The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-03-20
Otis CONCLUDES
HIS TESTIMONY
Explains Message of Con-
graduation to AguinaldO.
REFERRED TO TIE SPANIARDS
Says if the United States Had Adopted
Recommendation Made by Him Looking
Toward 4 Peaceful Solution Of War,
State Of Anarchy Would Have Followed

Major General otis continued and con-
cIuded his statement before the Senate
Philippine Committee this morning.
Senator Patterson quoted extracts from
letters OF General Otis to AgulnaIdo. com
pIimenting him and his forces for the
sacrifices which they had made in the
interest Of civil liberty and for the vel
fare Of their people" and he asked the
general whether he aad meant all that
hen he wrote il
Yes" he SAID. q referred to driving
the spaniards out ."
Senator Patterson read this extract
from one of General Otis letters to
Agpinaldo:
Rather than see the ships Of the navy
Of the United States controlling the nav
igable waters OF the islands, / shall ad-
wise my Government that there is no
longer need TO send more troops" and
asked what the general meant TO convey
I did not General Otis replied. want
10 see any war wanted 20 conquer by
peaceful means, and also TO give them
The impression that there were more
troops waiting"
senator Hale-What would have hap
pened If you had made that reeommenda-
tion. and II our Government had taken
you at your word and sent no more
trooDs2
General Otis-Anarchy throughout the
islands
Senator HaIe-Would you have pre-
ferred anarchy.
General Otis-No.
Referring to General Otis report Of the
results CT a commission appointed by him
self on the one side and by AguinaIdo as
/ commander -in-chief Of the insurgent
forces. On the other. Mr.. Patterson asked
the general whether be had meant 70 say
that the Filipino commissioners were
begging for some tangible concession from
the United States Government which they
could present to the people that might
serve to alIsy the excitement: but that
he could make no concession without the
status OF soRls OF the attributes OF SOW
ereignty. and that certainly that could
not be done BY him under existing 1u-
thority.
General otiS-Every word Of that is cor
rect
Senator Patterson-So that on Janrary
1s. 1899. you had received through mis-
commission. statement from she Fill
pinos that their aspirations we're for in
dependence.
General Otis-That is the report which
they made 10 me.
General Otis was asked 10 express his
views on the points made in the memorial
OF the American Chamber OF Commerce Of
Manila. and he did so briefly, one by one
As 10 the sale and settlement OF the Gov
erument lands in The islands be favored
that proposition under limitations similar
70 the homestead laws.
He also favored the enactment Of
general system Of mining laws; the pro-
1uction OF the forests. and restrictions as
70 the cutting OF timber.
As to franchises, he said that the time
/ had arrived when franchises should be
granted for the building OF railroads con-
Meeting different parts Of the island OF
Luzon. also street railways
AS to labor, he thought that the intro
duction OF coOlie labor on a large scale
would be dangerous, and that the Chinese
exclusion act should be enforced.
AS to the eOastwise trade, he favored
( the extension CT the American shipping
laws 20 the islands He objected TO free
trade, which would, he said. deprive the
/ islands OF the necessary revt uues and i'm
( pose a large tax on the people OF the
United States
He was in favor Of a uniform stable cur
on manufactured tobacco. spirits. aud
/ malt liquor. He did not think free zone
around Manila desirable.
This closed the statement OF General
Otis and the committee adjourned.