The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-01
Democrats Assal the Re-
 .publicans. PHILIPPINE BILL IS UP
Patterson Desires Gardener
 Summoned to Testify.
Lodge Declares That the Majority or His Committee h Not seeking to Suppress Truth Concerning
 Conditions Prevailing.

Washington, Aprl oV.-A iSeo fered in the Senate today by MT. Pat terson tCol) directing the Secertary or War to order by cable Major Gardener now in the Philippines. to come im"e- diateIy to Washington to appear as q witness before the Philippine Committee precipitated warm discussion. The debate continued for about two hours, con siderable feeling being manifested oh both sides of the chamber. The charge was made by the minority that the ma iority of the committee was endeavoring to suppress facts and information. This was denied by the chairman of the com mittee. MT. Lodge. who said that any such action would be inconceivaoiy stupid, He said Major Gardener was about to come home and would be here in time to appear before the committee. MT. Patterson and MT. Carmack urged that Gardeners testimony was particu- larly important and that it ought to be had before action was taken on the pend- ing bill. The resoiution finally went over until tomorrow.
 In the preamble to the resolution Mir. Patterson declared that the Philippine committee had decided by partisan" vote to refuse to ask that Major Gardener be called to appear as soon as he could come to the United States. MT. Mo . Comas raised the question that It was not proper to say that the committee had divided upon partisan" lines.
 Gardener Coming Back.
 MT. Allison said he was satisfied that Major Gardener would reach Washington long before Congress adjourned and there would be ample time to get hls testimony
 Mir. Tillman indicated his belief that information was being "smothered' and he demanded to know from MT. Lodge whether he proposed ito dragoon fae Senate into vote upon this measure.
 Mir. Lodge replied laughing that he wished he could dragoon the Senate into a vote on the measure but MT. Tillman knew he could do nothing of the kind He believed it would be preposterous for the Senate to wait on single witness.
 "Of course" said Mr. Tillman. every thing can SC along leisurely if the Philip pine committee is to smother informa- tion."
 Mir. Allison pointed out that nobody objected to the testimony of Major Gar dener His regiment would leave the Philippines soon. He intimated that Major Gardener was particularly anxious to be a witness.
 MT. Carmack. (Tenn.) declared that the report made by Major Gardener was so startling and important that the Secre- tary of War had endeavored to keep it from the Senate and from the American people. He insisted that unless the pro- posed resolutions was adopted, Major Gardener surely would not get to Wash nston before Congress adjourned.
 MT. Culberson (Tex.) explained that the minority of the Philippines committee especially desired Major Gardeners testi- mony because his statements had been challenged by Governor Taft and General Macarthur.
 MT. Lodge the chairman, said that Major Gardener ought to appear before the committee. He suggested sarcasti- cally that Major Gardener was partic- ularly important witness. because he seemed to agree in some respects with the minority.
 Wants a Few Others.
 If the testimony of one provincial gov ernor was desirable, that of the thirty odd more provincial governors probably would be.
 Has the Senator suggested interrupt ed MT. Patterson. that the other Gov ernors be caled?"
 "I make the suggestion now" retorted MT. Lodge.
 Mir Patterson said the minority had ob- iected to the calling or no witnesses, ana, indeed, was willing that any witnesses should be summoned who could throw any light on the situation.
 Continuing MT. Lodge said that the A minority of the committee had suggested N that Aguinaldo. Slxto Lopez, Mabini and 8 some prisoners of war on the island of N Guam; H. H. Bray. an agent of the Ffli- .% pino Junta at Hong Kong, and two As sociated Press correspondents, MT. Col lns at Pekin and MT. Martin in Vene- zuela he called as witnesses. The com mittee had decided not to call them for various reasons. The committee thought that the testimony of Filipino prisoners was not desirable Bray was British subject, and the two correspondents were inaccessible. Admiral Dewey and Gen eral Anderson. he said would appear as witnesses and the list of witnesses was ot sufficient length to occupy the committed until adjournment of Congress.
 MT. Carmack said Major Gardener haC made a grave accusation against military ! conduct in his province. and he believed the accusation demanded investigation He insisted. however. that the majority of the committee was not eager to ge information. He then sent to the clerk desk and after some objections from Mir Lodge and a brief spat between the two had read q synopsis of a statement whicl Mir. Atkinson expected to have made tt the committee.
 The Senate at 5:2O p. m. adjourned.