The Elbert County tribune., 1902-06-12
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

position TO granting concessions 10 Gu
ba on the ground that 1t VIII interfere
with the interests of the beet sugar in-
dustry of the country. He urged on
these senators united action or purpose
and expressed the hope that the Re-
publcans would act together. The
President again assured the Republi-
cans that in urging action on reciproci-
ty. he would carry out the announce
ment of President Mckinley. uttered
sn his last speech with such particular
approval throughout the country The
President Indicated that the adoption
of the Plat amendment made it OBJ
ligatory upon the United States to
treat Cuba differently from other ma
tons.
Representative James NJ. Robinson
of Indiana, one of the lending Demo
Gratis In the House. has announced his
opposition to the national irrigation
bill now pending. Mr.. Robinson says
the bill, from the point of economical
administration. is one OF the most dan
gerous measures that Congress has
been called to acton in years He de-
clares the objections to it are so many
and so forceful that they can scarcely
be named within the compass of
readable article. He asserts that rail
roads subsidized by land grants. and
officeholders who want continuance of
jobs and places for relatives and those
who expect 10 share in the exploitation
and jobs that viii be necessarily Incl
dent. are promoting IT.; that agricul-
tural and mineral colleges In each state
viii suffer and the taxpayers of the
larger states will suffer In contrlbut-
ing for an enterprise which in no way
affects them advantageously-
construction of the $4.OO0000 dam at
FL Paso. in order 10 compensate Mex
leo for damages on account OF alleged
usurpation of the waters of the Rio
Grande. has given notice of an amend
ment he proposes to offer to the bill
authorizing statehood for New Mexico.
Arizona and Oklahoma. when 1t comes
up. This amendment will provide that
the government shall retain control of
the waters of the Rio Grande. Ii Is
rumored that the Elephant .Buttes
Dam Company, which is one Of the
chief factors in opposing the construc
tion of the International dam. will be
backed by the Santa Fe Railway Com
pany in the construction of its dam in
Mexico. II is proposed to make the
dam much larger than was at first in
tended and thus be able to grant to
L
able price for which IT has been CON
tending and provide for greater scale
nf operations in the Rio Grande valley.
Felipe Bueneamino, former secretary
of state in Aguinaldo's Cabinet. was
heard through an Interpreter by the
House committee on insular affairs.
Chairman Cooper asked Senor Buen-
camino why he had come to the United
States He said he was here represent
ing the Federal party. and the infiuen-
tial element of the insurgents and the
Katipunan society. He said his coun-
try, the Philippines. WAS like sick
.man convalescing from II dangerous Ill
ness. 1t was still bleeding from the
wounds of war. Its aspirations were
those of Washington. liberty with jus
tice, under American society. which
they loved. They looked to Congress
to give them just and liberal govern
ment He detailed the facts connected
with the early uprising of the Filipinos.
Aguinaldo was an idol. and the people
believed him when he told them that
Dewey had promised them indepen-
dence. He revived all that had been
done since the outbreak. and spoke of
the gradual extension of American au-
thority and practical pacification of the
greater part of the Islands. There
were now SpO municipalities eSthD-
lished. and they had proved satisfac-
tory. Under the Taft system, he said,
the Filipinos have greater liberty than
they would have enjoyed under the
Aguinaldo government had 1t been es-
tablished Governor Taft now was the
idol of the people. He said the people
of the Philippines would have their
political status fixed, whether they are
Americans or Filipinos. He preferred
that they should he Americans. The
happiness of the people depended upon
American sovereignty I'VE would like
TO know what we are" he said, with
emphasis. Are we Americans or are
we Filipinosi This is the question i'm
pressed upon me by the Federal party
and by the Filipino people" He ap-
proved the plan of legislative assem-
bly, of the Filipino people. But" said
he. "do not call 1t Filipino assembly:
let the members meet as Americans,
and let the assembly be American"
After showing his authority. Senior
Buencamino produced n large photo
graph showing fifty or more Filipino
leaders, with himself in the center and
n large American shield above them.
He also said that he spoke for such in
surgent leaders as General Trias and
the entire general staff of General Nal
war, and he presented statement
from General Trias Indicative of this
attitude.
Truman G. Palmer of Chicago was
n witness before the Senate committee
on Cuban relations. For the past four
years Mr.. Palmer has been engaged in
a., .xf ft,t.