The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-30
AGREEMENT AS TO THE PHILIP
PINE BILL
BILL EXPLAINED AT LENGTH
by Senator Burrows, who strongly
Urges Enactment of the Majority
Measure-Senator Hoar Reads a
Letter From General Miller and
withdraws Ris Charges Against
the Generai-Commit Amend
ments to tho Bill-Question of Cor
porations' Holdings of Land-House
Gets Back To The silver Question.

Washington. May 2S.-An agreement
was reached n the senate today by
which final vote on the pending Phil
ippine government bill and all amend
ments will be taken next Tuesday at
p. m. o'clock. Pending the vote the
senate will meet at II o'clock each day.
except Friday. when adjournment viii
be taken, it pcing memorial day. On
Monday and tuesday the debate will
be under the ri1teen minute rule.
After some MINOR amendments had
been made to the measure today Senator
Burrows, of Michigan, explained at
length the bill. He strongly urged the
enactment OF the majority measure,
maintaining that 1T would advance the
interests and promote the prosperity
Of the islands. In his Judgment 1t
would be a mistake now to accord to
the Filipinos seif-government and in
dependence. Such a proceeding could
result only in disaster to the inhabi-
tants and to POSSIBLE anarchy in the
islands.
Santor Culberaon inquired If Senator
Lodge could gil, any idea of the scope
Of the inquiry now being made by the
Philippine committee and when the In
Quiry would be concluded.
Senator Lodge said he thought the
inquiry would continue as long as the
session should last.
Unaffected by the disposition of the
pending bill? inquired Senator Gull
berson.
Entirely una ffected by the DISPOSE
ton of the BILL" replied Senat tor Lodge.
Senator Hoa" presented letter from
General NJ. P. Miller. United States
army, correcting what he said was an
error in a recent speech by Senator
Hoar. VINO had said that General Mil
Ter 'notoriously did want an attack
and Aguinaldo met it with speedy de-
fiance,'' etc, tn: reference being to the
issuance by General Miller of Presi-
dent McKinley's proclamation, a part
Of which was suppressed by General
Otis.
In his letter General Miller said Sem
ator Hoar was in error. He said Gem
eral Otis had not informed him that the
presidents proClama ton was not to be
issued in full. He was not anxious for
a fight and always had advised the
Filipinos to accept the sovereignty Of
the United States, as he believed the
United States would grant them their
reasonable desires
Senator Hoar said the letter evidently
was that of a sincere and honest gen.
tleman. He absolutely acquitted Gem
eral Miller from publishing the procla-
nation in order to bring hoStilities
Senator Lodge then offered some
amendments to the bill, all being of
minor character. except those reducing
the amount OF land to be taken up
by one person from 100 acres TO 40
acres. The amendments were agreed
to. In respons' to an inquiry by Sem
ator Teller, Senator Lodge said the
Philippine committee had not deter
mined yet what change, if any, should
be made in the provision OF the bill en-
abling a corpor ton to acquire so. 900
acres Of land. He thought some change
in the provision" might be made, but
what 1t would De he could not say.
House of REPRESENTATIVE
The house spent the day debating the
bill to increase the subsidiary coinage
by coming the silver bullion in the
treasury and 10 RECON- standard silver
dollars as the public necessities may
require. The limit of subsidiary COIN
age is now 500. 900. 900. The bill In
creases this to an indefinite amount in
the discretion of the secretary OF tho
treasury. The bill aroused the oppo-
sition Of the democrats who ella aimed II
was only step In the direction of the
complete striking down Of the silver
dollar. The debate drifted into a gem
erai discussion of the silver question
Very little interest was shown and MIR
Cochran twice made the point that no
quorum was present.
Mr. Newlsnds, of Nevada. finally Of
fered an amendment to make sub
sidiary silver = legal tender and this
amendment was pending when the
house adjourned