The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-01-29
IN CONGRESS.

NdSHluRIOn, Jan. X. - OF nearly
three hours on Tuesday the Senate had
under consideration the Philippine
tariff bill. The measure was made
the unfinished business and probably
will hold that position of preference
until it shall have been voted on final
ly.
The debate was opened by Mr.
Lodge of Massachusetts, chairman of
the committee on the Philippines.
He sketched in free hand way the
reasons which had actuated the major
ity i'll presenting the measure and
urged strongly its enactment into law
at an early date. He explained with
some minuteness the necessity for the
legislation embodied in the bill and
concluded with an appeal to the Sen
ate and the House to deal with ques-
tions relating to the Philippines as
they arise, and to keep clear of vague
works and wagner promises, which
were likely to be misinterpreted and
to raise false hopes III the minds of
the Filipinos. In an impassioned
peroration he besought Congress not
to give mortgages on an unknown fu-
ture.
Mr.. Rawlins of Utah delivered
vigorous speech in support of the mi
nority substitute, in which independ-
ence was promised to the Filipino peo-
pie, so soon as stable government
could be established in the Philip
pines. His discussion of the general
Philippine question covered much of
the ground that has been gone over
during the past two years. Through
out he was accorded careful attention.
In the absence of other pressing
businss the House managers are allow
ing the widest latitude in the debate
on the urgent deficiency bill now be-
fore the House. The irrigation of
arid lands in the west and the advis-
ability of retaining control of the
Philippines were the main topics un-
der discussion on Tuesday. The
speakers were Mr. Sibley of Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. Dinsmore of Arkansas, Mr..
Newlands of Nevada, Mr.. Mondell of
Wyoming, Mr., Robinson of Indiana,
Mr. Kerns of Illinois, Mr.. Gaines of
Tennessee, Mr.. Vandiver, of Missouri,
/ and Mr.. Green of Pennsylvania.
Washington, Jan. 23-Debate on
| the Philippine tariff bill was not con-
tinued III the Senate on Wednesday,
no member of the body being prepar-
ed to proceed with the discussion.
The bill providing for the establish
ment of a department of commerce
was under discussion for nearly two
| hours. Little progress was made with
it as while the debate disclosed no OBJ
jections to the main features of the
bill, there was a disposition on the
part of the Senate to give it a careful
consideration and to perfect the de-
tails of the measure
Mr.. Quarles of Wisconsin offered
an amendment providing that the sec
rotary of commerce should have COM
plete control of the work of gathering
information naturally relating to the
subjects confided to his department
and to this end the secretary of COM
MERGE should have authority to call
upon all other departments of the gov
eminent for statistical data to be pub
lished as he may deem wise.
Mr. Gallinger made vigorous ar
gument in support of the pending
measure The president pro TEN,
Mr.. Frye, laid before the Senate let.
ter by Mr.. Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, pro
testing against the incorporation OF
the department of labor in the pro
posed department of commerce. He
said the department of labor had been
organized AT tne earnest SOllClCdUlOl
of the organized labor in the country
in the hope ultimately that it become
one of the executive departments OF
the government with a secretary Of
labor who shall have a seat in the
Presidents cabinet.
Some of the old partisan fire was i'll
jected into the proceedings of the
House when the item in the urgent
deficiency bill appropriating $500, 00(
for military post at Manila, which
the Democrats have been using as a
text for speeches in opposition to the
Philippine policy of the administra
ton for the last three days was
reached. Mr.. Cannon i'll charge OF
the bill confessed that the appropria
ton was subject to point of order
and it went out. In lieu thereof hC
offered an amendment to appropriate
the same sum for the shelter and pro
lection" of the officers and enlisted
men of the army on duty in the Phil
ippines. This the chair held to be il
order and it at once became the sub
ject of very spirited debate in which