The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-30
PROVISIONS OF The BILL
The REIMBURSEMENT of All Claim of
Sovereignty,
REMAINING IN TEMPORARY CONTROL
Uotil the People Shall Establish Government
and Guarantee the Performance OF
Our Treaty Obligations With
Spliin.
(By the Associated Press.)

washington, March 29.-The Demo-
cratic members of the Senate Committee
on the Philippines today agreed upon o
substitute for the PHILIPPINES Government
Bill to be offered by them. 1t provides
that subject to provisions which are set
forth. the United States shall relinGuish
all cIaium of sovereignty over the Phil
ippine archipelago but that the United
States shall continue to occupy and gov
ern the archipelago until the people
thereof shall have established govern
ment, and until sufficient guara'ntieS
have been obtained for the performance
of our treaty obligations with Spain, and
for the safety of those inhabitants who
have adhered to the United States, and
for the maintenance and protection OF all
rights which have accrued under the au-
thority thereof"
A constitutional convention is provided
| for, the members of which are to be
| elected by voters who speak and write
| the English. the Spanish or any Of the
| languages of the archipelago. This con-
vention is to number three hundred per-
| sons and is to meet in Manila not more
! than a year from the cessation of his
I tilitieS in the islands. This convention
, is to proceed ito form a Constitution aud
| organize such governments as they may
! deem best adapted to promote the well
1 fare and secure the peace and happiness
| of the inhabitants of said islands. Pro-
! cided that said convention shall pro-
| vide by an ordinance, irrevocable with
| out the consent of the United States,
| "First-That there shall belong to the
/ United States and continue to be the
| property thereof. such lands and waters
! as the President of the United States
J shall designate to the said convention for
naval military and coaling stations, and
| terminal facilities for submarine cables,
| the same to continue under the control
and sovereignty of the United States.
"SeCond-To carry into effect the treaty
| obligations of the United States with the
! Kingdom of Spain and for the mainten-
ance and protection of all rights and
property acquired under the authority of
the United States.
"Third-That no inhabitants of said
archipelago shall ever be molested in
person or in property on account of his
! or her adherence to the United States"
/ 1t is then to be the duty of the PreSi-
+ dent of the United States to issue his
| proclamation declaring the independence
of the people of the archipelago.
| The President is also authorized and
| requested to negotiate an agreement be-
| tween the United States, the Philippine
| archipelago and Great Britain, Germany,
| France and such other powers as he may
deem best, providing for the perpetual
neutrality and invioIability from all
! foreign interference with the territory of
! the archipelago, and also for equal OPP
portunities of trade between the archi-
/ pelago and foreign countries.
Full amnesty IS granted to all the in
habitants of the islands on account of
political offences and the bearing of
arms against the United States.
Within sixty days from the election of
officers under the Philippine Constitu-
tion and their Inauguration, the President
to cause the armed forces of the United
States to be withdrawn from the archi-
pelago as speedily as possible.