Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-02-14
CONGRESS.

throughout nearly the entire session
of the senate today the Philippine
tariff bill was under consideration.
Turner. of Washington. concluded his
speech begun last Friday on the legal
and constitutional phases of the Philip
pine question. He held, in the main,
that as the Filipinos had established
an independent government In the
islands prior to the fall of Manila,
the United States. under the prin-
ciples of international law, had no
right in the islands. He denounced
the Philippine commission as puppets
of the executive, and declared their
so-called laws are not enacted In the
interest of the people of the islands.
The commission, said he, does only
what they are told to do by the presi-
dent and secretary of war. Turner
referred to the Philippine seditlon act
as not only unconstitutional, but as
relic of barbarism, too black even Tor
the most despotic and tyrannical gov
eminent that now exists on the face of
the earth" The house amendment to
the urgent deficiency bill, relating to
the opening of state claims, was
agreed to, which passed the bill.
Washington, Feb. 11.-Senate.-A
stirring debate on the general Philip
senate late today, the principel par
tcipants being Platt, of Connect
cut, and Hoar, of Massachusetts,. Tel
Ter, of Colorado. mad concluded for
the day his argument against the en-
actment OF the pending Philippine
tariff bill In response to some state
ments he had made. Plat directed
the senate's attention to the situation
in the islands as he viewed it, main
tanning that great progress was being
made by the government in subduing
the instruction. He referred to the
elections for municipal offices in
various cities of the islands and to
the esta oiishment of schools for the
education of Filipino children. Hoar
ridiculed the statements OF Flatt, and
in a facetious vein adverted to the
efforts of the American government
to control the Filipino people. The
remarks of the Massachusetts senator
aroused Platt, who delivered a not
able speech in the course of which
he referred to Hoar in pretty sharp
terms. His speech was listened to by
senators on both sides Of the cham
Der with profound attention. In con-
clusiOn he paid eloquent tribute TO
the efforts of the United States to
carry the principles Of free govern
y
control In his reply Hoar delivered
an incisive criticism of the action of
the Philippine commission, declaring
that he had been taught to judge
men rather by their actions than by
their words. and by this standard he
could not judge the Philippine COM
mlssioners with any degree OF favor.
Early in the day the senate passed
resolution submitting co1stitu-
tional amendment changing the time
of the presidential inaugurations and
the termination and commencement Of
congIes from the 4th OF March to the
last Tuesday OF April.
House.-The voting on amendments
to the oleonargarin bill in the house
today Indicated a considerable change
Of sentiment since last congress, when
the bill had LOG majority, and that
the opposition to the measure has
gained strength. While the passage
OF The bill is not endangered, it is
not likely that the majority tomorrow
when the final vote is taken, Will eX-
coed thirty. The opposition today
was strong enough in committee Of the
whole 20 adopt two important amend
ments, one providing that nothing in
the act should be construed to pre-
vent the manufacture and sale OF oleo-
margarine in any state, for consunp-
ton entirely within such state, and
the other, to provide for the inspection
and branding Of renovated Or process
butter.
Washington, Feb. 12.-Senate.-
With the exception of a sharp clash
between Lodge and Patterson over the
matter of admission OF representa-
tlves of the press to the investigation
which the Philippine committee is
conducting, the discussion Of the Phil
ippine tariff bill in the senate today
was quiet. The Colorado senator de-
s.-eed that all newspaper men be ad-
mitted to the committee hearings, de-
claring that as now conducted they
were Of a star chamber character. He
said his recollection was that Lodge
had suggested that the hearings be
entirely secret. This drew the fire
of the Massachusetts, senator, who i'll
dignantly denied that lie had suggest
ed anything Of the kind. He insisted
that the reports made Of the hearings
by the three associations were accEr-
ate and fair to both sides OF the con-
troversy A communication from the
secretary of war, transmitting me-
mortal of the federal party of the Phil
ippine Islands in support OF American
rule in the islands, called from Mr..
,, Patterson the statement that the fed
eral party had obtained its control in
the Philippines by promising to the
Filipinos that they would be admitted
ultimately to statehood in the United
States. Teller occupied the attention
| OF the senate during the greater part
Of today's session and has not yet
concluded his speech. Turner, Of
| Washington, presented a memorial
from the National Antitrust League
| enumerating certain trusts and COM
binations which the memorial sets
forth were operating in conflict with
| the Sherman antitrust law. He said
| that the petition stated that the eX-
| istence of these so-called trusts had
l L. OF nf hn OF