The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-05-16


pine committee is one of the most
iniquitous measures ever presented
to a congress OF the United States"
sad Senator Dubois, Of Idaho, yes
terday when | asked him his opin-
ion of the bill itself "By the pro-
visions ci the bill commission,
composed of three men, Il given The
most absolute powers over the Fill
Limos and their lands. The edlcts
OF the mmission will become laws
unless they are negatively acted up
on by congress, and, even if con-
gres. had the time il would be i'm
possible for i t. jadge Of these
edcts at this distance, ) 900 miies
away. These three men can grant
tran hises 70 whoever they see tit,
and require ID return Tor the same
compensation or no compensation
as they choose. They can lease
land in immense tracts 10 CORPORA
tions for whatever rental they de-
sire. They can grant the privilege
Of cutting timber to such corpora
tions as they may choose to be-
friend, and on such terms "a they
may be disposed to make. 1t is
ridiculous to say that the democrats
are opposing step towards the sell
government to which they believe
the Filipinos are entitled. The
democrats are doing all in their
power 10 save the Fiipinos from be-
ling delivered to an oligarchy which
can sell them, body and soul, from
whose actions they have no redress,
from cespotic government in
which they have no voice.
"a careful reading Of the Philip
pine bill will convince any intelll'
gent person that the Philippine
commission, should the bill become
a law, would have powers that ART
to-day possessed by no European
ruler, save, perhaps, the Russian
Car. There are in the Philippines
!. millions Of acres of rich agriculture
Hands, more than there is in th'
United States west Of the Missouri
river, and the other resources oil tn
islands are beyond computation
| and so long as human nature re
mains human nature, the delega
lion of such plenipotentiary powe
to commission composed Of few
favored individuals is bound to re
suit in corruption. 1t is folly t'
ffplead the high character OF th'
present commission. Its member
may all be dead in month. AS
general proposition, it IS eviden
that the best men in the unltee
States are not going to forsake thei
. homes ard their business interest
, and go to the Philippines to admlpq
. lister the aft airs OF the islands. Tn
men who seek those positions vii
be the usual class Of place hunters
who regularly besiege the Presiden
+, for positions which carry handsom
salaries. The passage OF this bll
will inevitably result in scandals
from which the fair name OF tn
limited States will long suffer-
All last week in the Senate wa
spent in debating the Philippln
bill and the prospects are that al
this week will be spent in the sam
fway. Senator Dubois tells me tha
i he expects to address the Senate OF
: the subject, and Senator Bailey toll
8 me that he would probably do 50
. Senator Foraker will speak for tn
repu blicans and probably Senate
; Spooner. The democrats feel tina
!, they will be derelict III their dut
if they do not completely expose I
the public the situation in the i
lands, and the probable results .
= the republican policy, which i W
& American in every detail.
. The sudden death of three demo
!, cratic members of the House OF Rel
! rese natives early last week, Messr'
q Cum mings, Otey and Salmoi
= seemed about to be followed by al
other on Friday, when delega
= Smith, Of Arizona, exhausted wit
'sIhis efforts in behalf Of the Terr
altorial Omnibus bill, concluded
!, speech in favor Of the bill and fe
: inse nsible with a slight stroke OF al
Fortunately, however, NJ
- Smith soon showed signs OF reco'
- ery, and is now regarded by b
4 physicians as out Of danger. II
,albill passed the House with the pr
4. q Iyisionthat the constitutional conve
ton Of New Mexico might chan
the name Of that territory on its
!, ! coming a state, AMI that the CD
arvention Of Oklahoma should ado
an irrevocable statute to the ell
that the Federal government shou
have the privilege OF attaching
the new state any or all OF lnui