The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-04-18
EXTRA SESSION OF THE LEGLSLA.
TIRE

EXTRA SESSION OF THE LEGLSLA.
TURE.
The extra session of the Legislature
was convened at noon, Wednesday,
and adjourned in less than three
hours. The only bills passed were the
ones fixing the State tax levy and the
appropriation bill providing for the
extra expenses ofthe session. Thes So
called Straus combination controlled
the destinies ofthe House of Delegates
and passed an order appointing a
large number of engrossing clerks
and employees whose services were
useless as all this work had been
done before the Legislature met.
The combination has been an expen-
sive luxury to the people of the State
of Maryland and they have paid
dearly for an experience which may
be of valuable use to them hereafter.
1t was the intention of the regular
Democrats to have practically no en-
ployees on the pay roll but they were
powerless to put their good thoughts
into effect, and consequently the tax
payers will be compelled to pay sew
eral thousand dollars additional
without deriving the slightest benefit.
BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION.
The Senate Philippine Committee had
some evidence before them on Mon
day, which, to say the least, was of a
highly entertaining nature, illustrat-
ing quite forcibly some ofthe methods
now being used by our soldiers in
their benevolent assimilation" of
the natives. The testimony was
given by two former volunteer SOL
diers who described what is known as
the water cure" which is used to ex-
tort confessions from our newly &C
quired "citizens." While perhaps it
may be little more refined than that
practiced during the days Of the In
QUESTION, yet it is all the more horri-
flying when we consider the high and
lofty motives that actuated this
country in the beginning of the war
with Spain.
The water cure" is outlined by two
witnesses that were before the COM
mittee. 1t was administered to the
Presidente or chief Filipino official of
the town of Igbaras in the Province
of Iloile on November 9th, 1900.
On the arrival of the troops at the
town he said the Presidente was ask
ed whether runners had been sent out
notifying the insurgents of their pres
ence, and that upon his refusal to
give the information, he was taken to
the convent where the witness was
stationed and the water cure" was
administered to him. This official,
the witness said, was about forty
years of age. When he, the witness,
first saw the Presidente the latter
was standing in the corridor of the
convent stripped to the waist and his
hands tied behind him, with Captain
Glenn and Lieutenant Conger, of the
regular army, and DIR. Lyons, con.
tract surgeon standing near, while
many soldiers stood about The man
was there under a tank which held
about ore hundred gallons of water
and his mouth was placed directly
under the faucet and held open so as
to compel him to swallow the water
which was allowed to escape from
the tank. Over him stood an interp-
refer repeating one word which the
witness said he did not understand,
but which he believed to be the native
equivalent of Confess" When, at
last. the Presidente agreed to tell
what he knew he was released and
allowed to start away. He was not,
however, permitted to escape, and
upon refusing to give further informa-
ton, was again taken as he was
about to mount his horse and the
cure again administered This time
the man was not stripped nor was
he taken into the building. A five
gallon can was brought, and one end
of a syringe being placed in it, the
other was placed in the man mouth
AS he still refused, second syringe
was brought and one end was placed
in the PROSTATE man He still
refused and 4 handful of salt was
thrown in the water. This had the
desired effect and the Presidente |
agreed to answer questions.
The witness said further that this
benevolent cure was resorted to in |
order to compel the Presidente to re-
veal his own attitude, and that it had
been learned from his confession that
while protesting friendship for the
United States he was in reality cap
tain of tile insurgent forces and that
his police were all soldiers. AS 4