Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-20
HOLD ISLANDS By SURE TITLE
UHitsd States Claim to Philippines Pro-
lsvnOsd Gsnuins and Valid.
SENATOR BURROWS REVIEWS THE RECORD
Says from Method of Acquisition
COuntry Holds n title that No
Court In ChristendOm Can
Challenge.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The senate con-
tinued the consideration OF the Philippine
tariff bin today. the main speeches being
made by Mr.. Burrows Of Michigan, for the
bill, and Mr.. Money Of Mississippi, against
It, although Mr.. Mitchell OF Oregon, Mr..
Foraker Of Ohio, Mr.. Mallory OF Florida ana
Mr.. Tillman Of South Carolina all took more
or less part in the general debate on the
Mr.. Burrows maintained that con-
gress was dealing with the question as II
was today, and with no reference to what
took place in the past or what might take
place in the future.
He maintained that the United States oc-
cupancy of the islands was with due regard
to international obligations. Mr.. Mallory OF
Florida spoke particularly in favor OF hts
amendment to that portion Of the bill re-
lating to the navigation laws and said that
II was necessary in the. interest Of Amer
lean shipping. Mr.. Money maintained that
Il was as much a question Of what could be
done with the Filipinos as 1t was to legis-
late in the interests Of our own people.
There were several rather lively exchanges
between Mr.. Foraker and the opposition
enators during the debate.
TiIIman's Resolution Adopted.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Tillman of
South Carolina was adopted, directing the
Civil Service commission to transmit to the
senate a statement showing the appoint
ment of employees in various departments
OF the government from the several states
and the District Of Columbia, together with
the percentages Of employees in the depart
ments.
1--WE hold the Philippine islands by a
title that cannot be challenged by any
court in Christendom," said Mr.. Burrows
resuming his speech. 1--WE have become re-
sponsible for them to the nations OF the
world. The pending bill simply furnishes
revenues enough to meet the needs Oh the
government Of the Philippines"
Mr.. Burrows speech was interrupted to
allow the senate to agree to a conference
ON the house bill establishing a permanent
census office and to appoint Senators Quar-
les. McComas and Taliaferro as conferees
on the part of the senate.
Mr.. Burrows resumed his speech with a
review of the beginning Of the war in the
Philippines, his effort being to show that
the United States proposed to make its oc-
c~upation Of the islands as gentle as pos
sible with a due regard to this governments
international obligations.
Question of Authority.
While the Michigan senator was reading
the proclamation Of President Mckinley
known as the benevolent assimilation
proclamation, Mr.. Tillman interrupted to
INQUIRE II he commended that the president
had authority to issue that proclamation.
ss"No doubt of It," replied Mr.. BURROWS.
'whil the treaty. had not been ratified,
" 80 49, ouNhnrftU Tn iaGnA
such a proclamation as a guide to the
troops"
"Iu other words" suggested Mr.. Tillman,
ua1though that proclamation ignored the
political status Of the Philippines, 1t was
expected that the 5000, 900 of people would
accede to It's provision"
Mr.. Culberson interrupted to say that the
proclamation was considered SO extreme
that a part OF it was suppressed by Gem
eral Otis.
Mr.. Burrows asserted that the Filipinos
we're not prepared by either education or
experience for independence and could not
maintain It If granted them.
Opposed to Innovation.
Mr.. Mallory Of Florida declared his OPP
position to the principles underlying the
pending measure.
He maintained that the proposition Of
the majority to admit foreign ships to our
coastwise trade was too great an innova-
ton and 1t ought not to be considered
lightly. Mr.. Mallory did not want to en-
barrass the shipping on the Pacific, so he
had fixed in his amendment a limit OF time
during which foreign ships should enjoy
participation in the Philippine trade.
That limit was July /, 1908. After that
/ Sl~az aaanHHfno "a hfa amendment this
United States navigation law would apply
to the Philippine trade exclusively.
Mr.. Money Of Mississippi replied to some
points In the speech made by Mr.. Mitchell
a few days ago, contending that our failure
to recognize the independence Of the Fill
pinos at any time could have no bearing OF
their standing as a people.
Mitchell Replies TO Money.
Replying to Mr.. Money, Mr.. Mitchell con
tended tina the United States had acquired
title to the Philippines through the tri'
umph OF its arms and through the treaty
Of Paris. He said the Filipinos had nevel
achieved their own independence, never hat
been recognized by any other nation.
We should get rid of the islands in oui
own interest, Mr.. Money went on, and es'
~pecially for the purpose of eradicatinl
from our country the practice on the par
Of congress Of comforting autocratic powers
Of the executive,
I'VE will and before we terminate THU
experiment" he said, that the saddest dal
Of our history is the day that we signeS
the Spanish treaty" 1870
Replying to Mr.. Tillman. Mr. ForakeI
said the people Of Louisiana had been al
lowed to elect a governor and the judiciarl
Of that territory and that the government
established in the Philippines is far mor'
liberal than the government established II
Louisiana by Jefferson, the democratic con
gress Of that day.
After some further discussion the senate
at 5;25 p. m adjourned.
H--u.--A amman ~ AAanEn ~