The Washington times., 1902-05-06
Resents the Campaign of
Democrats Upon Civil
Government Bill.
HURDER0US ACTS OF NATIVES
Denial Made That Opening of Islands
Would Lead to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Taft Pointed To as an Honest Amer
ican.-

Senator Lodge yesterday began the Re-
| publican defense of the Philippine civil
government bill against the attacks of
the Democrats in a ringing and eloquent
but conservative and well considered
speech, which occupied the greater part of
the session Of the Senate.
Much interest was felt in advance as
TO the line of argument he would take in
answer to the charges OF cruelty against
the army, which have been the principal
feature Of the Democratic speeches. In
the opinion of the Republicans at least he
succeeded admirably.
To Establish Government.
The bill, he said. is chiefly intended to
give the archipelago civil government and
TO take it out of the hands of the army.
The Democrats pretend to attack the bill,
but in reality their slurs are all against
the army. which the bill Will soon largely
relieve of responsibility
As TO the cruelties proven against the
soldiers and officers in certain instances
and the famous ill-and-burn order of
General Smith, Mr.. Lodge said that he
the first or of the second. either. if it
shall be proven that it was not justifa-
BILE.
He paid al impassioned and thrilling
tribute to the army as a whole, however.
and pleaded that the isolated instances
OF cruelty must be considered as such.
These. he said, were the direct result
OF frightful barbarities on the part of
the natives. which in some instances had
maddened the Americans into seeking re-
venge. He read long list of murders
and assault OF the most fragrant charac-
ter committed by the Filipinos.
Grows Sarcastic.
Mr.. Lodge was able TO be sarcastic
most successfully at the expense of Mr..
Rawlins, who had made laughable mis-
take or two Il his ancient history.
Several times during the speech the
Chair was forced TO silence the galleries.
and he finally threatened to close the
doors with the people outside IL they did
not cease their applause. After Mr..
Lodge had concluded he held quite an i'm
promptu reception, receiving the congrat-
ulations of nearly all or his colleagues.
MIR. Rawlins retorted sharply to Mr..
Lodge. accusing him personally and all
the other Administration Senators of be-
ing the cause Of the cruelties in the Phil
ippines by their support OF the war and
their policy OF conquest and expansion.
Mr- Lodge began his speech al o'clock
HE presented an exhaustive ANALYSIS of
the Philippine bill He denied that the
opening of the islands would lead TO ex-
ploitation. despite the attacks Of the Demo-
cratic party. with its well-known hostility
to men who make money. This hostility
was well exemplifed during the party's
last tenure OF Office, he said, for no man
made any money during the period.
Strong Advocate of Bill.
The Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Car
maclD has asked II anyone would have the |
effrontery TO defend the pending bill. He |
tMr. LODGE would not only have the ef- |
frontery to defend it, but to advocate |
IL. He believed il to be well-consid- /
cred measure. dealing with subjects of /
great difficulty to which the committee
had given careful attention, ever which
il labored assiduously, and 10 a part of
.hich the minority of the committee had
made valuable contributions
- The mining provisions Of the bill occu-
,ied tWenty-eight pages. and he believed
nat they embodied as excellent a law
IS stood upon any statute book. As to
coinage provisions, the bill simply sub
itituies ior the Mexican silver dollar an I
.merican-Filipino dollar to be minted at
ianila and in the United States.
The remainder Of the bill occupied
lineteen pages and began by continuing
he present Philippine Commission. The
nly change made was TO require the ap-
continent Of commissioners and of JUS
ices of the supreme court to be ap-
roved and confirmed by the Senate.
Millions of Acres.
As TO the pa5llc lands of the archi-
cres. and It WAS believed that not more
han 100000 acres were in private own
rship. That left In the hands of the
'nited States as heir OF Spain 67, ,0OO, ,OOo
cres OF public lands.
The committee had felt II necessary to
ave proper land laws established in the
slani and 1t had LEFT 10 the Commission
0 prepare such laws TO be transmitted
D Congress for its consideration and ap-
roval. Until then the Commission would
nly have power TO make leases OF pub
C lands. The Commission was author
ed TO purchase the lands OF the friars '
II the purpose Of selling them to the
sople now occupying them.
THE main object of the BILL" Mr.
,dge continued, lis TO replace military
Continued On Third Pagc.) b