Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-05-07
WORK OF CONGRESS.

situation occurred on the 18th when the
philippine bill was laid before the senate.
1t reVolved around the order alleged to
have been issued by Gen. Jacob A. Smith
to make the island of Samar bowling
wilderness and to kill all male inhabit-
ants over the age of ten years. Senator
Teller (Col) declared that Gen. Smith, If
he had issued such an order as had been
attributed to him, ought to be dismissed
from the service, as 1t was a disgrace to
the American army and to the American
people. Under special order which al
lowed three hours debate, but which cut
of all opportunity of amendment, the
house passed the omnibus public build
ing bill which will distribute SIT, 405, $50
among ia cities. There was some criti-
cism of the method by which it WaS-pro-
posed to pass the bill without opportu-
nifty for amendment, which Mr.. Mercer
(Neb.), chairman OF the committee, an
swered by stating that If the bill had
been subject to amendment the aDpro-
priations carried by it would have been
increased to $50 900, 900. The consideration
of the agricultural appropriation bill was
resumed, but only seven pages were dis
posed of.
the 30th by Senator Patterson (Col.), d.
recting the secretary of war to order by
cable Maj. Gardener, now in the Philip
pines, to come Immediately to Washing
ton, to appear as a witness before the
Philippine committee, precipitated e
warm discussion and finally the resolu-
ton went over. Senator Culberson (Tex.)
introduced a resolution calling on the
secretary of war for information about
the RECOMMENDATION orders of Gen. Bell
and Gen. Smiths orders to Maj. Waller.
The resolution was not passed upon.
Senator Penrose EPa.) introduced a bill
providing for the readjustment under
the terms of the eight-hour law of the
accounts of the letter carriers and others
who have been employed by the govern
ment since 1868 with the view of paying
them for all the time they have been
employed In excess of eight hours.
bill changing the date of holding the
United States district court at Joplin,
Mo-, was passed. Senator Burton (Kan-),
from the committee on public lands, re-
ported back the bill granting to the Cen
trail Arizona Railway company a right
of-way through the San Francisco noun
tain forest reserve in Arizona with q rec
ommendation that it be passed. notWith-
standing the veto by the president. On
objection the measure went to the cal
endar. The house passed the agricui-
tural appropriation bill and began con-
sideration of the District of Columbia
appropriation bill, the last but two of
the regular supply measures. The Gold
fogle resolution, calling on the secretary
of state for information as to whether
American citizens of Jewish faith were
excluded from Russia, was adopted.
Aguinaldo was the special subject of
discussion in the senate the 1st. As
soon the Philippine government bill
was taken up Senator Carmack (Tenn.1
resumed his criticism Of the Philippine
committee, because of its refusal to call
Aguinaldo and other Filipinos as wit
nesses. He maintained that as ref1ec-
lions by witnesses had been cast on the
character of Aguinaldo he ought to be
permitted ''in all decency' to defend
himself. Both the RosebUt reservation
bill and the sundry civil appropriation
bill received consideration, but not final
action. The house gave most of the day
to the District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill, which was not completed. The
Burleson resolution, calling upon the
war department for copies of all orders
to the commanding officers in the Philip
pines bearing upon the operations in Sa-
mar under Gen. Jacob H. Smith, was
adopted.
A lively debate was precipitated in the
senate on the I'd by Senator Pritchard
| IN. Co., republican, by some remarks he
made on political methods in North Caro-
lima, in the course of discussion of the
Philippine bill. He told of what is called
the "sand cure" in North Carolina, the
victim having his face crushed into the
sand to stihe his cries, while he was be-
ing beaten to intimidate him politically.
Senator Simmons On. Co, democrat, de-
clared that he never heard of such a
practice. Senator Pritchard charged
that the "red shirts rode over the state
to terrorize republican voters. Senator
Simmons denied that statement and in
sisted that the red shirts never had COM
mitted any unlawful act, and as mat
ter of fact intended only to organize the
voters of the state. The Rosebud Indian
reservation bill and the sundry civil bill
were again considered, but not COM
pleted. The house passed the anti-con-
spiracy bill reported from the judiciary
committee without a word of debate.
The amendment providing the machinery
for the enforcement of the personal tax
law of the District of Columbia passed
in 1878 was placed on the District appro-
priation bill rider and the bill was
passed. The bill to provide diplomatic
and consular officers for the republic Of
Cuba also was passed.