New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-01
IOT TO CALL AGUINALDO
COMMITTEE REJECTS DEMO-
CRATIC DEMANDS.
FIGHT IN THE SENATE OVER REFUSAL
TO SUMMON MAJOR GARDENER
TO TESTIFY.
[DY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

on the Philippines to-day, by strict party vote,
| refused to summon Aguinaldo Sixto Lopez.
! Uabini and Major Cornelius Gardener TO appear
/ before it witnesses. The question of sending
| a subcommittee to the Philippines to continue
! the investigation passed over.
The Senate spent lively afternoon discussing
the refusal of the committee to employ any ex-
traordinary means to summon Major Gardener,
the civil governor, whose charges against the
military administration in the Philippines have
recently been communicated to Congress. The
majority of the committee held that. Major
Gardener expected home within month or
six weeks it would simply be an excess Of zeal
and waste of mileage fees to order him to Wash
ngton at the governments expense. Mr.. Pat
terson, of Colorado, offered a resolution in the
Senate requesting the Secretary of War to direct
Major Gardener to return to this country in ad-
vance of his regiment, which is expected to sail
from Manila time before June l. This
| resolution served as a preteXt for long wrangle
over the committees policy in trying to give the
! investigation 1t Is now conducting a practical
| instead of political or partisan scope. Mr.. Pat
| terson and Mr. Carmack attacked the majority's
| decision. and clamored for investigation
| which should assemble in Washington witnesses
| from all quarters of the earth of so varied
| capacity and character Major Gardener
| Aguinaldo Mabini, Lopez, Bray the English ad-
| wiser of the Filipino Junta, and Edward Atkln-
! son. the Boston expert on political and military
| conditions which he has viewed and digested
! from a sanctum not less than eight thousand or
| nine thousand miles away. Mr.. Lodge defended
| the committees action in candid and con-
vincing statement Mr. Carmack found an OPP
| portunity by the way to vindicate the neglected
Editor Of THE Anti-Imperialist." The statement
| which he had put in type for submission to the
| Philippine committee and to which that com
mittee heartIessly refused to listen was injected
| into The Congressional Record" as part of the
remarks of the Junior Senator from Tennessee.
| Thus Mr. Atkinsons pride of authorship has
| been effectually appeased. But he will probably
have to wait collect his mileage fees until the
! Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
| organizes for serious work.
PARTISANSHIP CHARGES RESENTED.
| In the preamble to his resolution Mr.. Patter-
son declared that the Philippine committee
had decided by "a partisan vote" 10 refuse TO
ask that Major Gardener be ordered TO appear
| as soon he could come to the United states
Mr.. McComas raised the question that 1t was
not proper to say that the committee had al
vided on partisan lines
Mr. Allison member OF the Philippine COM
mittee. objected 10 the Of the word ''partI-
san" and said that il was the misfortune OF
1.-the majority Of the Philippine committee no.
TO be able to bring the partisan" minority into
conformity with its views.
Mr. Patterson said II was the desire OF tn"
minority Of the committee TO get Major Gar
dener as a witness as soon as possible. The
effort was made in good faith. as he was re-
garded as a valuable witness
Mr. Allison said he was satisfied that Major
Gardener would reach Washington long before
Congress adjourned, and there would be ample
time to get his testimony in the regular course
OF events. without calling the authorities TO
order him to come at once.
Mr. TIllman indicated his belief that informa-
ton was being "smothe-od," and he demanded
70 know from Mr.. Lodge whether ne proposed
Ito dragon the Senate into vote on this
measure"
Mr. Lodge replied laughngy that ne wished
he could dragon the Senate into vote the
measure. but Mr. Tillman knew he could do
| nothing Of the kind. lie believed it would be
preposterous for the Senate to wait a single
witness.
"Of course" said Mr.. Tillman. everything
can go along lesurely If the Philippine com
1nittee is to smother information"
GARDENER COMING HOME SOON.
Mr. Allison pointed out that nobody objected
TO the testimony of Major Gardener His regi-
ment would leave the Philippines soon. He init
mated that Major Gardener was particularly
| anxious to be a witness and personally he was
by cable to come to this country in advance
OF his regiment If one witness were To be
called from the Philippines. it might be neces-
sary to get the views of the other thirty odd
provincial Governors, which. he suggested.
might be as valuable those Of Major Car
dener.
Mr. Carmack declared that the report made
| by Major Gardener so startling and impOr-
tant that the Secretary of War had endeavored
to keep It from the Senate and from the Ameri-
can people He insisted that unless the pro-
posed resolution adopted Major Gardener
surely would not get to Washington before Con
Eress adjourned.
Mr.. Culberson explained that the minority OF
the Philippine Committee especially desired Ma
jor Gardeners testimony, because his state
ments had been challenged by Governor Taft
and General Macarthur
Mr.. Lodge, the chairman. said that Major
Gardener ought to appear before the commit
tee Personally he desired to hear his testimony
before Congress adjourned. He suggested sar-
castcally that Major Gardener was particu-
larly important witness because he seemed to
agree in respects with the minority. If
the testimony of provincial governor
desirable, that of the thirty odd other provin-
cial governors probably would be
Has the Senator suggested" interrupted Mr..
Patterson, that the other governors be Called?'
Il make the suggestion now retorted Mr..
Lodge
Mr.. Patterson said the minority had objected
TO the calling OF no witnesses, and, indeed, was
willing that any witnesses should be summoned
who could throw any light on the situation.
MR.. LODGES EXPLANATION.
Continuing Mr.. Lodge said that the minority
of the committee had suggested that Aguinaldo.
Sixto Lopez. Mabini and some prisoners of war
on the island of GUAM II. NJ. Bray, an agent
of the Filipino Junta at Hong Kong, and two
Associated Press correspOndents-Mr. Collins at
Picking and Mr. Martin in Venezuela-be called
as witnesses. The committee had decided not