The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-25

Washington. April 22.-Formal discus
sion of the bill temporarily to provide
a government for the Philippine islands
was begun in the senate today. Senator
Rawlings, OF Utah, the leading minor
ity member of the Philippine commit
tee. opening the debate, with a speech
in opposition to the measure. He de-
nounced the bill as an unwarranted
imposition upon the Filipinos, declaring
that 1t would establish one of the foul
est oligarchies in the history OF the
world. He maintained that the Philip.
pine commission was given too great
power by the bill and asserted that un-.
der it's provisions the islands would be
exploited for private gain. He viii
conclude his remarks tomorrow.
While he was speaking two efforts
were made to maintain a quorum, the
second resulting in a lively tilt among
West Virginia, intimating that no argu-
ment that could be made upon the sub
iect would influence any senator.
I'VE seem to have arrived at that
point in our history" said Senator
Rawlins. where there are those who
affect to believe that it is sedition -
think and treason to talk. For Gods
sake. let us keep silent until the war is
over exclaims a peripatetic hero and
graduate from the Philippines who
wants to make free speech treason and
to cart us away to the gallowS, :Ll
though he might give the senator from
Massachusetts, the benefit of clergy on
account of his sympathy with a 'su-
perheated conscience all, if we are 10
holt rxrit yn1 of tE,a,
president of the United States.
Congress no longer has to declare
war. An Otis or a Chaffee are prepar-
ed to attend to this any day in the
week. A few days ago message came
to US that Malvar. the last of the insur
rectos. had surrendered. The next day
it was announced that General Chdffee
had declared a new war and had dis
patched an army to wage it against
two million of people in the island o.
Aindanao: but mum is to be the word
so long as there is any disturbance any
where within our borders or in any one
OF the more than a thousand islands
beyond the seas.
s'This bill strikes it's roots into and
derives it's support from that excres-
cence upon the army appropriation bill
of 1901. known as the Spooner amend
ment. The qualification of absolute
power therein conferred, at the instance
this bill. is eliminated. All property
rights in the islands and the fate of
their inhabitants are turned over to the
control and disposition of the commits
sion. without any qualification of i'm
portance.
'"The commission may declare war
and make peace: raise armies and pro-
vide navies. regulate commerce with all
sorts of Determinations between is
lands and ports: levy taxes without
limit and without uniformity. II may
coin money and regulate the value
thereof. and may establish religion ard
punish those who do not conform to Its
tents. 1t may destroy free speech and
punish as an act OF sedition the pub
ncation of the truth in regard TO their
administration. 1t can establish an in
ouisition: devise and apply methods of
excruciating torture. compelling per-
sons TO be witnesses against themselves
and disclose information which the
commission may desire to extort. 1t
may practice any or all OF the acts OF
tyranny which history has disclosed or
genius may devise. 1t is useless to say
that this power will not be abused.
House OF ReDresentatives-
The house today by a vote of IS to
7. rejected claims attached to the
omnibus claims bill by the senate, AC-
gragating $780, 900, and on the heels OF
that action non-concurred in the whole
senate amendment Cthe various items
having been ruled to constitute a sin
gle amendmenD and sent the bill to
conference. The bulk Of the claims
gticlen out were those known as the
findings of the Selfridge board.
The motion to strike out was made
by Mr.. Underwood. Of Alabama. who
said the Selfridge claims had been fair
iy considered and repeatedly rejected
by congress.
Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois. took the same
view.
The military academy appropriation
bill was passed today after the limit of
cost OF the improvements at West Point
had been reduced from six and a halt
to five and one half millions and the
amount OF the appropriation in the bill
from three to two millions.
The London dock charge bill was call
ed up under call of committees, but was
not DISPOSED of.
The senate amendments to the river
and harbor bill were disagreed to, and
the bill was sent to conference.