The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-01
BUENCANIMO A BOOSTER.

American Aumlnistratioh h MufSAS
Says This FiIipinO-A Hot Dispute
in Committee as TO Calling of Six
to Lopez.
Washington, May S1.-Felipe Buen-
canine. formerly of Aguinaldos cabi-
net, was before the House Committed
on Insular Affairs to-day. He said his
country, the Philippines, was like q
sick man convalescing from a danger
Gus illness. 1t was still bleeding from
the wounds of war. Its aspiration, he
said, were those of Washington, liber-
| ty with justice, under American SOW
| ereignty, which they loved. They look
| ed to Congress to give them a just and
| liberal government. He gave an eX-
tended account of the early uprising
| of the Filiplnos.
Aguinaldo, he said, was an idol and
the people believed him when he told
| them that Dewey had promised them
independence. He reviewed all that
had been done since the outbreak and
spoke of the gradual extension of
American authority and practical paci-
fication of the greater part of the
islands. There were now, he said, 500
municipalities established and they had
proved unsatisfactory. Under the Taft
system, he said, the Filipinos have
greater liberty than they would have
enjoyed under the Aguinaldo govern
ment had it been established. Gov.
Taft. he said, was now the idol of the
people. He said the people of the
Philippines would like to have their
political status fixed, whether they are
Americans or Filipinos. He preferred
that they should be Americans. The
happiness of the people. he said, de-
pended upon American sovereignty.
Hot Talk of Committeeman.
Representative Jones of Virginia
called attention to the fact that SiXto
Lopez differed from Buencamino and
said the minority wanted to have Lo-
peg summoned. Several Republicans
protested. because Lopez had not been
in the Philippines in recent years.
There was some discussion between
the members of the committee of a
warm character.
Il did not think it would so offend
the minority to have the witness ex-
onerate American troops" said Chair
man Cooper.
Il resent that insinuation," said Mr..
Williams of Mississippi.
And his remarks is not in accord
with facts" said Mr.. Patterson of Ten
nessee.
The motion to summon Lopez was
lost by a party vote.
The committee then took a recess I'M
til .. m.
Senior Buencamino continued his
statement after the recess, and spoke
of the many schools and the improved
educational methods. the Filipino fam
lilies no longer finding it necessary, he
said. to send their children to Manila
as the local schools were ample.
A Charge Against Friars.
Speaking of education, he said the
hostility of the friars to the American
government was evident. On Palm sun
day, he asserted, the friars had told
the people in the confessional that the
cholera existed only in the minds of
the Americans, for the reason, he s9id
that the friars desired the cholera to
spread in order that their fees for va
rious attendance and ceremonies might
be increased.
Are the people capable at this time
of independent government?
1T would not be advisa ble," he said,
turning to the map of the archipela-
go. Russia was near at hand, at Port
Arthur; Japan was also near; Aus
tralia and other British possessions
were near by. Besides, he said, Great
Britain and Germany had on file at
the American State Department large
claims for damages. growing out of
the bombardment of Iloilo.
Suppose the United States abandons
u.s." he said, then all those claims
will be presented against the Philip
pines, backed up by squadrons.
Mr.. Jones of Virginia questioned the
witness at length as to the RESPONSE
bility for the original outbreak. Prep
arations for war were begun by Agui-
IL. n ~.
ness said.
When asked who were the slayers of
Gen. Luna, the witness asked to be ex-
cused, saying an answer would require
reference to Aguinaldo, who was now
a prisoner and an enemy of the witness.
He said. however that Aguinaldo was
IS miles away.
Mr.. Jones brought out that the wit
ness was appointed to a civil position
as civil service commissioner-at $3,-
500, and that the appointment was
made by the military governor, Gen.
Macarthur. The witness said he was
not in the confidence of Gov. Taft ow-
ing to his (the witness) racial ideas.
Have you the confidence of the Fill
ipino people?" asked Mr.. Jones.
The witness said he could not state
positively, but twenty governors the
president of the federal party, and
many others gave him letters showing
their confidence in him.
Asked if the Filipinos after three or
four years of American tutelage could
stand alone. Senior Buencamino said
they would be able by that time to de-
termine whether they wanted annexa-
ton to the United States or independ-
ence. The federal party, to which he
belonged. opposed the holding of the
Philippines, he said, as an American
colony About Is per cent. of the peo-
pie, he said, favored colonial govern
ment.