Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-05-01
MAJOR GARDENER IN DEMAND
Former Governor Of Tsysbss Wanted as
Witness on the Philippines
DEMOCRATS WOULD HASTEN HIS RETURN
Republicans Favor Deliberate Action
Anxious for His Testimony, but
See No Reason for
Hurrylng.

WASHINGTON, April SO.-A resolution
~ered In the senate today by Mr. Patter-
If, Colorado, directing the secretary of
f."fo,, ser by cable Major Gardener. now
IN ines, to come Immediately to
o appear as a witness before
the me committee, precipltated
warm a.. ,ssion The debate continued for
about two hours, considerable feeling
being manifested on both sides OF the
chamber. The charge was made by the
minority that the majority members Of
the committee we're endeavoring to sup
press facts and information"
This was denied by the chairman OF the
committee. Mr.. Lodge, who said that such
action would be lnconceivably stupid. All
parties, he insisted, were anxious for the
fullest information, but he and others con-
tended that II would not be advisable to
cable to the Philippines for Major Gardener.
as he was about to come home and would be
here In time to appear before the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Patterson and Mr.. Carmack OF Ten
nessee urged that Gardeners testimony was
particularly important and that 1t ought
to be had before action was taken on the
pending bill.
The resolution finally went over until to-
morrow.
Indian Bill Goes over.
The bill for the purchase of the Rosebud
reservation in South Dakota and the sundry
civil appropriation bill were considered but
no action was taken on them
bill changing the date OF holding the
United States district court at Joplin, Mo-,
was passed.
Consideration Of the Philippine govern
ment bill was then resumed, and Mr.. Pat
terson OF Colorado offered his resolution,
Tor which he asked immediate considera-
ton, directing the secretary of war to cable
Major Gardener former civil governor of
the province Of Tayabas, to return to the
United States to appear as a witness before
the Philippine committee.
In the preamble to the resolution Mr..
Patterson declared that the Philippine
committee had decided "by a partisan"
vote to refuse to ask that Major Gardener
be cabled to appear as soon as he could
come to the United States.
Mr.. McComas raised the question that II
was not proper to say that the committee
had divided on partisan" lines.
Allison Makes Reply.
Mr.. Allison. a member of the Philippine
committee, objected to the use Of the word,
pun biSah' anu lndL IL was the mis-
fortune of the majority OF the Philippine
committee to be not able to bring the par
tisan" minority into conformity with its
views.
Mr., Patterson said It was the desire OF
the minority OF the committee to get Major
Gardener as a witness as soon as possible.
The effort was made in good faith as he
was regarded as a valuable witness
Mr.. Tillman indicated his belief that in
formation was to be ''smothered" and de-
manded to know from Mr.. Lodge whether
he proposed to dragon the senate into
a vote on this matter"
Mr.. Lodge replied, laughingly, that he
wished he could dragoon the senate into a
vote on the measure, but Mr.. TiIlman knew
he could do nothing OF the kind He be-
lieved 1t would be preposterous for the
senate to wait on a single witness.
No Objections to Gardener.
Mr. Allison pointed out that nobodv oh
jected to the testimony Of Major Gardener
his regiment. II one witness were called
soon. He intimated that Major Gardener
was particularly anxious to be a witness
and personally he was not in favor of
decorating him by ordering him by cable
gram to come to this country in advance of
his regiment. II one witness were called
from the Philippines, It might be neces-
sary to get the testimony OF the thirty
other provisional governors. which, he said,
might be as valuable as that of Major Gar
dener
Mr.. Carmack OF Tennessee declared that
the report made by Major Gardener was
so startling and important that the secre-
tary Of war had endeavored to keen II
from the senate and the American people.
He insisted that unless the proposed reso-
luton were adopted Major Gardener surely
would not get to Washington before con-
gress adjourned
Mr.. Lodge said that Major Gardener ought
to appear before the committee. Personally
he desired to hear his testimony before
congress adjourned.
AEuinaIdO Also Wanted.
Continuing, Mr.. Lodge said that the MI
nority OF the committee had suggested that
Aguinaldo, Sixto Lopez, Mabini and some
prisoners OF war on the island Of Guam: II.
II. Bray, an agent OF the Filipino 1unta at
Hong Kong and two Associated Press cor
respondents, Mr.. Collins at Pekin and Mr..
Martin in Venezuela, be called as witnesses.
The committee had decided not to call
them for various reasons.
Soon afterward the Philippine bill was
laid aside and the reading OF the sundry
civil appropriation bill was resumed.
Mr.. Allison offered an amendment, which
was adopted, appropriAting $3.50 900 for the
purchase OF the ground and building now
occupied by the census bureau.
Mr.. Burton OF Kansas, from the commit
tee on public lands. reported back the bill
granting TO the Central Arizona Railway
company right Of way for railway pur-
poses through the San Francisco noun
tain forest reservation in Arizona, with
recommendation that it be passed, notwith-
standing the objections OF the president
expressed in veto message. Mr.. Burton