New-York tribune., 1902-06-12
TWO PHILIPPINE BILLS.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SENATE
AND HOUSE MEASURES.
GBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuNE-l


Washington, June 1.-THE Philippine Govern
rlent bill which the House is to be asked 10
consider differs in two important particulars
from the measure which the Senate passed on
June 3 after more than seven weeks OF discus
sion. The House and Senate drafts were VIZ
tually identical in the beginning; but the many
amendments fastened on the Senate bill after
its consideration began materially changed II
from its original lines. which were retained IN
the bill which the Committee on lnsular Af1alrs
reported favorably to the House on April ~
The two important sections over which serious
difference Of opinion is likely to develop be
tween the TWO branches are those which look
TO the establishment Of legislative machinery
and a monetary system for the Philippines In
the House bill and in the original Senate blll
provision was made for the creation Of an in
sular legislature Il was proposed that the
President. being satisfied that condition or
peace existed in the islands. should authorize
the Philippine Commission tc call a general cleo
ton for the choice of delegates to what should
be known as the Philippine Assembly. After
that election all legislative powers conferred on
the commission were be vested in legis
iature consisting Of two houses. the Philippine
Commission and the Philippine Assembly This
legislature was TO have jurisdiction. however
only in the parts Of the archipelago not inhab-
tied by the Noros and other Christian tribes.
a census NaS4to preCeue the eItCliOil- the ISEII-
tory Of the archipelago being divided into one
hundred assembly districts. Biennial elections
for members of Assembly Were 10 he held. with
annual sessions of the two legislative branches
The archipelago was also TO he divided into two
districts. each of which should elect a commits
sioner to the United States. Electors were 10
have the same qualifications are now re-
quired in municipal elections.
The bill passed by the Senate provides only
for the taking Of q census after peace is re
stored of such a character as will inform the
President and Congress concerning the capacity,
fitness ard readiness of all the people Of the
Philippine Islands. and Of particular islands,
provinces and municipalities and other civil d.
visions for the establishment and maintenance
tn the Philippine Islands certain Of them, of
a, permanent pop Ilar representative govern
ment' After that census is completed the Phil
ippine Commission is to report its own views as
10 the readiness of the FilipinOs. or any portion
of them, for representative government.
The more material divergence in the two bills
relates, however. tc the proposed systems OF
coinage. The House bill has provided for
out and gold standard. with a coinage Of
pesos, silver dollars. convertible into gold at
the rate of two for one. The new pesos are to
take the place of the Mexican dollars, and
monetary conditions are TO continue much as
they are at present. The Senate bill. however,
slightly greater intrinsic value than the House
peso. which is to issue at par with gold and
to possess the legal tender qualities within the
archipelago which the American silver dollar
enjoys within the United States, thus renewing
on a tiny scale in the Philippines the expert
rnent which this country tried-pitf Limitations
on its coinage output-from 1879 TO 1893. The
House viii probably insist its own scheme
for holding silver TO merely subsidiary uses and
the two views viii have to be reconciled later
In conference.