The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-22
PEOPLE WILL DECIDE
AS TO PERMANENT RETENTION OF
PHILIPPINES.
NOT CONGRESS, SAID MADDOX
MUCH TALK ABOUT ARMY IN DE.
BATE YESTERDAY.

800 ~ ~ thC "
With Spain, But the Devil Has
Been Running Things Since, Said
the Georgia Congressman He
Questions Mr.. Roots Figures as 10
Cost of Philippine War and shows
There Is a Big Discrepancy Some
where-Mr. Mcclellan UphoIds the
Army.
Washington, June N.-Debate upon
the Philippine civil government bill
continued in the House to-day. There
were seven speeches, Messrs. Reeves of
Illinois and Bromwell of Ohio for the
bill and Messrs. Maddox of Georgia,
Dinsmore of Arkansas and Thayer of
Massachusetts against it. Mr.. McClel-
Ian of New York, a son of the late
Gen. George B. Mcclellan, delivered a
short but eloquent speech in support
of the army. Earlier in the day the
conference reports on the military
academy and sundry appropriation
bills were adopted.
In the discussion of the Philippine
bill Mr.. Reeves contrasted the condi-
ton of the Filipinos under the Span
and with what it might be expected to
be in the future. He used a wealth of
statistics to show that our great mar
ket in the future must be in the orient
and that our position at the gateway
of the East would be of immeasurable
advantage to US.
Mr.. Maddox of Georgia, who fol-
lowed Mr.. Reeves, opposed the bill
The question of whether we were to
permanently retain the Philippines, he
said, would be ultimately decided, not
by Congress, but by the American
people.
God was with us during the war
with Spain,' he continued, but when
we entered into the peace negotiations
the Devil stepped in, and he has been
running things ever since"
Roots Figures Questioned.
Mr. Maddox questioned Secretary
Roots figures as to the cost of the
war in the Philippines. He said he
could not understand how the Secre-
tary got his figures. The actual
amount appropriated on account of
the war with Spain and the subse-
quent operations in the Philippines
exceeded 100000 900. or about half
of the cost of the Civil War. The cost
of the army in the Philippines. include
ing transportation, had been in es<-
cess of 500 900, 900 annually. and with
the reduced force would not fall much
below $50, 900, 900. If the army in the
Philippines for the last fiscal year
cost only SAC, 100000, as Secretary Root
alleged, what had become of the reA
al, Of nix mn 000 q nnrnaTi-
ated in the army appropriation bill
for that year?
Mr.. Bromwell of Ohio defended the
policy of the administration. and ad
monished his Democratic opponents TO
heed some of the words of wisdom
which "had recently fallen from the lips
of some of their old time leaders.
Mr.. Dinsmore of Arkansas made an
earnest speech appealing to both sides
to weigh we'll the tremendous issue
which was to be decided in :he pending
legislation. Decided one way IL meant
for free government and independence
for the Filipinos; the other way 1t
meant colonial subjects and a per-
petual colonial policy.
He severely criticised Gen. Woods
course in using Cuban funds to inf1u-
ence legislation in the United States,
and said If the colonial system was to
be permanent the time would come
when by whatever name it might be
called, occurrences such. as had been
practiced in Cuba would become the
regular order of things.
Mcclellan UphoIds Army.
Mr.. Mcclellan of New York, in
short speech said there may have been
bnt there s6 ,es1y II 3 the Philippines
among Americans about upholdfng our
soldiers while they are under fire.
1.-THE army is not, never has been,
and never will be the asset of one po-
litical party" he said, amid a round
of applause"
His tribute to the enlisted men of
the regular service was received with
enthusiasm.
The last speaker of the day session
was Mr.. Thayer of Massachusetts, who
made strong anti-imperialisti
speech. He said that insidiously
the military had encroached upon
the civil authority, but insisted that
the opposition to the present Philip
pine policy was making no attack
upon the army in the field. There
would be no necessity for a large
standing army in the Philippines If
organized resistance had ceased, as
alleged
Increase at West Point Criticised.
Mr.. Hay of Virginia, Mr.. Clayton
of Alabama and Mr.. Mann of Illinois
criticised the action of the House con-
ferees in agreeing to the increase in
the number of cadets at West Point
proposed by the Senate. Mr.. Mann
said that recently the number of ca
diets had been increased 100. The in
creased membership of the House
would further increase the cadets thir-
ty, and now 1t was proposed to in
crease that number still more. He
did not believe we should legislate in
the direction of a great increase in
the standing army.
Mr.. Clayton called attention TO the
fact that the army, which cost an
nually S25, 900, 900 before the Spanish
war. now costs annually Sl25,0O0,0O0.
Mr.. Hull and Mr. Parker defended
the conference report, arguing that
the increase was necessary in order
10 properly officer the army
The Evening Session.
At the evening session Messrs. Palm
er Republican OF Pennsylvania, and
currier. Republican Of New Hamp-
shire. spoke for the Philippine bill. and
Nessrs. Conry. Democrat Of Massachu-
setts. enodgrass. Democrat Of Ten
nessee. and Greene Democrat Of Penn
svlvania, against u. The House adj
tourned a. l0.30 =. N.