Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-30
DEMOCRATS PHILIPPINE LAW
Minority Members Agree on Bill FayOring
Release of Sovereignty.
WOULD GRANT AMNESTY TO INHABITANTS
Substitute Measure Recommends that
United states Occupy islands
Only Until Natives Can Set
Tn n self-Govcrnment.

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The demo-
cratic members of the senate committee on
the Philippines today agreed upon a sub
stitute for the Philippine government bill to
be offered by them. 1t provides, subject to
provisions which are set forth, that the
united states shall relinquish all claim Of
sovereignty over the Philippine archipelago,
but that the United States shall continue
to occupy and govern the archipelago until
the people thereof shall have established
a government and until sufficient guarantees
have been obtained for the performance Of
our treaty obligations with Spain and for
the safety of those inhabitants who have
adhered to the United States and for the
maintenance and protection OF all rights
which have accrued under the authority
thereof.
A constitutional convention is provided
for, the members OF which are to be Sc
lected by voters who speak and write the
English, Spanish or any Of the languages
Of the archipelago.
To Form Constitution.
This convention is to number 300 persons
and is to meet in Manila not more than a
year from the cessation of hostilities in the
islands. This convention is to proceed to
form a constitution and organize such gov
eminent as 1t may deem best adapted to
promote the welfare and secure the peace
and happiness of the inhabitants Of said
islands"
Provided, that said convention shall pro-
vide by an ordinance irrevocable without
the consent of the United States;
l. That there shall belong to the United
States and continue to be the property
thereof, such. lands and waters as the
president of the United States shall desig-
nate TO the said convention for naval.
military and coaling stations and terminal
facilities for submarine cables, the, same
to continue under the control and SOW
ereignty of the United States.
2. To carry into effect the treaty obliga-
dom OF, Spain and for the maintenance and
protection of all rights and property ac-
CURED under the authority of the United
States.
Protection for Inhabitants.
8. That no inhabitant Of said archipelago
shall ever be molested In person or prop
erty on account of his or her adherence
to the United States.
1t is then to be the duty of the presi-
dent Of the United States to issue his
proclamation declaring the independence of
the Philippines.
The president is authorized to negotiate
an agreement between the United States,
the Philippine archipelago and Great
Britain, Germany, France and such other
powers as he may deem best, providing for
the perpetual neutrality and inviolability
from all foreign interference with the ter
ritory of the archipelago and also for equal
opportunities OF trade between the archi-
pelago and foreign countries.
Full amnesty is to be granted to all the
inhabitants Of the islands on account OF
political offenses and the bearing OF arms
against the United States. Within sixty
days from the election Of officers under the
Philippine constitution, and their Inaugural
ton, the president is to cause the armed
forces of the United States to be Withdrawn
from the archipelago as speedily as pos
sible.