The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-13
TOO MUCH SECRECY
PHILIPPINE CoMMITTEE's METH.
DDS ATTACKED.
"STAR CHAMBER" is THE CRY.
ONLY PRESS ASSOCIATION MEE
ADMITTED.

sharply Criticised Memorial From
Leaders of Federal Party in Phil
ippines, ana MIR. Patterson Threw
Some Light on the Subject.
Washington. Feb. 12.-With the ex-
ception of sharp clash between Mr..
Ldoge and Mr.. Patterson over the ad-
mission of representatives of the press
to the investigation which the Phil
ippine Committee is conducting, the
discussion of the Philippine tariff bill
in the Senate to-day was quiet. The
Colorado Senator desired that all
newspaper men be admitted to the
committee hearings, declaring that as
now conducted they were of a star
chamber character. He said his recol-
lection was that Mr.. Lodge suggested
that the hearings be entirely secret.
This drew the fire of the Massachu-
setts Senator, who indignantly denied
he had suggested anything of the kind.
He insisted that the reports made of
the hearings by the three press asso-
Citations were accurate and fair to both
sides of the controversy. A communica-
ton from the Secretary of War trans
mitting a memorial of the Federal
party of the. Philippine Islands in sup
port of American rule in the islands
called from Mr.. Patterson the state
ment that the Federal party had OBJ
tanned it's control in the Philippines
by promising to the Filipinos that
they would be admitted ultimately to
70 41lao orl IN, he tad
Mr. Teller occupied the attention
of the Senate during the greater part
of to-day's session.
In response to some statements made
in the debate of yesterday, Mr.. Teller
asserted that the prominent command
ers of the American army did not
agree with the conclusions reached by
the members of the Philippine Com
mission as to the reconciliation of the
people of the Philippines. He mention
ed among others the name of Gen.
Chaffee. .s,
Letter From ChnHee. .
Mr.. Proctor of Vermont, interrupted
to say that to-day he had received
letter from Gen. Chaffee, in the course
of which he expressed his views upon
the situation in the islands. The letter
was dated at Manila, December u,
1901. Gen. Chaffee said:
'I may say to you that we are pro-
crossing very well in stamping out the
insurrection, and in the course of two
or three months we will have the sit
uation we'll in hand"
Gen. Chaffee believed that in short
time the Filipinos would become tired
of the struggle, and they certainly
would get tired before the army did.
Mr.. Hoar suggested there was diff
ference between the stamping out OF
the insurrection and the reconciling of
the Filipinos to American control.
The Fatal "water Cure"
Mr.. Teller quoted newspaper and
magazine articles to show that cruel
ties and tortures were applied to Fill
pino insurgents with a view to forcing
them to reveal the hiding places Of
their rifles. The particular torture
upon which the Colorado Senator dwelt
was the water cure" On the author
ity of one writer, Mr.. Teller said that
of 100 Filipinos to whom the water
cure had been applied all but rs had
died from its effects.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia suggested that
it might not be proper to charge une
American army with these cruelties.
The tortures were practiced, he
thought, principally by the Macabebe
scouts (natives), and perhaps by some
of the more vicious elements of the
army who were afforded opportunity
by the, presence of the army in the
Philippines to carry into effect their
vicious instincts.
TiIlman Asks a Question.
Mr.. Tillman interrupted Mr.. Teller
to inquire of Mr.. Lodge, chairman of
the Committee on Philippines. whether
it is true, as had been charged in some
newspapers, that that committee was
conducting it's Investigations of the
Philippine question in a sort of star
chamber manner special representa-
tives of the press being excluded from
the hearings.
Mr.. Lodge replied with some vehe-
mence that that was an idle story;
that representatives of the three press
associations were admitted to the in
vestigation, and that fair representa-
tions were being sent out to all the
newspapers of the country 1t had
been decided by the committee not to
admit all the newspaper men to the
hearing because the committee room
was totally inadequate for the accom-
mediation of the public.
Mr.. Tillman insisted that the reports
sent out were RdIDtcu anu NoioiSN'
THAT is not true in my judgment"
said Mr.. Lodge. THAT is simply a
charge that all three of these great
news associations sent out garbled and
colored reports"
In response TO an inquiry Mr.. Lodge
said the committee had been as dill
gent as possible in the conduct Of it's.
investigation and witnesses would be
heard as was practicable.
Lodge Denies statement.
Mr.. Patterson said that when the
Philippine Committee had the matter
OF the hearings under consideration, II
was his recollection that the chairman
-(Mr. LODGE had suggested that no
members OF the press at all be admit
ted TO the hearings.
II never made such suggestion
never" interjected Mr. Lodge warmly.
pAnd / object 10 such statements as
that made by the Senator"
Notwithstanding" continued Mr..
Patterson, Il reiteraie my statement"
Il ask the Senator" Interrupted Mr..
Lodge, N he reiterates the statement
that suggested that the press be ex-
oluded."
THAT ls my recollection" replied Mr..
Patterson.
well" protested Mr. Lodge. n have
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