Abilene weekly reflector., 1902-02-27
PHILIPPINE PROBLEM
The Senate Discusses the Matters
Relating to the lslands.
The INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.


cepti0n OF Q few minutes given 10
routine business, the senate yester-
day devoted its entire session to the
Philippine question. Senator Pattsr-
son, Of Colorado, one Of the minority
members Of the Philippine commit
tee, delivered his first extended speech
in the senate and was given a most
attentive and careful hearing. He
discussed principally the sedition laws
enacted by the Philippine commits
sion, vigorously attacking the author
ity Of the commission to enact and
enforce such laws. He maintained
that congress alone had the power to
put in force enactments of that char
acter. He compared information fur
nished by the executive departments
of the government with some Of the
statements OF Gov. Taft in his testi.
mony before the Philippine commit
tee, with respect to the capabilities OF
the Philippine people, and declared
with some heat his belief that Gov.
Taft misrepresented the true situation
In the islands for motives unknown,
He asserted that II the 100000 Of
Christians in the Philippines were
Protestant Christians the cruelties
practiced on them by the American
authorities would have to stop, as no
member Of congress would be able to
withstand the wrath of the Metho-
dists, Baptists and Presbyterians OF
this country.
Senator Nelson, OF Minnesota, pre-
sented a legal and constitutional ar.
gument in support Of this govern
ment's action in the Philippine archi-
pelago and sharply criticised Senator
Patterson for injecting into the con-
troversy the question of sectarianism.
Senator McCumber, of North Da-
kota, urged that congress should not
bind the future now by declara-
tion of definite policy regarding the
Philippines, as it was desirable that
all possible information should be in
hand before a permanent policy was
determined upon.
Senator Bacon gave notice of his
intention to offer an amendment to
the Philippine tariff bill, declaring 1t
to be the intention OF the United
States, when order shall be restored
in the Philippine islands, to allow the
formation of government for and
by the Philippine people and to guar
antee to them the same degree of lib.
erty and independence that this coun.
try has pledged to the Cuban people.
Senator Clark, of Montana, from
the senate committee on military
affairs, reported favorably the bill for
the ratification of the treaty with
the Grow Indians for the cession and
opening to settlement of about 1,000,.
900 acres of their reservation in Mon.
tana.
A bill authorizing the construction
of bridge over the Missouri river
ut Kansas City was passed and the
senate then went into executive ses.
sion and soon after adjourned.
The house spent yesterday work.
ing on the Indian appropriation bill.
Forty-two of the 81 pages were dis.
posed of. Several amendments were
adopted, but none of much impor.
tance. The appropriation for prelim-
mary work in the reservoir for the
Gila river valley went out on point
Of order. Mr.. Smith, of Arizona, Of
fered an amendment to strike out the
appropriation for the Carlisle school
and 1t became the text for general
onslaught on the practice of educat.
ing Indians in eastern schools. His
amendment was defeated.
Just before the close of the ses.
sion Mr., Fitzgerald, Of New York,
made an attack on The superintend.
ent of the school at Mount Pleasant,
Mich. who. he said, was charged with
nermittinr the debauching of Indian
Girls Mr. Sherman. chairman of the
indian committee. promised to make
an investigation at the Indian Office
today.