Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-01-30
The Philippine Bill Causes lrrita.
ton In the Senate.
TELLER 1AUyTS The REPUBLICANS.
Esdge Passionateiy Challenges His State
msnt-Ths Lynching Of Negroes Inter-
jsctsd Into the Controversy Bill, for
Depsrtmsnt OF Commerce Passed.


and the spectators who thronged the
galleries watched 1t with GREATNESS
interest. Acrimony in senate debates
10 not infrequent, but it has been
years since there has been such q
hurricane Of bitter vituperation, OF
personal taunt, Of ugly charges and
Of unmodified criticism as was wit
messed yesterday. Not since the dis
cussion of the resolutions leading up
TO the Hispano-American war has
any scenes occurred in the senate
chamber comparable with yesterday.
Even that debate lacked the personal
bitterness manifested at times yes
terday. Irritation was aroused on
both sides of the chamber, and once
or twice personal encounters be-
tween senators seemed imminent.
Once. when Senator Teller tainted
the republican senators by declaring
that they knew the statements made
In recent dispatches from Manila, in
which Gen. Wheaton was represented
Is criticising the opponents OF the
governments policy in the Philip
pines, were true, half dozen repub-
leans were on their feet in an in
slant. Senator Lodge, ut whom the
taunt seemed to be aimed particular
ly, hurriedly crossed from his seat in
the center Of the republican side to
the main aisle of the senate, and,
white to the lips, passionately chal-
lenged the statement Of the Colorado
senator and demanded that he with
draw II. Senator Teller so modified
the statement that further hostilities
at that time were averted.
One Of the shsrpest colloquies Of
ths session was between Senator
Bpooner, Of Wisconsin, and Senator
Tillman, OF South Carolina. The race
problem, involving the lynching Of
negroes, was INTERCEPTED into the con.
troversy and much feeling was mani
tested by both senators. In the
course Of The colloquy Senator
Spooner declared that, II the same
rule were to be applied to the col
ored people in the Philippines as
Senator Tillman referred to in the
south, "then God help the colored
man in the Philippines"
God help him in the Philippines
now" shouted the South Carolina
senator passionately. "You have al
ready butchered in three years three
times as many as the Spaniards did
In three centuries"
ut Is one thing retorted Senator
epooner, ito kill men with arms in
their hands against the government
and against the flag, II is another to
burn Them
Senators in their excitement
seemed for the moment to have for.
gotten the subject Of debate. The
chair Senator Frye) was able with
difficulty to maintain order When
the discussion finally was ended for
the day the chair felt called upon sA-
riously to admonfslY senators that the
rules of the body had not been OBJ
served, and after reading the rule
which had been violated, he ex-
pressed the hope that in the future
senators would have care to OBJ
serve 1t. Such an admonition has not
been nude by the presiding officer Of
the senate in many years,
Prior to the outbreak on the Phil
ippine question the senate concluded
the consideration Of the bill estab-
fishing a department of commerce
and passed it. The name Of the new
department. was changed to that of
the department OF commerce and Ia.
Dor.
A bill was passed providing for the
transfer Of the census records and
volumes to the census office; also
bill increasing the limit Of the cost
for the public building at Cleveland,
O., from $2,50O,OoO TO $3,OOO,OOO. A
number of private pension bills were
passed,
Senator Morgan introduced an
amendment to the Philippine tariff
bill, ratifying and confirming the
presidents establishment OF a civil
government in the Philippine islands
and constituting that government a
department of the administration Of
the United States. The amendment
also provides for an appropriation Of
money by the United States to sup
port the government of the islands
and for the collection Of revenues.
Senator Willard introduced bin
providing for the leasing Of the pub.
lie lands. The provision covers the
states and territories of Arizona. Cal
ifornia, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mon
tana, Nebraska, Nevada. New Mex
leo, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ore.
gon, South Dakota, Utah, Washing.
ton and Wyoming, and it provides
that the public lands shall be leased
for the uniform rental Of two cents
per acre per annum. Leases are to
run ten years, but are to terminate
before the expiration of that time
II the land passes into private hands
under the land laws Of the United
States.