Evening star., 1902-03-05
Senators Object to Questions.


Senator Patterson was pressing General
Hughes as to the motive of General Otis
for requiring the insurgents to retire to the
line designated, when Senators Beverdge
McComas and Lodge objected, saying it
was unfair to the witness to ask the ques-
ton General Hughes said, however, that
Aguinado complied with the order, except
as to one small outlying district, and that
at that time there was no indication of en-
nifty on the part Of the Filipinos.
Senator Patterson, after reading from the
report of General Otis, in which he had
the insurgents on the other. the Spaniards
had been bottled up in Manila, remarked
tnat this statement did not coincide with
that of General Hughes.
why nOt?" sharply asked the general
Mr.. Beveridge vigorously objected to this
line Of Questioning, tending, he said. to
put Gen. Hughes in the attitude of criti-
cising superior officer.
Gen. Hughes, showing some impatience,
said There is no difference between us.
No civilized man would have left Manila
to the insurrectos."
Senator Lodge. addressing Senator Pat
terson with some degree of irritability,
said: You must not ask Gen. Hughes to
criticise his superior officer. l shall not
allow him to be asked to criticise either
his superior officer. his reports or anything
else
Gen. Hughes: Gen. Otis is strong enough
to stand criticism
Mr.. Patterson disclaimed that he was
criticising Gen. Otis, which brought a
quick retort from Gen. Hughes, who re-
marked: Then you are trying to critcse
me-
II am only trying to reconcile the diff
ferences between you and Gen. Otis" an
swered Sena tor Patterson.
IF there are any differences between
Gen. Otis and myself and you will point
them out, l will try to set them right"
replied Gen. Hughes with some warmth of
feeling.
This ended the colloquy and Senator
Rawlins asked a few questions of the wit
ness, intending to bring out an admission
that the initial outbreak occurred outside
Manila. but Gen. Hughes insisted that it
happened inside the town. Gen. Hughes
will conclude his testimony tomorrow.
Governor Taft on Slavery.
Governor Taft was further questioned con-
corning slavery in the Philippines by men,
bers of the House insular committee today
He said the number of slaves who had
been mannmitted was comparatively small
The commission had undertaken no legisla-
ton as to slavery, and the action taken by
the military had been, first. to release Chris
tian slaves, and, second, to prevent slave
trading parties from capturing slaves. Be-
side this, there was the constant moral in
1uence being exerted toward the eradication
of the system.
Representative Patterson Of Tennessee
asked II the dato could inforce the death
penalty against slaves. and Governor Taft
answered that the datos authority extended
to the death penalty, after trial. He spoke
Of the comparatively low state OF the
Moros, who comprise the slave-hOlding
class, and said troops would always be
needed in Moro localities: not necessarily
military government, but civil govern
ment with military force behind it. The
Moros were, he said, warlike, but not for
midable, and he gave an amusing account
Of q war between a sultan and dato, last
ing two months, with the loss of two killed
and four wounded. The governor said
polygamy was confined to the datos and
head men,
Representative Williams of Illinois asked
If any sultans or datos were carried on the
American pay roll.
Governor Taft said he believed Dato
Mandi was as the commission had recon-
mended his appointment as a forest ranger
The Sultan Of Jolo and his datOs, under the
Bates treaty, received stated amounts quar-
and prevent crime. but the Sultan of Jolo
was rather deficient In his duties.
Delegates to Congress.
AS to the proposed new coinage law Gov.
Taft said that If there were differences on
theories of coinage the commission did not
want this to delay the other essential
features of legislation for the island. The
coinage measure involved the maintenance
of the gold standard. which. he believed.
could be done. He thought the adoption OF
the American financial system in the
islands would be disastrous In bringing
about sudden changes. The governor Ia
vored three Philippine delegates to Con-
gress, representing the three great tribes or
elements OF the Filipinos
The committee agreed to close the ex-
tended hearings tomorrow, and Gov. TAFT
will then leave Washington to be gone
about three weeks.