Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-05-17
HCONGRESS.
Another Lively Philippine Day
in the House.
Naval Officers and Their Berths Ashore
Starts the Fun.
Democratic Senators Insist on Prolonq-
ing Philippine Debate.

Washington. May lb.-Tha House had
another lively day Of debate, today.
Philippine atrocities ana the Schley
case coming in for considerable atten-
tion. The naval appropriation bill re-
ceived little attention after the more
exciting themes OF debate came up.
Cannon. H., ANA Hepburn, Ia,
brought on the discussion by critics.
ing the extent to which naval officers
secured comfortable berths ashore,
V vhereupOn Williams. Miss, made Il
very sarcastic speech at the expense of
Admiral Crowninshield. during which
Le read 4 poem describing the late head
Of the bureau Of navigation as the
greatest tar THAT ever stayed ashore" 1"
Williams denied the assertion Of
Grow. Pa, that Philippine war methods
were similar to those of the civil War
Cochran. No, re-enforced Williams in
this contention, while Lands. Ind, dis
cussad the resolutions adopted by
Union veterans of Indiana comparing
the copperheads of the present day who
criticised the army in the Philippines
with the copperh"ads of 6l-G5.
---
Before proceeding with the naval bill
the House passed the bill turning over
ID Porto Rico AL the public lands Of the
island ceded to the United States by
Spain. except sites designated by the
President within one year for naval
and coaling stations. military posts. and
other United States purposes.
In this connection Lacey. Iowa. stat
al
ought TO have the privilege Of the floor
of the House SO rs to explain such mat
ters as this, instead of being compelled
70 stand around the corridors of Con-
gress.
The bill reported by McCaH from the
ways and mean committee, refunding
the tax on legacics paid under the war
revnue act by religious. charitable, art
and educational institutions was
passed.
The conference report on the omni-
bus claims bill caused lengthy discus
sion.
The motion to instruct the conferees
against the Sclfridgc claims finally pre-
vailed.
Consideration Of the naval bill then
was resumed. the bill being read for
amendment.
Cannon called attention to the num-
crous naval establishments ccntered at
Newport, the war college, the training
station, the torpedo station. and asked
with some irony if the duty of the Of
fccrs ut these posts was not chiefly
during the hot summer season.
Although he admired our navy and
supported the building of new ships,
Cannon said one of the dangers of our
navy was in the fact that one-third Of
the 1900 officers were on dry land.
Williams. Miss, asked who would
deprive naval officers from securing
everlasting renoWn "by staying ashore
ana dcrtlE pulling the strings
With mock gravity ne read 4 poem
beginning:
"NYho is Hrowninshicld. Papa? ?'
TGcrc was much laughter at the con-
Guiding lines Of the poem:
Great CroWninshields, the greatest
tar that ever stayed ashore"
In more serious vein. Williams refer
red to the Sampson-Schley controversy.
Whatever the official conclusion might
TX, the American people. ne said, had
come to the conclusion that Admiral
Schley had had something to do with
the battle Of Santiago. And yet it had
happened hat Historian Maclay had
written history and submitted that
to The great naval authority. troWnin-
shield, declaring that Schlcy had moth
ing 10 do with tn" victory.
Despite the imperial ukasc that the
Schley case must be dropped, Williams
said the American people were not dis
POSED to be stopped in pursuing their
own conclusions. He commented on
the fact that. The committee on rules
hrl buried Il resolution designed to in
vc+tigatn tie charge that Admiral
Crovninshield had rlssed on the
Maclay hiatory.
Rcverting To Grows remarks, yester
day. comparing the Civil War condi-
lions with those in the Philippines, Will
hams declared tnat as an American he
hurried back the comparison. and ne as
serted that never in the civil conflict
had thcre been an order to MAKE
'-howlmg wilderness or justifyng
murder ana rape by soldiers. Had We
rcached the stage when the armE Vas
greater than The nation, aslaed VIII
iiams. when the criminals in the army
cannot he held up 10 cXecration?
Grosvenor Ohio. said the Maclay-
Crowninshiell resolution had not been
reported. as il would have been mere
sound and fury after the Schley court
of inquiry proceedings.
Grow. Pa. reafiirmed the statement
that the Civil War conditions were
similar to those in the Philippines.
Cochran. Mo. asserted that there was
absolutely no parallel between civil war
conditions and the .barbarities in the
Philippines.
After sending the fortification bill 10
conference the House at 5 o'clock ad-
journed.
IN THE SENATE.