The Springfield herald., 1904-01-15
Would Protect Philippines.

an American possession as against any
foreign enemy. but although the islands
have been In our possession now more
than five years. not a gun has been
mounted nor an earthwork raised to
protect any of our harbors."
The board. it is stated, Is unanimous
, ly of the opinion:
That without a fortified naval base
in the Philippines the Asiatic fleet can
not keep open the lines of communica
ton for supplies from the United
States or between the army posts
within the Philippines, without which
supplies the military forces of the
United States could not hold command
Of the islands.
That Manila is not. but that Subig
bay is. suited for a naval station. and
OF all harbors in the archipelago it is
the best for the purpose.
That the fcrtification of SubiS bay
is essential to the security for a naval
station located there.
That a fortified naval base on SUI
big bay will contribute materially to
the defense of Manila bay"
The President has approved the pro-
ceedings, findings and sentence of the
court martial in the case of Second
Lieutenant Paul u. MacLane, Thir-
teenth cavalry. Lieutenant MacLane
was tried at Manila on the charge OF
embezzling about $500 of subsistence
funds while serving as n commissary of
the Maraquian river expedition. He
was convicted and sentenced to be dis
missed and to be imprisoned for one
year. That portion of the sentence
providing for Imprisonment probably
will be executed at Bilibid prison, Ma
Mia.
Treasury Department experts have
instituted an investigation of the ac-
counts of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. The action is taken at
the instance of Acting Chairman
Clements of the commission. as a re-
suit of persistent rumors of irregulari-
ties in the drawing of vouchers, etc. 1t
is understood that the rumors include
allegations of payments made for SER
vice at one place, while the payee was
engaged elsewhere with similar irregu-
lar methods. The investigation will be
thorough and every phase of the ac-
counting work of the commission will
be overhauled.
The views of the minority of the
Senate committee on military affairs.
protesting against the confirmation of
General Leonard Wood to be major
general. have been prepared in the
form of brief to be used by the op-
ponents of this nomination when the
reports of the committee are present
ed for the action of the Senate in eX-
ecutive session. The brief follows the
testimony introduced before the Sem
ate committee in the investigation
which was begun on November 18th,
and continued until December 18th,
directing the attention of senators to
passages in the printed report of the
testimony and emphasizing the
charges which were made before the
committee.
Former Representative Z. w. Tay-
lor of Ohio who has been engaged by
opponents of Senator Reed Smoot to
assist in the fight to prevent the SEN
ator from retaining his seat in Con-
gress. has had an interview with Sen
ator Burrows, chairman of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections.
concerning the protests which have
been filed. Senator Smoot saw Sem
ator Burrows also and gave notice
that his answer to the charges is ready
to be submitted. Mr.. Taylor was the
floor leader in the successful effort
that prevented Brigham II. Roberts
taking his seat in the House OF Repre-
sentatives, and he will be associated
with John G. Carlisle in the present
effort to defeat Senator Smoot.
In the Senate on the 7th lnst., Sena
tor Morgan took the floor to answer
speech made by Senator Lodge. Mr..
Morgan described de facto, de jure
and independent governments, and
,v,I do,
was lawful case of the future and not
dependent upon the recognition of the
United States of de facto govern
ment on the isthmus. He said the
President was not justified in making
facts to give him the right to recog-
nize the government best suited to his
purpose. Colombia is the mother gov
ernment of Panama" said Mr.. Morgan,
land we neither the father nor the mo-
ther" And | am compelled to say
said Mr.. Morgan, that tomorrow, il the
United States government should with
draw It's fleet and marines from the
isthmus or confine their operations to
the protection of their railroad. and not
to the passage across the isthmus, Co
lombia would march in and capture
those eight men who organized the
Panama government and drive them
and their following of foreigners. ne
groes. Indians and Cinnamon, from the
isthmus."
The argument in the case Of the state
of Minnesota VS.. the Northern Secur-
tiles Company, involving the legality
of the consolidation of the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern railroads
in the Securities company, was begun
in the United States Supreme Court
January 7th The case involves the
same general issues as are involved in
the proceedings of the National govern
ment against the Securities company
but there are some differences of law
from the law governing it, w. S. Doug
las, attorney general of the state OF
Minnesota made the opening staten ent
Outlining the differences presented by
this case from those of the federal
cases. he said that these were: First
in the case that the organization OF
the Securities company and the pur-
chase of the two railroad lines is vio-
lation of the state law of 1874. prohib-
iting the consolidation of railroad lines
in the state; second, the consolidation
violates the antitrust law; third. thai
the transaction involves the proprie-
tary interests of the state; and fourth
that it operates to violate the COM