The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-28
TIRED OF PADDOCK
TELLER SCORES ADMINIsTRA-
TIoN's POLICY.
ARMY OFFICERS CRITICISED.
GEN. wHEAT0N'S COMMENTS
AROUSE MUCH IRE.
GEN.

GERS for Expressing Their Opin-
iOns-Wiu he Treason to Read
Declaration of Independence
Soon, Said MIR. TeIIer--Mr. Tillman
Gets in IA Few warn Shots.
Washington, Jan. 27.-An animated
and prolonged discussion was precipi-
tated in the Senate To-day over the
right of army officers to criticse utter
ances made in the Senate or elsewhere
on the conduct of affairs in the Philip
pines. AT times it became somewhat
being taken sharply to task for state
ments attributed to them in dispatches
from Manila.
Rising to question of privilege early
in the session, Mr.. Duboise Qdaho) had
read an Associated Press dispatch from
Manila in which Gen. Wheaton was
quoted as critioising some utterances
of Prof. Schurman in speech delivered
in Boston. Mr. Dubois thought the
President, in the circumstances, would
be warranted in reprimanding Gen.
Wheaton for his criticisms. He de-
clared that such comment upon the ac-
ton of the Senate was Outrageous and
indecent and that the minority had
had quite enough of threats and black
mail.
Mr.. Lodge Massachusetts, suggested
that it would be wise to ascertain be-
whether he actually made the state
ments attributed to him. Gen.
Wheaton, he said, was an officer of
ability and character and no hasty ac-
tion ought to be taken in such case.
"Mr. Teller: II don't think there's
any doubt that Gen. Wheaton said
what is attributed to him."
Mr.. Lodge: There may be great
deal of doubt of it,
Warm Words From Teller.
Mr.. Teller, continuing, said such a
situation as had arisen was one ofthe
blessings growing out of the conditions
in the Philippines, "A paddock. he as-
| mouth of every man, congressman or
/ private citizen. and all criticism of the
administration Philippine policy was
| to be silenced. He referred to the crit
icisms of senators who had antagonized
the administrations policy in the Phil
| ippines, declaring they had been charg-
| ed even with treason.
81 suppose" said he, that no senator
after a while will be able to read on
this floor, the Declaration of Independ-
| ence without subjecting himself to a
| charge of melting treason"
Mr.. Lodge said Mr.. Teller's state
ment concerning the Declaration of
| independence was SILLY" What Prof.
| Schurman said in Boston did not in
~. 4x,to Ia k&A
| only point was whether a general of
| the United States army had critised
| the Senate. 1t did not appear from
! the dispatch that Gen. Wheaton had
referred to the Senate at all.
In reply to inquiries by Mr.. Rawlins
of Utah Mr.. Lodge said he did not
know whether newspaper dispatches
| sent from Manila were censored or
not, and he did not know whether the
| War. Department had or had not taken
steps to ascertain whether Gen. Whea-
| ton had made the statements attrib
uted to him.
Mr.. Carmack of Tennessee question
ed the right of any officer of the
United States army to criticise either
the actions or the utterances of any
private citizen.
MIR. TiIlman Gets in n Hot Shot.
Mr.. Tillman (South Carolina), inter-
manding the army had been repri-
manded by the President for agreeing
with the Admiral of the navy upon a
| question on which "all the people of
the United States were absolutely
agreed"
Mr.. Carmack did not think that Mr..
Tillman's interjection was entirely rel
evant.
Mr.. Hoar Massachusetts,, contended
| Iof M tn1
on a matter of this kind ought to be
accepted by the Senate.
Later Mr.. Lodge said he desired to
apologize for referring to anything Mr.
Teller may have said as SILLY" He
insisted that there was no disposition
upon the part of anybody to suppress
news or views.
Mr.. Rawlins insisted that the sup
preston OF opinions and information
was so notorious that one could not
depend upn the statements coming to
the United States from the Philippines.
The Philippine Commission, he as
serted, had arrogated to itself the
| functions of Congress; the commits
sion had done many things which Con-
gress would never have done.
Mr.. Dubois insisted that the dispatch
which he had presented bore evidence
on its face of accuracy.
1--WE have been threatened and black
mailed" he said, "as long as we ought
| to endure IL. Such utterances as have
been instanced are offensive to us and
they ought not to be permitted to pass
| without a reprimand of the President
OF the United States. They are. COM
ing from officers of the army. in ex>
ceedingly bad taste"
| Mr.. Spooner deemed II the part OF
wisdom TO ascertain first whether
| Gen. Wheaton had made the state
ments attributed to him before any
attempt was made TO secure his CEN
sure
TIIImRn Warns Up Again.
Mr.. yrillman (south Carolina) inter-
rupted TO inquire VINO would furnish
the proof that the dispatch read had
not been inspired.
Mr.. Spooner replied that he did not
believe n was either inspired or CEN
sored, but felt the Senate ought 20
await definite Information.
Gen. Wheaton, he added. was a fine
officer. Of high character and notable
achievements.
Yes" interjected Mr.. Tiilman. "he IL
a brilliant officer doing some yegy dirty
work That n my opinion"
Well, n IA not mine" replied Mr..
/ spoOnor. Il have the word ~ the SEN
ator from Indiana fI3eyefldge) that the
censorship of news dispatches in the
philippines Was abolished some time
J ago"