Evening star., 1902-01-27
Gen. Wheaton's Alleged Criticism
of President Schurman.
BITTER WORDS USED In FHE SENATE
Animated Discussion Over Free
Speech in the Philippines.
TARIFF BILL TAKEN UP

Soon after the Senate convened today
Mr.. Lodge, chairman of the Philippine COM
mittee. favorably reported resolution au-
thorizing that committee to make an inyes-
tigation of the Philippine question, and for
that purpose to sit during the sessions of
the Senate. The resolution was referred to
the committee on contingent expenses
Mr.. Blackburn Hy) presented the Gre
dentials of James B. McCreary, recently
elected senator from Kentucky for a term
of six years beginning on March 4. 1903.
They were placed on file.
Mr.. Hanna tOhio) likewise presented the
Credentials of his colleague, Joseph Benson
Foraker, who was reelected recently to the
Senate for term of six years, beginning
March 4. 1893 They were read and filed.
The Darien Route for Canal.
In Introducing resolution providing for
the appointment Of commission CT ex-
perts to ascertain the cost of an isthnian
canal tunnel five miles In length by what Is
known as the Darien route Mr.. Scott (ly
Val gave notice that at some later time he
would address the Senate upon the subject
Mr. Dubois Qdaho), rising to a question
OF personal privilege, directed attention to
an Associated Press dispatch from Manila
quoting Gen. Wheaton as criticising some
remarks of DIR. Schurmau in a speech at
boston and that the opinion was prevalent
In the Philippines that men were sent to
prison In Manila for saying less.
II think" said Mr.. Dubois, "that in view
of the statements In this dispatch, the Pres
16ent ought to reprimand Gen. Wheaton
and those officers in the Philippines who
are criticising the Senate for its action or
statements regarding the Philippines.
Alleged Remark Denounced
81 don't know who Gen. Wheaton is, but
he probably Is some charity boy appointed
to West Point by a senator or represent
atiye and since supported by the govern
ment. Such remarks as he Is quoted as
having made are, however, outrageous and
indecent"
Mr.. Lodge CMass) suggested that it
would be wise to ascertain before Gen.
Wheaton was reprimanded whether he act
ually made the statements attributed to
him. Gen. Wheaton. he said. was an officer
OF ability and character, and no hasty ac-
ton ought to be taken in such a case.
Mr.. Teller-'T don't think there's any
doubt that Gen. Wheaton said what is at
trtbuted to him.
Mr.. Lodge-"There NAV he a great deaI oi
doubt of it,
Mr.. Teller. continuing said such sit
uation as had arisen was one of the bless
1ngs growing out of the conditions in the
philippines. paddock. he asserted, was
TO De placed upon the mouth of every man.
congressman or private citizen, and all
criticism of the administrations Philippine
policy was to be sIlenced He referred to
the criticism of senators who had anlag-
onized the administrations policy in the
philippines. declaring they had been charg-
ed even with treason.
II suppose" said he. "that no senator
after awhile will be able to read on this
floor the Declaration of Independence with
out subjecting himself to a charge of :n-
citing treason"
He said that if Prof. Sehurman,s speech
had in he
known over there that he proposed that
the Filipinos ultimately should have their
Independence.
Anybody" he asserted, ~"wto will critt-
else the utterances in that speaca would
criticise the Declaration of Independence
Ii he dared to do so'
Mr. Lodge said Mr.. Teller's statement
concerning the Declaration of Independence
was silly" What President Schurman
said in Boston did not. in his opinion CON
Germ the Senate. The only point was
whether general of the United States
army had criticised the Senate 1t did not
appear from the dispatch that Gen. Whea-
ton had referred to the Senate at ALL HE
mad perfect right to comment upon Prot
sehurman's utterances if he wished to. 1t
would De most unusual proceeding to as
sumo that Gen. Wheaton was guilty of any
lndiseretion until he had been heard from.
Press Censorship.
In response to inquiries by MIR. Rawl,,s
tutah) Mr.. Lodge said he did not know
whether newspaper dispatches sent from
Manila were censored or not and he d,d
not know whether the War Department
had or had not taken steps to ascertain
whether Gen. Wheaton had made the state
ments attributed to- him.
AIR Carmack Crenu) questioned the right
OF any officer of the United States army to
eritIclse either the actions or the utter
ahces OF any private citizen.
Mr. Tiliman IS. CT intarrfluted IN cav
that the general commanding the army
had been reprimanded by the President for
agreeing with the admiral of the navy
upon a question on which .all the. people
agreed -, -iFsl1t,7
MI! Mr. Carmack did not think that Mr.
Humans 5 interJectfon was entirely reie-
want.
MIR. Hoar Deprecates PrOceedingx.
Mr. Hoar (Mass) contended that no un-
supported newspaper report on a matter
OF this kind ought TO be accepted by the
Senate He. therefore, deprecated the In
PRODUCTION of the Manila dispatch into the
Senate proceedings. He thought the whole
matter ought to be eliminated from cousjd-
Grafton. as he believed 1t entirely likely
mat Gen. Wheaton would be reproved if
ne had made any statements he ought not
To have made
To Prevent Setlitfeus Utterance.
mp MIR. Rawlins questioned Mr.. Lodge
about acts of the Philippine commission
which were designed TO prevent the discus
sion Of Philippine independence in the
islands. s
Mr.. Lodge said such acts were passad
but they were for the purpose of suppress
ing the insurrectien; that 1t was destrabIe
that peace should be established before in
dependence or the Islands and other uues-
tions be discussed.
Mr. Rawiins said the acts of the conn
mission were suppression of free speech
In the Philippines fNA
air Lodge said that the act related
WHOLLY TO armed fnsurrection in the Islands
hfr- Dubois, reverting to the Whea TON in
cnent. said hes objected to army officers
ctiucisns the Senate or the minority Of
tne fnlilppine committee and saving that
taeir actlon was encouraging the Fflfpinos
ne said that the army officers naturaIIv
wanted the war 10 continue. They were the
people who thrived upon it.
mr Spooner said there should he ro
nasty action in the matter OF Gen. Whea. !.
ton, who. he said. was an officer of high
reputation. The facts should first be as
certained.