New-York tribune., 1902-01-29
TEMPEST IN THE SENATE
.SENSA ITONAL PHILIPPINE
DEBATE.
TAUNTS AND CHARGES HURLED BACK
AND FORTH-PERSONAL ENCOUNT-
ERS NARROWLY AVERTED,
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

EhS NAhhoh AN
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
washington. Jan. 2S-A statement made by
Senator Spooner to-day with regard TO the scope
and purposes of the Philippine Tariff bill may
restrict the debate on that measure to much
narrower limits than had been intended by the
Democrats. The Wisconsin Senator without
tering into an elaborate discussion of the merits
Of the bill, called the attention of the minority
TO the fact that if the Democrats desired TO
give 10 the debate on the Philippine question at
this session Of Congress a political turn they
ought TO wait until the bill providing civil gov
eminent for the islands is reported by Senator
Lodges committee. The pending measure he
declared. is designed simply to establish reve-
nue. producing system for the Philippines. and.
as set forth in the title Of the bill, it is tenn
porary and emergent. He contended that this
feature robbed the bill of all semblance of per-
rnanent party policy declaration of party
principle in colonial government. In this sense
II was on all fours with the Foraker Revenue
bill for Porto Rico, which was passed by the
last Congress just on the eve of a national cleo
tiou and was overwhelmingly Endorsed by the
American people. But the civil government
hill he asserted, would contain features
which the Democrats could descant to their
hearts content about imperialism" "the con-
stitution following the flag proprio vigore,"
etc. If the minority leaders take this view of
the pending bill it is probable that the debate
will be comparatively short. and that the Sem
ate will reach a final vote on the measure within
the next two weeks.
SPOONER STIRS UP TILLMAN.
Senator Spooner was kept on his feet much
longer after he had made this statement than
il had been his purpose TO occupy the floor at
IIa c+irr I'M r11ioh the
Democratic side of the chamber by his sarcastic
thrusts, and brought the fiery Tillman of South
Carolina TO his feet with bound several times
Mr. Bacon, of Georgia, and Mr.. Rawlins. Of
Utah, also became excited, and showered the
Wisconsin Senator with questions regarding the
colonial policy of the Republicans and the power
Of Congress TO levy discriminating tariff duties
against the insular possessions Mr.. Spooner
urhesitatngiy asserted that under the fourth
article Of the constitution Congress was en-
pov-ered to dispose of the Philippines, Porto
Rico Arizona New-Mexico any other terri
tory Of the United States Finally Mr.. Tillman
taunted Mr.. Spooner into a denunciation Of
lynching at the South, and result the air of
the Senate cracked with sectional wrath for
Mr.. spooner declared that if the same rule
were to be applied TO the colored people in the
Philippines Mr.. Tillman referred to in the
South. then God help the colored man in the
Philippines"
God help him in the Philippines nowr' shout
ed the South Carolina Senator, passionately.
You have already butchered in three years
three times as many the Spaniards did in
three centuries"
1T is one thing" retorted Mr. Spooner "to
XIII men with arms IN their hands against the
government and against the flag. 1t is another
10 burn them"
Senator Teller, who for week has been
the minority programme for the first long talk
in the debate this week drew a hot fire from
Senators Lodge and Beveridge the question
OF military censorship Of press dispatches in the
Philippines. Senator Lodge had emphatically
avowed yesterday that there was no longer
press censorship in the islands. but Mr. Teller
saw fit to ignore Mr.. Lodges denial and assert
positively that news from the Philippines was
being suppressed or colored by the military
authorities
Once when Senator Teller taunted the Re-
publican Senators by declaring that they knew
the statements made in a recent dispatch from
Manila IN which General Wheaton was repre-
sented criticising the opponents Of the gov
ernments policy in the Philippines, were true
half dozen Republicans were on their feet in
an instant. Senator Lodge, at whom the taunt
seemed 10 be particularly aimed, hurriedly
crossed from his seat in the centre of the Re
publican side TO the main aisle of the Senate.
and. white 10 the lips, pessionately challenged
the statement of the Colorado Senator, and de-
nanded that he withdraw it. Senator Teller so
modified the statement that further hostlities
at that time were ayerted.
TELLER AND BEvERIDGE CLASH.
Senator Lodge and Senator Teller became in
Volved in a heated colloquy that was aggra-
waited by Mr.. Beyeridge taking part in it. The
Indiana Senator visited the Philippines again
last summer. and said positively, upon a per-
sonal knowledge Of the facts, that the press
censorship had been completely abolished in the
Islands Mr.. Beveridge interjected a speech
while he had the floor. and this so maddened
Mr.. Teller that in flaming wrath he declared
That during a service of twenty-five years in
The Senate he had never witnessed such i'm
pertinence as that exhibited by the Indiana SEN
ator. Dir. BeVeridge started TO reply to this
lnrust IN kind, but further colloquy checked
py Senator Frye, the president pro tem. who
feao the rules which forbid Senators to speak
out Of order. AS Senator Teller and not SEN
ator Beveridge, under this rule had the floor,
me latter unable to "get back" at Mr..
Teller
Old Senators say it has been years since there
mas been such hurricane of bitter vtuperation,
OF personal taunt, of angry charges and of un-
modified criticism witnessed to-day. Not
slnce the discussion Of the resolutions leading UP
10 the Spansh-Anerican War have any scenes
occurred in the Senate comparable with those
or to-day. Even that debate lacked the per-
sonal bitterness manifested at times to-day.
oace OF twice personal encounters between Sen
ators seemed imminent.