Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-27

good temper and trenchant dis
play of wit he traced the history Of
what Wheeler had called "trucuIent
sycophancy," as he said, from the
day when the first democratic presi-
dent purchased bogus coat of arms
to the entertainment of Queen
.Liloukalina by the last democratic
president. He finally dismissed the
whole subject by saying it should DE
accepted abroad as one of the
''erratic and sporadic phases OF
American humor"
Washington, D. c., Feb. 20.-The
senate devoted nearly its entire ses-
sion to the Philippine question. Mr..
Patterson of Colorado, one of the mi
nority members of the Philippine
committee, delivered his first ex
tended speech and discussed princi-
pally the sedition laws enacted by the
Philippine commission, vigorously at
| lacking the authority of the commits
| sion to enact and enforce such laws.
He maintained that congress alone
| had the power to put in force enact
ments Of that character. He COM
pared information furnished by the
executive departments of the govern
ment with some of the statements of
Governor Taft in his testimony before
the Philippine committee with respect
to the capabilities of the Philippine
people, and declared with some heat
| his belief that Governor Taft mis-
represented the true situation in the
| islands for motives unknown. He as
serted that if the 100000 Christians
in the Philippines were Protestant
Christians the cruelties practiced on
them by the American authorities
would have to stop, as no member of
congress would be able to withstand
the wrath of the Methodists, Baptists,
and Presbyterians of this country. Mr.
| Nelson of Minnesota presented a
| legal and constitutional argument in
support of this governments action in
the Philippine archipelago, and sharp
| ly criticised Mr.. Patterson for inject
! ing into the controversy the question
of sectarianism. Mr.. McCumber of
! North Dakota urged that congress
| should not bind the future now by a
| declaration of a definite policy re-
garding the Philippines, as it was de-
sirable that all possible information
should be in hand before permanent
policy was determined upon.
The house spent the day working on
the Indian appropriation bill. Forty
two Of the 81 pages were disposed of.
Several amendments were adopted
but none of much Importance. An
appropriation for the preliminary
work on a reservoir for the ella river
valley went out on a point of order.
Mr.. Smith of Arizona offered an
amendment to strike out the appro-
priatiOn for the Carlisle school and it
| became the text for a general on
slaught on the practice of educating
Indians in eastern schools. His
amendment was defeated. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald of New York made an attack
on the superintendent of the school at
was charged with permitting the de-
bauching of Indian girls. Mr. Sher-
man, chairman of the Indian COM
mittee, promised to make an investi-
cation.
Washington, D. c.. Feb. 21.-The
senate resumed consideration of the
Philippine tariff bill, the principal
feature being running debate by
Mr.. SpOoner and Mr.. Teller the for
mer defending and the latter attack
| ing the insular policy of the aG-
ministration. Mr.. Spooner character
lied Mr.. Wellington's criticism of the
administration as unjust. He read
from a speech of Mr.. Teller's some
years ago in which the latter said
! the flag would not be hauled down
over the territory when once raised
Mr.. Spooner suggested that all these
senators had voted to send troops to
the Philippines to put down the in
surrection. He said the minority
had supported bills from the army
knowing that the army was to be
used in the Philippines and for the
very purpose for which the army was
now being used although they now
advocated the withdrawal of troops
The allegations that Aguinaldo had
been promised independence had
been denied by those who were said
to have made them.
The house passed the Indian APP
preparation bill. No amendments of
Importance were attached. The
house passed a resolution providing
for the investigation of Warden
Nardin's relations to the Shoshono
Indian school. Mr.. Kleberg (dem. Of
Texas, who is German. made
brief speech, deprecating any at
tempt to make political capital out
of the coming visit of Prince Henry.
He said the United States should OK
tend to him and to the great nation
which he represents a hearty well
| come and true American hospitality.
| Washington, Feb. 22-Senators
Tillman and McLaurin of South Caro-
| lima were declared in contempt of the
I senate for fighting on the floor Of
| the senate chamber during debate.
Both are deprived of all rights to
| speak or vote pending further action.
The house passed a bill crediting
| the account of Postmaster Coyne of
Chicago with S74,610, the amount
taken by thieves who cut into the
stamp vault.
Ecuadorian officials have coerced
1