Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-06-24
DEBATE IS NOW WARNING Up
Leaders in House Clash Over Civil Govern
ment Bill Under Discussion.
COMPARE cRUELTIEs or TWO WAR;
Mahon Paradep AndersonviIIe Horror
and Makes Prediction that Amer
lean People VIII stand by the
Boys in Blue.

| WASHINGTON, June 2s.-Debate on the
civil government bill warmed up in the
house today and henceforth promises TO be
| of much livelier character. The increased
interest is due to the injection into the
debate Of q comparison Of the cruelties
charged to have been practiced in the
Philippines with those which occurred dur
ing the cvil war. The subject has been
lightly touched upon once or twice. but
attracted little attention. until Mr.. Grosve-
nor Of Ohio today revived the memories
OF the extremities TO which Grant and Jack
son we're put to during the rebellion. This
was followed late in the day by q speech
from Mr. Mahon Of Pennsylvania. In which
he paraded the horrors OF Andersonville
and Libby prisons. He predicted that in
the coming elections the American people
| would stand by 'the boys in blue"
Mr.. Grosvenor in his speech also defended
the rules OF the house against the criu-
cism passed upon them and paid q high trib-
ute to Speaker Henderson's imkpartiality.
| Mr.. De Almond Of Missouri spoke at
| considerable length in opposition to the ad-
ministration's Philippine policy.
| The other speakers today were Messrs.
olmstead of Pennsylvania, Williams of IL
linois, Corliss Of Michigan and w. W.
Kitchen of North Carolina.
Take Up Minor Business.
Some routine business preceded the re-
sumption Of the debate upon the Philippine
civil government bill. Bills were passed to
make Great Falls, Mont, the port Of entry
for the collection district comprising Mon
tana and Idaho; to authorize the secretary
OF war to issue duplicates OF certificates Of
discharge instead of certified copies, as
| dad
the privileges Of transportation OF dutiable
merchandise without appraisement to the
supports of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash. to
authorize the secretary Of the treasury to
bestow medals upon First Lieutenant David
S. Garvis, Second Lieutenant F. B. Bertboff
and Surgeon S. J. Call Of the revenue cutter
service.
A resolution was adopted calling upon
the secretary Of war for information as TO
any payments made by Governor General
Wood to F. B. Thurber and any other per-
sons corporations, together with the
dates and amounts of such payments, for
advocating for reciprocity with Cuba.
The consideration OF the Philippine civil
government bill then was resumed and Mr..
De Armond of Missouri made a general
speech in opposition to the policy of re-
tanning the islands.
Mr.. Olmstead Of Pennsylvania, who sue
ceeded the present secretary OF the navy
as a member of the insular committee
followed Mr.. De Armond.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio then took the
floor and unfsr the latitude allowed in
general debate discussed at some length
the criticism Of the rules OF the house re-
Gently INDUCED in by Mr.. Cushman OF
Washington and others. Through the
operation of the old rules and methods
N fba
the house had become powerless to trans
act business. He pointed out that in the
Fifty-sixth Congress Mr.. Cushman, as we'll
as other critics Of the rules, had voted to
continue them in force.
Defends the Army.
In conclusion Mr.. Grosvenor spoke briefly
in defense OF the army in the Philippines.
In no modern war had there been less OF
brutality and retaliation than In the war
in the Philippines. That. he said, would
be the verdict Of history. II everything
that had been said OF General Jacob Smith
were true he could find its counterpart on
both sides during the civil war. He then
proceeded to read a report from General
Grant to the government at Washington,
telling OF the arrangements he had made to
carry desolaton everywhere through the
Shenandoah valley; to seize all men under
30 years OF age as prisoners of war; TO
destroy crops and make the valley bar
ren waste"
Before Phil Sheridan got through he
made it a barren waste" said Mr.. Gros-
venor.
He then read from the letters Of Stone
wall Jackson (edited by his wife), a state
ment that jackson believed that the black
flag should be raised and no quarter given.
as the best means Of resisting invasion. and
saying that he had urged this policy upon
Lee. He also read a telegram from Gen.
eral Beauregard. urging the passage OF a
bill providing for the execution Of prisoners.
this telegram: England would be stirred
to interfere"
Mr. Grosvenor said he did not read these
things to rekindle the spirit OF opposition,
but to show how deplorable war always was.
When that bill was introduced in the
confederate congress" interrupted Mr..
Bartlett OF Georgia, mad not Lincoln is
sued a proclamation TO seize the citizens
OF the valley Of Virginia and try them by
court martial, and had they not been
seized?"
II don't know" replied Mr.. GrosYenor.
THAT is history" declared Mr.. Bartlett.
''If that is true" responded Mr.. Gros-
venor, '1t furnishes only another reason
10 excuse those Of our soldiers who re-
| taliatCd Wnen the natives IN the fulllpplnee
sneaked up and cowardly murdered their
comrades.
williams Opposes Bill.
Mr. williams OF Illinois followed in oppo-
sition 10 the bill He spoke for an hour
lin support Of the policy of giving the
FiIipinos independence. as advocated by the
minority.
Mr.. Corliss Of Michigan made some re-
marks explanatory Of the recent defeat OF
his Pacific cable.
W. W. Kitchen Of North Carolina opposed
the Philippine bill and the Philippine policy
OF the administration.
M Mahon Of Pennsylvania maintained
that the Filipnos were not At for indepsnd-
ence. Speaking Of the cruelties charged
against some of our ofieers and men In the
Philippines be declared that they were not
TO be compared with the barbarities OF the
civil war
He read from ofhciAl reports, tales OF the
horrors suffered by the union prisoners
at Andersonville.
| ssUo nat the oNHrfpI du71rau Ehovy