New-York tribune., 1902-04-30
SMITHS ORDER DISCUSSED
SPIRITED PHILIPPINE DEBATE IN THE
SENATE, MR.. TELLER LEADING
THE OPPOSITION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

Democratic
slflon, took occasion again to-day to lecture the
Republican leaders in the Senate for neglecting
the oratorical opportunities offered them by
rrotracted discussion OF the pending Philippine
Civil Government bill. 1t seems almost a crime
apparently, in Mr.. Teller's eyes that Senator
having chance to vent his wisdom without
limit in the columns of The Congressional Rec
ord" should deliberately decline to furnish
copy" for the typesetters in the Public Printing
Office AS nobody else was ready to go ahead
to-day with the debate on the Lodge bill the
colorado Senator volunteered make himself
stop gap, and he also served the rather para
doxical notice on the Republicans that unless
they promised to talk more he would never
never consent to fixing a limit to the Philippine
debate. Mr.. Teller then went ahead to deliver
a Philippe somewhat similar to those heard
yesterday and last week against the military
programme announced by Generals Chaffee and
Smith.
spirited discussion Of the Philippine situa-
ton revoived around the order alleged to have
been issued by General Jacob H. Smith to make
the island Of samar a bowling wilderness and
to kill all male inhabitants the age of ten
The debate took a wide range, however, and
many other points We're discussed.
Mr.. Rawlns, Of Utah, made a personal state
ment as TO report Of his speech made by The
Associated Press that he had, in effect, char
acterized General Chaffee as bastard villain"
on account Of the alleged barbarities committed
in the Philippines. Mr. Rawlins said that an
unintentional injustice had been done him, and
quoted from his speech in which he said:
/ am unable to fix the responsible head and
emanation Of these barbarities which would
disgrace the annals of even q seni-civilized
country, not to speak of the nation which claims
TO hold alcft the escutcheon Of honor and justice
and fair dealing. Did Chaffee, alone unaided in
coldness end brutality, and in savage and
relenting disregard Of every humane sentiment
or possibility OF human suffering, conceive this
Ubiquitous scheme? Whence? From what dia-
bolical source was it derived? The American
peopls ought to know. Is there any penalty be-
meath the sun adequate to be meted TO
the bastard villain who has thus brought dis
honor upon the American and the Anneri-
can people?
MR.. LODGE PRESSING FOR A VOTE.
Mr.. Lodge, in charge of the bill, insisted that
the debate should proceed a reasonable time
be fixed for vote
Mr.. Teller inquired If the debate on the Re
publican side had ceased.
Mr.. Lodge replied that at this stage Of the
session he could not consent to put aside the
bill without debate the fixing of a reasonable
time for vote.
Mr.. Teller declared that, so far as he was
concerned, time should be fixed for a vote
until it evident that different course was
te be pursued by the majority. He said that
unless he knew there disposition on the
part of the majority to take UP the greater part
Of the time after a time for a vote had been
fixed there would be unanimous consent for
vote. He said it would not do for Republican
Senators to say that they would not debate the
pending bill. In almost a quarter of a century
of experience in the Senate he never had heard
such arraignment Of the policy of an admin
istration had been made by Mr.. Rawlins Of
Utah. The credit and honor Of the government
were at stake. and Senators the Republican
side ought, II they could, TO attempt to refute
or disavow the utterances made.
GENERAL SMITH DENOUNCED
Discussing the alleged order Of General Smith
Mr. Teller said he understood that General
Smith had tried to justify his order by what is
known as the " Tom Ewing order" In the
Civil War by this order the population of two
counties in Missouri was deported and the
property was destroyed.
He was proceeding to characterize the action
of the American army in the Philippines as
cruel and barbarous when he was interrupted
by Mr.. Spooner, Of Wisconsin, with the inquiry,
Does the Senator not remember Fort Pillow"
What does the Senator mean by his refer
ence to Fort Pillow" inquired Mr.. Carmack. of
Tennessee.
Il had in mind" replied Mr.. Spooner. what
has been considered massacre of colored troops /
there
Mr.. Carmack hotly insisted that there no
massacre Of troops killing of prisoners at /
Fort Pillow.
MI Teller was continuing his remarks about |
General Smiths order when he interrupted |
by Mr.. Fairbanks Il do understand" said /
he, that the government approves Of General /
Smiths alleged order. A court martial to try |
General Smith ordered the in |
formation concerning the matter reached Wash |
ington-"
Mr.. Teller replied that according to a news |
paper article he had read TO the Senate. the in
formation had been in Washington many |
months. but he knew nothing about the matter |
himEelf. He offered amendment TO the Dill |
providing for a commission to be appointed by |
The President and TO consist Of not less than
seven nor more than fifteen persons, to proceed
to the Philippines and try to secure a lasting
peace between the United States and the Fill
pinos the United States to pay the commits
soners salaries of $4,000 a year and all ex-
Mr Teller said that if General Smith had
issued the alleged order he ought TO be dis
missed from the service In the recoros OF all
the great wars since the Middle Ages" he de-
clared, you cannot find such a dlsgraceIul ana
wicked order as that ISSUED by General smith
Mr. Lodge said nothing was known here OF
General Smiths order until it was pleaded by
Major Waller defence for his action IN
Samar. AS soon as Waller had pleaded ps1s that ts5
decided that General Smith should be court
rrlartialled He said he did not know whether
the order OF General Smith was verbal or Will
ten. :,
MI Carmack insisted that the evidence indi-
Gated that orders Of extreme character ISSUED
in the Philippines were being suppresseG-not-
he believed by the War Department, but by the
military authorities In the Philippines.
In calling attention to the report OF tne sec Sz |
retary of Batangas Province that there had
been SO great mortality In the province as 10
reduce the population from three hundred thou-
sand TO about two hundred thousand, the NOR
taliry being due 10 disease Mr.. Tillman inquired
whether the Philippine Committee had lnFtsti,
lx-- ali n0T-