The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-18

Washington, February 13.-Nhile no
definite agreement has been reached, a
vote Upon the Philippine tariff bill in
the senate seems to be in sight. It APP
pears likely, judging from a discussion
of the subject late in the days session,
that the vote may be had next week. al
though the matter yet is involved in
some uncertainty.
Senator Teller. of Colorado, concluded
his speech today. He urged strongly
that the Filipinos be given the fullest
possible measure OF self-government,
the United States simply maintaining
a protectorate over the islands He
aid he would prefer that this govern
ment should withdraw absolutely and
without condition from the archipelago
than that the present war should be
continued.
Senator Teller said that, as a solution
Of the Philippine trouble he would send
to the islands a commission of promi-
nent, able and liberal men, to say to the
Filipinos that they should have the
! kind of government they want, except
that they could not become citizens of
ILL AAAN~ 60 NNNN
commission say to them that they need
not maintain an army or a navy, but
that the United States would protect
them from foreign invasion. 1T would
be a protectorate 1 hould apply to the
Philippines said Senator Teller, land
I believe it would be satisfactory to the
FilipinoS."
Senator Mitchell, or Oregon, delivered
a carefully prepared speech in support
of his amendment to reduce the tariff
duties upon Philippine products coming
into this country to so per cent. of the
Dinghy rates, maintaining that con-
| gress owed this concession to the Pa
cific coast states as we'll as to the Phil
ippines themselves.
Senator Mitchell said: II submit that
if the policy enforced in the last con-
| gress of permitting the products of
Porto Rico to come into the United
States at IS per cent. reduction of the
| rates of duty imposed by theDingley bill
and, later on, entirely free, n this all
largely in the interest of the trade and
commerce of the people of the Atlantic
of Porto Rico: then upon what
principal Of right or justice or
equity must the people Of the Pacific
coast states pay the same rates on Phil
ippine products into this country that
are imposed by the Dingley act? Why
impose one rule on our insular possess
sions in the Atlantic ocean and another
on our possessions in the Pacific ocean?
What occult force. if any. is operating
on the of the United States,
and this too, without congress seeming
ly being conscious of the fact, which
seems to compel the nations parliament
to arrive at such absolutely contradic-
tory concluSions?"
senator Mitchell warned congress
aUainSt cfril-in0 dnuvn tho crOar hpaf
industry and declared for the develop
ment of American merchant marine.
The Philippine bill will not be consid-
cred tomorrow or on Monday, the SEN
ate having made special orders for both
of these laws.
House of Representatives.
The house today unanimously adopr-
ed a resolution proposing an amendment
to the constitution of the United States
for the election of senators by direct
popular vote. There was no demand
for time to debate the resolution. This
Is the fourth time the house has adout-
ed a similar resolution.
Two bills Of general Importance wer"
passed by the house today, the remain
der of the time being devoted to minor
business. One was a senate bill to pro-
vide for the payment of the claims ~
confederate officers and soldiers whose
horses, side arms n aggag werS
taken from them by union soldiers.
contrary to the terms Of the surrender
of Lees and Johnson's armies. The
amount to be paid under the bill Was
limited to $50, 000. The other bill was t."
confer upol the Span sh Claims com lis
sion authority to send for persons IL
papers and to punish for contempt
A bill was also passed to construct n
life saving station at Bogue inlet, N. G.
Mr.. Carliss, of New York, who is the
author Of a bill for a government cable
from San Francisco to Manila, deliver
ed a speech in opposition to the laying
Of such a cable by a private corpora
ton. He spoke earnestly in opposition
to congress yielding concessions to pri-
vate cable ~monopolies. notably the Com
mercial Gable Company controlled by
the Mackay-Bennett forces, and dwalt
emphatically on the Importance of the
United States operating it's own cable
lines. The right to construct cable
lines" he said, sis IN inherent right or
the nation. Nc one has a right to lay
a cable without permission of congress.
There is no law in existence under
which cable lines may be laid" Mr..
Corliss attacked the proposals of the
Commercial Cable Company as intended
to establish a foreign cable monopoly.