The Washington times., 1902-06-21
Mr.. Jones Advocates the
Abandonment of the
Eastern Archipelago.
TRADE NOT FOLLOWING FLAG
Asserts That United States Could Sc
cure All Desirable Advantages With
out SOveTeignty-Capability of Ma
ton fer Self Government.

Debate on the Philippine civil govern
ment bill was continued in the House
yesterday and last night In all eight
speeches were delivered upon the meas
ure.
Only passing interest was manifest dur
ing the day in the discussion. although
there was a fair attendance during a por-
tion of the time. At the evening session
there was at no time more than fifty
members on the floor, and this number
dwindled to so few that an adjournment
was taken a half hour before the stipu-
lated time.
For the most part the speakers were
not interrupted. although Mr.. Hamilton.
during the delivery of his remarks. at
one time engaged in colloquy with Mr..
Williams of Mississippi.
Nj. Jones Concludes Speech.
When the consideration of the measure
was resumed Mr. Jones (Dem., Va.) took
the floor and concluded his speech, op-
posing the bill and in favor of the mi
nority substitute. He was followed by
Mr. Hamilton in an eloquent and careful
ly prepared speech in support of the Ad-
ministrations Philippine policy.
The other speakers were Mr.. Kahn
Rep., Cal.), in favor of the bill, and Mr..
Patterson Dem, TENN, opposing it.
At the evening session Mr.. Adams
CRep., Pa.) advocated the measure, and
Mr.. Kern Dem. Ill.,, Mr.. Robinson
c. opposed the bill.
Continuing his remarks upon the
measure. Mr.. Jones argued that the
Philippines were capable now of self
government, quoting in support of this
contention the statement of Admiral
Dewey. members of the Sehurman Com
mission and President Mckinley.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, he said, was native Filipino,
and corfessedly the ablest man on the
bench. although four distinguished law
yefs had been sent out from the United
States 10 fill places thereon. Provincial
governors were natives, elected by the
natives; their secretaries were natives.
and on the first of last January there
were 3.134 natives in official positions
under the Philippine Commission and
1,s72 et-baggers.
And yet it was said that they were not
capable of government.
The native employees drew annual sal
aries aggregating S1,450, 900, while the
earpet-baggers, half as many in num-
Der. drew 81, ,33S, 900.
The Republicans, Mr.. Jones said. took
great credit for having sent 200 school
teachers in.o the islands, but they do
not tell that these found 1000 native
teachers already on the ground.
Unsatisfactory Conditions.
The financial and commercial features
of the Philippine problem, Mr.. Jones
asserted. were not satisfactory. statis-
tics showed that the trade between the
United States and the islands did not
indicate the rate of increase that was
noticeable in the trade of the United
States with other countries.
IF trade ever did follow the flag. "
ne adoea. 1t mas got weary and is no
longer doing so.''
Had all the trade been pure gain. said
MI Jones, it would be but small re-
turn Tor the hundreds of millions the
United States had sGuandered in the ISL
ands trying to enforce its sovereignty
over its people. These expenditures had
been estimated by intelligent authority
from five hundred to six hundred mil
lions, but the Secretary of War had re-
ported that the total was $40 900. 900.
Mr.. Jones said he had not had an op-
portunity to examine the statement, but
he had no doubt everything that could
be had been excluded. so as to make the
total the smallest possible minimum
sum, for throughout the entire history
of the matter the Secretary of War had
proved himself TO be partisan.
Mr. Jones turned his attention to the !
charges Of cruelty against the soldiers |
in the Philippines dwelling at length |
upon the Smith Waller Samar order.
Wholesale Indictment Not Justified. |
Admitting all that was charged. Mr. |
Steele Rep., Ind) said it did not justify |
q wholesale Indictment OF the army and |
Of the Administration. He did not as
iert that Mr.. Jones had taken that stand |
but he had read of such a general in |
tctment being made elsewhere.
Mr.. Williams (Dem., I'D interjected |
! remark TO the effect that officers of |
he army had said and charged much !
worse things against the men than any
,enator or Representative had done.
Concluding his speech, which occu-
pied two hours and forty minutes. Mr.. |
Jones said the United States could Sc
cure for itself every desirable and neces-
sary advantage in the Philippine ISL |
ands without holding possession of them. |
Were il 10 hold them, said he, 1t would |
be drawn into the inevitable war in the
Orient, the force and effect of which |
would shake the civilized world.
Mr.. Jones received an enthusiastic ova-
tion from his political associates at the |
close Of his s-eech.