The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-25

Goes over for want of Senators
Ready to Discuss The Measure-The
House Takes up the Military
Academy Appropriation Bill.
Washington. April 2l.-Without a
word Of discussion Of the merits of the
measure, the senate today passed the
river and harbor bill, carrying in ap-
propriations o &c., 600, 900. So
thoroughly a the bill been considered
by the commerce committee that every
senator was content that it should pass
as reported from the committee.
AS no senator was present today to
begin the debate upon the Philippine
government bill. the measure, after a
few minutes of informal discussion.
went over until tomorrow.
Senator Teller. Of Colorado, said to
Senator Lodge hat some time during
the debate or the bill he wanted some
senator to explain the status of the
Filipinos would be after the passage OF
the measure.
Senator Lodge replied that they
would be citizens of the Philippine is
lands, precisely as it was provided by
law hat the inhabitants of Porto
Rico were citizens Of Porto Rico.
Senator Teller said the cases were
mot analogous. The truth was, said
he, that when the Porto Rican act was
passed the party in power (the repub-
lican party) did not know what il
WANTED to declare as to the citizenship
of inhabitants CT insular possessions.
He urged that the United States gov
ernment ought to declare that the Fill
pinos either are or are not citizens Of
this country.
Senator Lodge said it was declared
distinctly that the Filipinos were citi-
gems of the Philippine islands.
Senator Bacon insisted that the in
habitants of any country must be of
necessity, either the citizens or sub
iects Of sovereignty. He said the
United States had not courage to de-
clare that the F%ilipinos were subjects
and asserted that to call them citizens
of the Philippines meant absolutely
nothing.
House of REPRESENTATIVE.
The house today entered upon the
consideration of the military academy
appropriation bill. which, in addition
to the regular items, contains provis-
lions for the extensive Improvement Of
the grounds and buildings at West
Point. These improvements are to cost
s6. 500. 900, a little over SO, 900, 900 of
which is appropriated in the bill
Twenty-four Of the thirty pages Of the
hills were completed.
During the general debate on the
military academy bill Mr.. Gilbert. of
Kentucky, precipitated a discussion on
the race question which was partici-
pated in by Messrs. Gillett, of Massa-
chusetts: Blackburn, of North Caro-
lima, w. w. Kitchin. of North Caro-
line and Mr.. Gaines. of Tennessee.
Messrs Cochran, of Missouri, and Gill
lett also discussed the question of the
alleged violation of the neutrality laws
in connection N:th
mules and horses to South Africa.
Mr.. Cannon. chairman of the COM
jmittee on appropriations, character
lied the proposed expenditure at West
Point as the "rankest kind of rank eX-
travagance.'
Mr.. Hay, of Virginia said tina the
Improvement was necessary to accom-
modate the large increase in the num-
Der of cadets which already had been
provided for by law.
Mr.. Gilbert, o: Kentucky, took oc-
~casion TO reply to some remarks re-
Gently made by Mr.. Giilett, of Massa-
chusetts; Mr.. Brownwell. Of ohio. and
General Funston. which he thought re-
Elected upon his state. In the course Of
his remarks, Mr.. Gilbert said that in
kentucky and, II. fact, in all the south
they looked with supreme contempt
upon the social equality of the races.
The most ignorant white girl in his
state. he said. would infinitely prefer
ITO marry the 1QU-GSf mpanacf most TO-
norant white man in the world thai
the most cultivated negro in America.
"Gentlemen on the other could not cry
down the faint in the blood" he said.
He recalled the fact that when a Colored
man sat on the other side not one Of
his colleagues invited him to his house.
The prejudice against social equality
was as strong in the north as in the
south, he declared, and all talk to the
contrary was "hypocritical rot and
rant"
Mr.. Gilbert'S remarks drew a reply
from Mr.. Gilletl, Of Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Gillett said he was willing to ad-
init the prejudice against the negro in
New England. He thought, perhaps
there was a greater physical repug-
nance toward the negro there than in
the south, but because one man posi-
bly, felt a prejudice against the negro
nc dAb AloN NliAAlh hC q q IISHI " dl-
tempt to enforce it upon others.
Mr.. Bartlett, OF Georgia, interrupted
to ask whether some time ago Booker
Washington was not refused lodging at
the hotels of Boston.
Mr.. Gillett replied that the incident
referred to occurred at Springfield, not
Boston, and he explained that Mr.
Washington was refused lodging at
two hotels because they were full and
lcould not accommodate him: but he
Isaid the proprietor of one Of them
made every effort to secure lodging for
him elsewhere n invited him to come
Ito the hotel for his meals.
Mr.. Gaines, of Tennessee, asked II
the governor of Massachusetts, when
he went to h Nashville exposition did
mot decline to take with him a me- beT
lof his staff h was g negro.
IF he did" replied Mr.. Gillett. lit
was because he did not want to wound
the sensibilities of the people of Nash
WILLIE"
Proceeding Mr.. Gillett explained the