The Washington times., 1902-05-16
House Wrangles Over
Charges Preferred by
Mr.. Vandiver.
INJECTED IN NAVAL BILL DEBATE
Statement Made by Corporal o'Brien
Read-colonel Hepburn Declares That
Charge That General Smith Issued
Samar Order Is Lie.

| discussion of the Philippine qucs-
ton. especially OF the conduct Of the
army in the islands, probably the most
| spirited that has yet taken place in the
| House this session, was Unexpectedly in
| jccted yesterday into the consideration OF
the naval appropriation bill.
1t was begun by Representative Van
! diver Dem. MOI, who made bitter at
| tack upon the army for its alleged cruel
ties and abuses praeticed upon the Fill
pinos.
| His remarks brought forth fiery replies
from several Republican members. in
| GLIDING Representatives Hill, Lessler,
Hepburn. and Grow, who defended the
army, and in the course of several col
loquies that resulted were driven to
make excuses for General Smiths kill
I and burn order in SaElar.
Colonel Hepburn went so far as to say
/ that he believed the charge against Cen
eral Smith to be lie.
Corporal O'Brien's Statement.
Mr.. yandiver sent to the clerks desk
and had read statement made by Cor
poral O'Brien and printed in the Irish
World" charging that various atrocities
had been committed by the members Of
the Twenty seventh Infantry in the Phil
| ippincs. The soldier recounted a number
of fiendish acts of barbarism. the truth
of which, Mr.. Vandiver said. he doubted
until he learned from the editor of the
paper, Mr.. Patrick Ford that this could
be absolutely relied upon, and that
O'Brien was willing to make affidavit to
| the statements.
Continuing. Mr.. Vandiver charged that
public records showed American soldiers
in the Philippines guilty Of gross cruelty,
extortion. torture. murder. arson, rape,
and every other crime on the calendar.
THAT is false Indignantly exclaimed
Mr.. William Alden Smith. and / hurl
back the charge into the gentleman's
teeth and call upon him TO produce the
proofs, II he can"
THE proofs are ample and will be pre-
sented.'' said Mr.. Vandiyer.
THE gentleman ought to be ashamed
of himself" shouted Mr.. Smith, Ito de
nounce the American army 1000 miles
away from home
MY respect for the dictates of hu-
manity.'' responded Mr.. Vandiver. lis
greater than my regard for soldiers guilty
Of such conduct"
Mr.. vandiver was interrupted by Mr.
Hamilton REP. Mich.). Mr.. Lessler
rep, N. " and Mr.. Bartholdt (Rep.,
MOI as to the provocation TO the Amer
lean soldiers and as TO the responsibility
for possession of the islands.
Mr.. Vandiver had declared that the
Americans were invaders in the islands,
and when Mr.. Hamilton, reciting the steps
by which the United States had gained
possession OF the islands, asked Mr.. VAN
diver ii he denied those facts.
Navy Untarnished.
To Mr.. Bartholdt, who inquired II the
army and navy were not wholly American
institutions, for which both Republicans
and Democrats were responsible Mr.. Van
diver replied that Mr.. Barthodlt was the
first &c introduce partisanship into the
discussion. The navy throughout the wa
had not furnished its good name
In reply to numerous questions Mr..
Vandiver admitted that the Filipinos prac-
ticed the water cure" upon American
soldiers, and said that he did not JUS
tify it.
Mr. Hill Rep., Conn.,, in a brief but
vigorous speech, in reply to Mr.. Vandi-
yer. made the first defense of General
Smith in the House since the publica-
ton of his order to make SaInar a howl
ing wilderness.
Tied to Ant Hills.
THE Filipinos took men out and tied
them to ant hills" said Mr.. HILL Now
that may seem a strange thing. but those
ant hills are six eight or ten feet
high and six feet in diameter. filled with
ants that are absolutely ravenous. and
eat up everything they come in contact |
with. tl.
They tied these men to ant hills. and
allowed them to be eaten TO death by |
ants. They buried them In the ground !
up TO their necks. and allowed them to be !
pecked to death by the birds. and eaten |
by the ants. They took loyal Filipinos
and loyal Americans. and cut them open /
in the abdomen, taking out portion OF |
the bowel, and mailing II to tree and |
driving them around the tree with boios I
while they tlisembowied themselves
And yet you gentlemen stand here |,
and condemn American soldiers for stand !
ing by The men who are loyal to the |
American flag and who are suffering such !
outragcg as these"
Mr.. Vandivcr-For the very same kind /
Of barbarities you are now charging |
against the Filipinos.
MIR. Eili-TGlk about water cures. Fight |
your political battles Geccntly. Do not |
attempt TO 40 IL Dy sldhu'Tlhg American |
soldiers in the performance OF their duty.
IApplause on the Republican side
Mr.. Cochran-Did you notice any differ
enee between the size of ten-ycar- old
boys over there and here?
Mr. Hiil-Oh. have seen too many ten
year-cld boys on the other side OF this
House TO have any trouble in recognize
ing the difference. lLaughter.l
Mr. LeSsier tRc?.. ~ - vas the next
.
sgidler. He declared that when the time
came he would be more ready to acquit
the American soldiers CT the charges made
II sainst them than TO convict them
NT. Vandivel's Methods.
Mir. Hepburn tRcp.. l-wa) rext tIcs
Mr.. vandiyer 10 task. lie said tho Mis-
had beel making ;hat sort ot
speechss for thirty-fve years. snd he hal