The Washington times., 1902-01-10
SCORES SPOONER AMENDMENT.
Secretary Root Says Measure Breeds
Revolution and Conspiracy.

Revolution and Conspiracy.
Philippine situation to the House Commit
tee OH Military Affairs today at consider
able length. They were of great impor-
tance, and he was given the closest at
tention. The hearing was on the army
appropriation bill.
BY far the most important OF his state
ments was that he regarded the Spooner
amendment as the source of the greatest
difficulty which the United States has in
dealing with the Philippine question. Mr.
Root said that idleness bred revolution
lists and conspirators, and that the cf-
feet of the SpOoner amendment was to
prevent the employment of the Fiiipinos.
No Sale of Franchises.
The amendment also prohibits the
granting of franchises and the sale or
distribution of the public lands. This all
applied to the lower classes. Mr. Root
said that if the Filipino could be given
work whers-he would be making some
thing for himself ne would be much more
contented.
The passage of either the Lodge or the
Cooper bill paving the way for civil gov
ernment and providing for its establish
ment would he thought, do much to re-
lieve the strain OF the present situation.
The presence of 40, 000 troops is now nee
essary, but with the great breeder of con-
spiracy and discomfort namely, idleness,
removed, the Secretary thought steady
reduction of the army in the Philippines
would be possible.
Progress Continues.
Better progress was made last year than
was expected. He expressed the opinion
that peace throughout the islands would
follow in short time after the industries
of the islands were established on u
sound basis.
The situation in Cuba, he said, was very
different from that sthe Philippines. The
United States was the trustee in one case,
he declared, and the proprietor in the
ether. 1t was difficult, he admitted, to
secure the re-enlistment of soldiers who
served in the Philippines.
MIR. Root favored the transportation OF
soldiers and army supplies between the
United States and the Philippines, Hawaii,
and Guam through contracts with private
parties instead of by the present army
transport service. A special bill to en-
able the Secretary to make the necessary
contracts will be introduced. He stated
that the emergency appropriation OF
81 coo. 600 in the bill, to he expended un
der the direction of the President, was
unnecessary. It will be stricken out.
Native Troops Needed.
Secretary Root told the committee that
he did not see how the Government could
use more than 5000 native troops in the
Philippines during the coming year. He
explained the necessity for securing men
who were loyal and the amount of patience
to develop them into soldiers. Congress
provided Cor iorce of u 600 native sol
ders, but up to the present time the force
organized did not exceed 5000, and it was
Secretary Roots o-inion that this force
should not be increased during the coming
year.
The Secretary urged upon the committee
the necessity for appropriating the money
for The annual drill of regular troops at
some big camp ground to be selected by
the army.
Wants More Money.
An incident occurred during the hearing
which attracted some attention, although
it may have no significance. Lieutenant
General Miles is very anxious that his
chief clerk should have an increase in
salary from $500 to $4,000 per annum,
and thus be placed on an equality, as far
as salary is concerned, with the other
chief clerks IL the War Department.
An item was placed in the bill to this
effect, and today Chairman Hull asked
Secretary Root If he knew of any reason
why the increase should be granted. Mr..
Root replied he d;I not
Representative Hull spoke up, saying
that he had no such duties as were per-
formed by the other chief clerks. 1t is
probable the committee viii leave his
salary at s1.S00, il which case the incl
dent will be brought UP in debate on the
floor.