New-York tribune., 1902-01-15
A PHILIPPINE INQUIRY.
Mr.. HOARS RESOLUTION DISCUSSED
N THE SENATE.
Az INVESTIGATION PRCBABLE-MR LODGE
WANTS IT MADE BY THE PHILIP
PINE COMMITTEE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

tween the civil and military authorities in the
Philippines which is having a bad influence on
the situation in the archipelago this fact prob
ably soon will be developed by the Senate
Senator Hoar, who introduced a resolution yes
terday calling for an investigation of the status
and progress of affairs in the Philippines to-
day asked that this investigation be made by
special Senate committee of seven members.
He disavowed any intention to slight the Philip
pine Committee by thus asking for special
committee to do the work and said that on the
contrary, his wish to save the Philippine
Committee from the hard work that would be
involved should his resolution be adopted. Sen
ator Hoar also said that there are many things
connected with the war in the Philippines about
which the public has been in doubt, as. for in
stance. the statement appearing in the news
paIers and twice male in the Senate that Aguin-
aldo had sold out his countrymen. He called at
tention to what he characterized as the con-
hicting reports of General Chanee and Governor
Taft, and declared it was important that the
country should know which Of these officials
had taken the correct view OF the situation
Hence he appealed for a careful special inquiry
by the Senate.
Senator Lodge. chairman of the Philippine
Committee. protested vigorously but respect
fully against his colleagues motion to refer the
resolution to a special committee. While he was
not prepared to believe there was any serious
friction between the military and civil authori-
ties in the islands he did not object to the SEN
ate making the fullest possible investigation
of the conditions in the Philippines, but he in
sisted that his committee was fully competent
and perfectly willing to make a thorough in
vestigation along the lines marked out in the
Hoar resolution The Philippine Committee, as
serted Mr.. Lodge, represented the strength Of the
Senate. and he felt certain that his associates
of both parties that committee would gladly
undertake the task set for them by Senator
Hoar.
Mr. Carrnack, Of Tennessee, minority mem
Der of the Philippine Committee. agreed with
Mr.. Hoar in the belief that things were not
going right in the islands, and that there was
too much friction between the civil and military
officials He had received reports TO this effect
from more than one source and he felt that
the situation demanded the most searching
scrutiny.
In order to cut off further debate at this time |
Mr.. Hoar finally agreed to the proposition of
Mr.. Lodge that the resolution for an investiga- |
ton be referred TO the Philippine Committee |
It is understood to be his intention. however |
insist upon that committees making the full |
est possible investigation and, as a starter. it |
is supposed that Governor Taft will be sum-
moned to testify before the committee when he
reaches Washington, which will be within a
few weeks.
SENATOR HOAR'S ARGUMENT.
Mr.. Hoar after explaining that the purpose Of
MS resolution was not TO interfere with the
work Of the Philippine Committee said that
there ought to be some trustworthy Information |
regarding the in the Philippines, which he |
characterized "a painful controversy" In |
the Civil War, he said, there a committee |
which reported the facts which We're needed for |
the Senate and the country. There were many |
doubt as, for instance, the statement appearing |
in the public press, and twice made in the Sem
ate, that AguinaIdo had sold out his country
We want TO know who promised the |
Filipinos independence" he insisted. Some
charge that Dewey did. and Dewey says they lie, |
and the matter was allowed to stop there"
Was il worth while, he continued. to be con- |
sidering these great questions which involve |
the propriety and good faith and integrity of
dealings with these unfortunate people in |
the matter of their liberty when were in the
dark? He said he wanted to know something |
about the character Of the Filipinos He want |
ed Governor Taft to come before a Senate COM |
mittee. where ne could be asked questions
REPORTS OF FRICTION AT MANILA.
Continuing. Senator Hoar said:
do not know of any one able to give a state
ment Of the truth to the differences between |
Governor Taft and General Chaffee. 1 get some |
GERS Of high rank about the in which |
the is conducted. l have heard Of an in |
Vestigaton now going on in regard to trans |
action which, If true, has covered with a foul |
blot the flag which we all love and honor. |
think there should be place where any Senator |
who makes such a suggestion IN his official re- |
sponsibility can go and say, "I want two wit |
nesses on that subject brought here" and then |
We shall know.
He said he had been taunted by newspapers |
for three four years with. a statement at |
tributed TO General Lawton, to the effect that II
certain people at home would hold their tongues |
there would not be any difficulty with the ISL |
ands. But what the general is understood to |
have said was that we should stop this ac- |
cursed war; it is time for diplomacy, time for |
mutual understanding
There is no one, Mr.. Hoar declared, who can |
tel whether General Lawton said that or |
whether II is forgery, or whether he said the |
other or it is forgery. General Otis had shocked
'he country by saying should keep forty |
Thousand troops in the Philippines for a |
SiOeraole time, but, instead of that number, we |
nave seventy thousand, and Mr.. Hoar asked |
nc" long were we going 20 keep them there. |
II General Chaffee is right" he said there is |
HcI man in these islands who is not conspir- [
ing against the government and eager for his |
-4Derty Now. give us a little light Take the |
iiiost Jealous men in this body, and give us a |
'llInittee that viii hear the evidence put ques-
80, near Doth sides. and let us know what is |
- outn we are engaged in the unholy office |
.I :. ~ ushlhg out a republic the first great re-
pubhc ever established IN the eastern hem |
pnsre. II we had dealt with this people as |
~ ~ oeaIt with Cuba, we should have had to- |
80 ciNlIlzed, happy, peaceful republic, send |
"eT youths TO our schools, studying our |
50 hhitatng our examples. animated by |
SORE NECK