Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-04-04
LATE WASHINGTON NEWS AND
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

The mInority members Of the Senate
cpniinittec on the Philippines are con-
| siderins the ndvlsability Of presenting
10 the full committee n proposition for
visit to the Philippine Islands during
the next vacation for III. purpose OF
Investigating conditions there and OF
taking the testimony OF leading Fill
pinos.
The resolution adopted by the House.
providing for tii. election Of United
States senators by direct voies OF tho
people, wns again considered by tho
Senate committee ON privileges aud
elections. but the commltte. adjourned
for two weeks without taking action.
The discussion revealed the fact that u
majority OF fhc committee was op-
posed to the RESOLUTION. The oppon-
| cnis OF the measure assure Its friends,
however. that they Will not object Ia
the making OF "a report tn the Senate
when the discussion shall bc con-
| clulcd.
| President Roosevelt declared the 9TH
or day that 70 long ns he Is In ofiicc
no dcscrtcr from the army or navy
would lind favor with him. The state
mcnt was made to Captains Frank
Bruncr and Fred McDonouIh Of I.y;lo
Post. q. \. H.. OF Cincinnati who
handed In n set Of resolutions from tho
cx-union soldiers OF Cincinnati con-
dcmniug the restoration OF dcsrrtcrs To
the rolls. and approving his course In
vcioing certain bills recently passed by
Congress. They also arranged to pr,-
sent to the President nt the next an
nunl cncnmpmcnt OF the u. A. u. tho
resolutions passed by the I.ytic Pnst
thanking him for the stand he had TAX
La. ssls tn
veterans In the matter of appoint
mcnts.
Major General Il. =. Otis closed his
active career In the army March 9th
by reason OF age and Will 20 Into re-
ilrcment mt Rochester. New York. Tho
War Department paid the unusual
tribute 4, him by Issuing a general or
der ., citing his distinguished services.
not only through the Civil War. but In
bis management at Manila. The order
rccI,cs President McKlnlcy's congrntu-
uniory messages on the occasions OF
Oils success over the Filipinos at Ma
lalos and when Manila was captured.
and concludes: General Otis gees in-
to his retirement with a consciousness
OF duty well done during forty years
OF continuous exceptionally ncritorious
service. which cntitlc him so the grnti-
tudc and best wishes OF his country
men,"
The answer OF the State Department
to the Iticharsison resolution directing
mn Investigation into the charges thnt
SJOO.OOo hnd been used In bribery.
mndc In connection with the Danish
West Indian treaty, Will disclose tho
fact that the United States govern
mcnt has refused to have anything to
to with any persons not dir1ctly con-
ncctcd with the Danish government.
The failure of Congress TO appropriate
the SJ.OOO.OOO which was to be tho
price paid for the islands would not
cause failure OF the transfer OF the
territory. The construction Of tho
treaty by the State Department ID that
directly upon the exchange OF ratificn-
tIons the islands become the property
OF the United States without waiting
the failure OF Congress TO make the mp
preparation would simply leave out
standing debt OF honor.
The Republican members OF tho
House committee on lnsular affairs nrc
rapidly perfcctIng the bill providing
for civil form OF government; for the
Philippines. In the main the measure
as perfected follows that introduced by
Chairman Cooper and favored by
Judge Taft. but subcommittee has
made n number OF changes In matters
OF detail. In It's present form the bill
provides for the institution of civil
government In the Philippines when
the governor shall certify to the Prcsi-
dent that u state OF permanent peace
has been secured. Thereafter n census
is to he held and the islands divided
into districts. A Legislative assembly
Is created, consisting of two houses.
The upper house Is to some extent n
continuance OF the Philippine Com
mission. The lower house. or Philip
pine Assembly. Is to be elected by the
people. The discussion, has Indicated
n strong preference for applying the
gold standard 30 the Philippine COIN
age. allowing the native coins to be
made OF silver. but In all cases having
their value measured by the gold
standard. 1t Is intended also to have
the new coins made of silver bullion
now in the United States treasury,
this being purchased by the lnsulnr aii-
thorities. This gold standard plan is
along the lines. recommended by the
War Department, as the silver coin
age plan proposed before the Senate
Philippine committee found no sup
portcrs in the House committee.
Representatives MondelI of wyo-
ming, Shafroth of Colorado, Jones Of
Washington and Fordney OF Michigan,
have filed n minority report against
the Lacey bill to transfer the control
OF the forest reserves from the inter-
ior department to the agricultural
department. The transfer of the
reserves as proposed by the bill is op-
posed on t he ground that complete
transfer is impractlcable because le-
gal questions relative to the settlement
of rights to lieu land selections, min
Ing rights. etc. must necessarily be
determined by the Interior Depart
ment. Further. that the Interior De-
partment Is well adapted to adminis-
ter all features of forest reserve man.
agement. including policing. while the
Agricultural Department Is not well
qualified for the administrative func-
tions. The report contends that great
additional expense would be incurred
by the transfer, as the Agricultural
Department would be compelled to np-
point receivers of public money and
special agents to perform duties with
In the reserves now performed by the
general land office agents, and the re-
suit would be two forms of forest con-
troll under the government. The pro-
No trun nsfn To