Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-01-31
PHILIPPINES BILLS
Congress Cannot Agree as to What
is Best For Island.
FATE 0fTRE COINAGE MEASURE
Present Conditions SAID to BE- Very Hard F.
Natives Senate Still BiekefBg Over
Statehood Bill.
SIalehoad bIN.

Natives Senate Still Biesefing Over
Statehood Bill.
washington, Jan. 20.-lSpeclal a
measure which was considered Of far
reaching importance to the Philippines
may fail utterly because there Is q diff
ference Of opinion between the houses
as to what Is best for the Islands. The
house has said that the currency and
coinage laws of the United States must
be extended to the islands, while many
senators, including those who control
the affairs of the senate, think that
such action would be very injudicious.
st would fasten the Philippines upon
us for all time said a Republican SEN
ator who has never failed TO defend the
policy of the Republican party in the
retention of the islands, but who has
some misgiving rs to whether we
should keep them after a stable govern
ment is established. Like a great many
other senators. he thinks that the COIN
age system of the Philippines should be
kept separate and distinct from that OF
the United States and favors b bill
which the senate committee has report
ed and which a majority Of the house
committee favored establishing the gold
standard, but on a different basis from
that of the United States. The bill at
this stage Of the session stands a very
little show of getting through without
some unanimous agreement.
Considered Very Important.
Perhaps those who differ with each
other in regard TO this measure may
decide to accept any measure rather
than let the bill be defeated. Governor
Taft and Vice Governor Wright laid
great stress upon the Importance of
having currency legislation, and the
fact tnal tile preselit system of tie.
Philippines Is working great hardship
not only to the natives, but to the
American residents. may induce those
who have been so contentious for their
IDEAS to r%elinquish them in favor of q
temporary measure.
ststc.iocd Scraps.
Tie constant pickering over the state
hood bill continues to be a feature of
the session. 1t grows rather amusing
when President Pro TEN. Frye some
tines calls tlc venerable Senator Pet
tus u preside over the senate. The
Alabasga senator is insistent that the
r-:es STALL be observed, and he calls
down every man who does not prop
erly address the chair and get permits
so, CT another senator before inter-
ruptlng him. In every give ana take
colloquy these little niceties of debate
provided for by rules are overlooked,
and senators sometimes sit in their
seats and IGtre conversation back and
forth as a part of the debate. Senator
Frye has several times called senators
to order for this lack of decorum.
'sThe senators viii proceed in order"
said Mr.. Pettus on n occasion. They
must address the chair ana secure Per-
mission before interrupting. Otherwise
the debate would degenerate into a
conversation"
II would not rise to interrupt the SEN
ator,n said Senator Beverage n d&y,
"hut the senator from Ohio has injected
a 10 city into tie discussion
II win say to the senator from Indi-
ana" remarked Senator Foraker, with
some sarcasm, that that is not a nov
city, but a historical fact, that | have
stated"
Il do not deny it." replied Beveridge;
but. as | was not ware of it, it was a
novelty to me-
There are a great many historical
facts relating TO the territories" re-
marked Foraker dryly, (which are not
only novelties to the senator from Indi-
ana, but to a great many other senators
who are opposing this BILL"
Rules of the Senate.
Senator sp0ofer took occasion the
ether Cay to criticisc the attitude Of
the majority. who have been holding
up all other legislation In the interest
of the omnibus statehood bin.
Il would like to inquire" remarked
Senator Mason, 'if the senator from
Wisconsin is not a member and the
chairman of the committee on rules?'
'Ihat is a fact said Spooner.
rs there not pending ana mas there
not been for six years at least" asked
Mason, "a resolution t amend the
rules SO hat the majority can do bust
ness and so that a condition such as
now exists could not occur?"
II think" said Senator Spooner, "that
a similar resolution has been pending
for probably sixty years"
1T is the fault of the senate re-
marked Mason, that 1t has no taken
action to amend its rules so that 1t cam
do business. No senator who is respon-
sible for that condition of affairs has
any right to comnlain.n