Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-28
TRYING TO GET a VOTE
FRUITLESS EFFORT MADE IN
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Spooner Suggests an Immediate
Division on the Philippine Bill
Mr.. Patterson Concludes.

A TruitleSs effort made just before
the adjournment of the Senate yesterday to
secure an agreement on a time for vote
on the Philippine bill. The discussion in
dictated that some day next week eventually
would be agreed upon, but no time was
fixed. During the discussion proposition
was made that time be fixed on alter
nate Tuesdays, beginning next week, for
a vote on the Philippine bill. the Nicaragua
canal bill and the Cuban reciprocity bill,
and that final adjournment be agreed on
for the fourth Tuesday, but it was too
startling to be taken seriously, although
some senators regarded it favorably.
Holding the Lands.
Mr.. Patterson continued his speech until
late in the afternoon. After The Stars re-
port was closed Mr.. Patterson attacked
particularly the provision of the measure
relating to the holding of lands in the Phil
ippines by corporations. He maintained
that corporations could hold, not 5000 acres
atone. but almost any amount of land.
Three or four individuals could organize
themselves into hundred different corpo
rattOns. he maintained, and thus acquire
unlimited amount of land.
Mr.. Patterson declared that the measure
was q 'mOnStrOuS one, cruel in its cOncep-
IlOn. II SnOulu DTlnS the UiuSn OF Shame
to the cheek of any lberty-lOving Ameri-
can when he shall fully appreciate its
eEOrmities.' He could not believe that
Congress would enact such a measure.
He urged the enactment of the bill pre-
sented by the minority which, he said. ia
vOred giving to the FilipinOs their indie
pendence, under such restrictions as would
give them stable government and per-
manent peace. He paid a high tribute to
the Filipinos as a Christian people. There
never was a Christian people. he asserted,
unfit for self-government and independence.
He wished he had strength to stand in
the Senate long enough to prevent such
enOrmity' as the passage of the pending
bill would be
In the face of an enormity like this"
said he, Il stand almost appalled,, and in
the providence of God. / hope this outrage
VIII not be contaminated"
Government Policy Responsible.
Discussing some of the testimony taken
by the Philippine committee Mr.. Patterson
said the army was not responsible for the
outrages committed, but that the policy of
the government was responsible.
Mr.. Patterson discussed the order of Gen
Bell. particularly denouncing that part of
1t relating to the Filipino priests He
quoted newspaper stories of the alleged
torturing of native priests by American
troops In order to extOrt information He
also referred to what he considered the
tie to those wounded. in one instance the
proportion being twenty killed to one
wounded
These startling figures" he said. "give
room for thought-for reflection. Are they
not the result of the kind of war urged by
Gen. Bell?"
In conclusion Mr.. Patterson drew a vivid
picture of the day. which he hoped would
come when Gov. Taft, or Admiral Dewey
or Gen. Miles or some other official repre-
senting the United States would turn over
the Philippine Islands to the Filipino gov
ernment-a ceremony such as recently had
occurred in Cuba. Then he hoped that the
president of France and the president of
other republics would send their congratu-
lations, and that the senator from Indiana
CMr Fairbanb would incorporate in the
Congressional Record the Associated Press
report of that inspiring scene to the glory
OF the American people forever
Vote Proposed for Tuesday.
In the course of colloquy between Mr..
Lodge and Mr.. Dubois, at the conclusion
Of Mr.. Patterson's speech, it was devel-
oped that four speeches yet remained to
be delivered in the general debate by Mr.
Spooner, Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Clay and Mr.
Carmack. Mr.. Dubois suggested that the
minority. so far he knew, would be glad
to vote next Tuesday. This statement led
to discussion as to holding a session of
the Senate on Memorial day.
a
session on that day.
Mr.. Burrows CMich) agreed with Mr..
Gallinger, and thought no business so
pressing as to cause the Senate to ignore
that day.
After some further discussion Mr. Spoon
er Wis) suggested that he had no partic-
ular desire to speak on the Philippine bill.
and. so far as he was concerned, he would
forego his right to speak. Let US vote
now" he suggested.
Mr.. Bailey CTexas) proposed that a vote
on the Philippine bill be taken next Tues
day and vote on the Nicaragua canal bill
the following Tuesday.
The bills are not Siamese twins" said
Mr.. Spooner
Mr.. Hale CMe) suggested that the propo-
sition be extended so as to vote on the
Cuban reciprocity bill on the third Tuesday
and then adjourn on the fourth Tuesday
that is four weeks from today.
Il agree to that, said Mr.. Bailey.
Mr. Teller objected to any proposition to
vote which included the Cuban bill.
After some further consideration the
proposition was reduced to include only the
Philippine and canal bills, but Mr.. Burrows
objected to fixing a time for the vote on the
canal bill in the absence Of Mr.. Hanna
(Ohio)
A vain effort then was made to fix time
for a vote on the Philippine bill. Mr.
Spooner maintaining that it was humiliating
TO try to transact business with the respon-
sibility resting upon the majority which
could do nothing without the consent of the
minority,
The notion that forever and forever we
are 10 continue here at the will of the mi
nority,' said he, lis to me extremely hu-
initiating" He thought that some reasona-
Bile time ought to be fixed for a vote.
MIR. Teller said there was no use wasting
time In trying to agree on time now
Some changes would have to be made in
the bill before he would consent to a vote,
After Mr. Lodge had given notice that
Thursday next he would ask that A time
Tor a vote be fixed. the Senate went into
executive session and at $40 o'clock ad-
journed.