pension committee re-
ported favorably Senator Mitchelrs
bill granting pensions to survivors Of
Indian wars that took place between
1917 and 1855.
The senate, In executive session,
received the treaty with Denmark,
transferring the West India possess
sions Of that country to the United
States. The exact consideration spec
flied in the treaty to be paid by this
country is $5,OOO,OOO.
The house yesterday adopted res
olution calling for documents relat.
ing to the old training ship Vermont,
which was placed out of commission