The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-12
Stirring Debate IN
United States SENATE
Senators Plat and Hoar
Lock Horns.
THE PHILIPPINE TARIFF
This Bill Under Discussion a
Greater Part of the Day.
SENATOR H0AR FAcETI0Us.
SENATOR HoAR FAcETloUs.
he Aroused the Ire Of the Senator Prom the
Nutmeg State. Who Delivered Speech
Warmly Defending the Philippine
Commission, and Even Its
Enactment OF treason
and Sedltlon Laws.
{Ey Associated Press)

(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. ia STIR
ring debate on the general Philippine
question was precipitated in the Senate
late to-day, the participants being Mr..
Plat, of Connecticut, and Mr.. Hoar, Of
Massachusetts. Mr.. Teller, of Colorado.
had concluded for the day his argument
against the enactment of the pending
Philippine tariff bill. In response to some
statements he made, Mr.. Platt directed
attention to the situation in the islands,
as he viewed it, maintaining that great
progress was being made in subduing
the insurrection.
Mr. Hoar ridiculcd tho statement OF
Mr. Platt, and in a facetious vein re-
ferred to the attempt of the government
to control the Philippines.
This aroused Mr.. PIatt, who delivered
notable speech, in the course Of which
he referred to Mr.. Hoar in pretty sharp
terms.
In his reply Mr.. Hoar delivered an in
cisive criticism Of the Philippine Com
mission, declaring he had been taught
to judge men rather by their actions
than by their words, and by this stand
L
commissioners with any degree of favor.
DAY OF INAUGURATION.
Early in the day the Senate passed a
joint resolution submitting a constitu-
tional amendment changing the time OF
Presidential inaugurations and the ter
mination and commencement of Con-
| crosses from the fourth of March to the
last Thursday of April.
Senator Teller, in his speech. declared
the so-called enactments of the Philippine
Commission We're Il compendium OF ty-
ranny and infamy.
Mr.. Foraker said that the sedition and
treason laws enacted for the Philippines
were almost Identical with those of Ten
reSSee.
Mr.. Hoar Interrupted to ask If the or
der of General Otis, directing forced sub
mission, was not itself an act Of war.
Mr. Teller answered that ten years age
it would have been so considered, where
upon NIr. Hoar declared that the F1llpi-
nos could not be charged with opening
hostiiites, when tie United States had
by General Otis or0er, issued forma-
act Of war long before.
Mr.. Teller expressed the opinion that the
rrilirinos never would consent to our con
trcl of the islands.
rs the Senator entirely certain in
terjected Mr.. Plat, OF Connecticut, that
a majority OF the Christian people of the
island do not consent to our government!
Mr.. Teller replied that ii he could trus
the information which had come to him
not one-tenth of the people wanted The
| United States Government in the Islands
MT. P!att, oe Connecticut, replying tt
| some Statements made by Alr. Teller
| pointed out that the American army il
| the Philippines had been reduced IRON
| 10000 to less than 10000.
1--WE ought to consider facts" lie urged
we ought to take things as they are aEt
| not things as they may be coniured up
! We are getting along reasonably well IL
those islands"
He pointed out that elections were being
| held in the islands to choose municipa
officers, and In these elections all the peo
! pie had a part.
RIDICUIED ELECTIONS.
Mr. Hoar ridculed the elections to whicf
Mr.. Platt had referred, declaring that ul'
! der the sedition laws enacted by the Phi
| ppine Commission it was renitentjar!
nffense for ANYBODY in the ISLANDS to ad
i vocate a political opinion or political pol
| ICY He referred in a facetious veiiI to tn
| schools established in the islands by tn
| American authorities. asserting that ii
| not one OF them could the Declaration o
] independence be read and no patriots
| speech delivered in safety.
/ AIR. .Hoars remarks called forth 4. Wig
/ orous utterance from Mr.. Platt, who palt
| a high tribute to Governor Taft and hi
associates on the Philippine Commission.
That commission had presented, he said
| remarkable evidence of the progress
| which was being made in the archipela g
toward peace.
Mr. Hoar interrupted to inquire If Mr.
Platt thought the Filipinos would hav
| adopted the treason law enacted by tn
| Philippine Commission had it been sub
mitted to them.
READ THE LAW.
The Connecticut Senator replied that h.
could not say but Connecticut had a las
which the people Of that State had neve
| found inconsistent with their rights ant
! liberties. He read the law, which prcvet
| to be not oissimilar to that which has
been enacted in the Philippines. He point
| ed out as one of the benfcent results o
| American occupation Of the Philippine
| that schools had been established in th
| Islands and that nearly one THOUSAND
| American teachers had gone to the Is
] lands to educate the Filipino children
i Mr.. PIatt then read the treason law re
/ ferred to by Mr., Hoar. to show that
! was directed against the formation OF Sc
1 cret societies. the purpose OF which, Il
i whole or IN part, was the promotlon
/ sedition. rebellion and treason.
IT was a statute, he said, aimed at Sc
i cret plotting. such plotting as at on
time nearly resulted in inducing in tn
city OF Manila massacre of our troop
and friends. 1t prevented plotting in tn
4 dark.
AIR. HOAR REPLIED.
Mr.. Hoar maintained that the Connec
Isticut Senator had not quoted correctl
I! the Philippine statute. because he: ha
4 omitted a portion of it, which, he assert
Il ed, sustained the position he Hoarl ha
taken and the statements he had made
4 tx..Its would have filed mankind with hoT
ror.'. said ne, this Connecticut stat