Connecticut western news., 1902-02-06
MORE PAY FOR JUDGES
Senate Passes Federal Judiciary
 Salary Bill.
TAFT ON THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

TAFT 0N THE PHILlPPlNR ISLANDS | Governor Continues Hia Statement ts Committee - Senator HOar Intro dsees Petition For Cessation of Hostilittea In the AreAipelaEo. Washington. Feb. 5.-After brief dis cussion yesterday the senate passed the bill providing for c 25 per cent increase In the salaries of United States judges. All amendments were voted down. in cluding one to increase the salaries of cabinet officers from $500 to $12, 500 a year.
 During the remainder of the days session the urgent deficiency appropria- ton bill was under consideration. the Philippine tariff measure being laid aside temporarily.
 MT. John F. Dryden was inducted in- to office as the successor of the late Senator William J. Sewell of New ter sey.
 Senator Hoar presented a petition signed by a number of distinguished citizens of this country praying for the suspension of hostilities in the Phil ippine Islands and asking that an op- portunity be given for 8 discussion of the situation between the government and the Filipino leaders.
 They Want War Stopped.
 The following are among the names attached to the petition:
 Carl Schurz, George F. Edmunds, Judson Harmon, J. Sterling Morton, George s. Boutwell,. Charles Francis Adams, W. D. Howells. Mark Twain, Rev. c. Fl. Parkhurst, W. Bourke Cochran, Robert Treat Paine, T. K. Boyesen, Bishop Huntington, Bishop Vincent, Anson Phelps Stokes, John Burroughs and William Lloyd Garri- son. Included in the list are the names of thirty-s professors in the Chicago university and a number of other edu- catorS-
 Governor Taft continued his nara tive before the senate committee on the Philippines concerning conditions in the Philippine archipelago.
 Governor Taft said that the great ma jority of the people of the islands desire peace and that the insurrection- ists were by their acts preventing the mass of the people from settling down and earning a quiet living. Instead of being allowed to do this they were kept under a system of terrorism which should be stopped.
 Governor Taft took up and analysed the army's work in the islands He re called that as soon as General Otis had received re-enforcements sufficient for his purposes the Philippine army had broken up and scattered into guerrilla bands
 TnIes of Atroeities Diseredited. In response to . question by Senator Patterson as to the practices of the Macabebes Governor Taft warned the committee and others against accepting without q great degree of allowance the statements made in private letters He considered most of these as unreliable, judging from what he had seen of them. In general it was impossible to prevent retaliation by private soldiers I under all circumstances. As a rule, the
 witness said, American prisoners were l treated well by the Filipinos- This, so | the Filipino officers who were high iu
 command. There were some cases to
 the contrary on the part of subordinate Filipino officers. He had not. he said in reply to a question from Senator Culberson. known anything of the re ports of the killing of Filipino prison
 CTS with the knowledge of General Met calf of Kansas Governor Taft said that notwithstanding he was not in an
 attitude of favor to military rule 1t was still his deliberate judgment that '-nev- | CT had a war been conducted in which more compassion. more restraint and more generosity had been exhibited than in connection with the American
 war in the Philippines"
 Policy of Coneentration. In this connection Senator Culberson made inquiry concerning the effect of
 the policy of concentration in the Phil | ippines- Replying. Governor Taft said that General Bells order for conceutra- ton had been published since his de
 parture from Manila He. however. had
 talked with General Bell on that point
 and had told him that he did not con-
 sider such an order necessary, because he was of opinion that a proper degree of pressure brought to bear on the
 wealthy men of Batangas would have
 the effect of causing the province to
 yield without making a sweeping or
 der of concentration
 | After reading a part of General Bells
 order Senator Culberson asked if he
 still entertained the same opinions pre- | viously expressed as to the military
 policy in the Philippines To this Gov
 srnor Taft replied: The war has been
 all over these islands. and that which
 remains is a crime against civilization.
 1t is also a crime against the Filipino
 people to keep up a state of war under
 the circumstances. They have worn
 out the right to any treatment but that
 which is severe and within the laws of
 war"
 | Punishment of Treason.
 In conclusion Governor Taft was
 questioned concerning the acts of the
 Philippine commission for the punish
 ment of treason, but he expressed a de
 sire to postpone discussion of this mat
 ter to a time when more attention could | p< EAfNh H. kAC AAod hoks AC oaiN- DCcU
 present when this law was enacted
 but he had an opinion on the subject
 which he would be glad to give
 The committee then adjourned fos
 the day.
 Debate on the oleomargarine bill con,
 tinued in the house. and the prospects
 are that a vote will not be reached
 earlier than Thursday.