The sun., 1904-12-17
THE PHILIPPINE BILL PASSED.
ONLY ONE REPUBLICAN, SENATOR
VOTED AGAINST 1T,
All the Democrats Voted No-Concessions
Made in the Provision Providing for
Government Guarantee Of Railroad
Bond. te save the Bill From Defeat.

WASHINGTON, Dec. i6.-After q day OF
spirited debate the Philippine Govern
ment bill passed the Senate late this after
noon by vote Of A to 2s. Senator McCum-
Der OF North Dakota was the only Re-
publican who voted against the bill. The
democrats voted solidly against It. The
measure will 60 back to the House 80
amended that 1t will keep that body busy
for while when 1t comes to be taken up.
Those In charge of the bill were con-
sderably worried over the criticisms that
had been made Of one OF its most important
provisions-that relating to the Philip
pine Government guarantee Of bonds
issued by railroad companies engaged in
the construction OF railroad lines in the
Philippines. So firmly did the opponents
OF this provision contend that the safe
guards provided for the Government were
entirely insufficient, that the Republican
leaders were impressed with the necessity
Of making concessions and they did 80 in an
amendment offered by Mr.. Spooner. which
was the Joint work overnight Of himself,
Senators Allison and Lodge and Secretary
Taft
II was freely maintained outside OF the
Senate by the opponents Of the provision
20 amended that. the bill would have been
beaten had not the concessions been made
by It's sponsors, who saw the trend Of events
and were wise enough to provide means
to prevent the defeat Of the measure. Even
as amended the Objectionable provision was
not entirely satisfactory to some Of the
Republicans who had fought it. and seven
Of them-Bard Gambl K ttr dga. McCum-
Der. Ne son, Perkins and Quarles, all of
frotv, thn Do on.A a. thn
west--voted with the Democrats against it.
ment and opposition was contained in Sec
donG As redraughted by Mr. Spooner and
accepted by the Senate, it provides that the
Philippine Government shall guarantee
interest on railroad bonds at not exceeding
I per cent. per annum instead OF per cent,
as provided In the bill as II passed the
House. The amsndm ent also gives the
Philippine Government first lien upon the
railroad property guaranteed and pro-
vides additional means Of saving that Gov
srnpent from loss.
One Of the main objections to Section 4
was that it enabled railroad companies in
The Philippines to secure a guarantee Of
IN their bonds from the Philippine Govern
ment as soon as they had completed few
miles OF road. AS changed by Mr. Spooner
and his associates and accepted by the
Seuste II provides that the guarantee shall
not b. delivered except upon satisfactory
pfoof Of the compilation Of the railroad
10 secions Of not less than twenty oon-
Apuous miles each, and then only in such
proportion az the cost Of this partial work
thAQ bear 70 the capital required for the
completion and equipment OF the entire
rosd-
Another provision Of the amendment was
that the. Philippine Government shall not
give guarantees at any time to exceed
N,5o0,0o0 and that no such guarantee shall
ontinue for . longer period than thirty
years.
One OF the most significant features CT
the days proceedings was the vote on an
amendment offered by Senator Bailey
of Texas, requiring the railroads benefited
by tho bill to abide by traffic rates fixed
BY the Philippine Commission. In view
Of the present agitation over the Presi-
dents efforts to secure the revision OF
railroad rates by Federal authority, the
fact that the Republican Senators voted
in favor Of the Bailey amendment was Of
special interest. One Of these Republican
Senators was Mr. Knox Of Pennsylvania,
who was Attorney General In Mr.. Roose-
velt's Cabinet and is the Presidents most
ardent supporter of his policy with refer
enoe TO corporations. He was the only
Eastern Senator who supported the Bailey
amendment.
The other Republicans who voted wi ith
the Democrats in this instance were all
from the far West or the Northwest.
They were Bard and Perkins Of California.
Clapp and Nelson Of Minnesota, Gamble and
Nttredse Of South Dakota, Clark of Wyom-
ing, Hepburn OF Idaho and McCumber OF
North Dakota. Mr.. Bsiley's amendment
was lost by vote Of 80 to 80. The bill gave
rise to some political talk In which Senators
Foraker and Lodge on the Republican side
and Senators German, Culberson and
Bailey on the Democratic side participated.
Mr. German said: -There is no longer
any question whether we shall remain in
the islands, That seems to have been
fixed by the decree Of the American people,
Mr. Carmack Dem, TENN said: Il
want to get out Of the Philippines Imight
not have had the courage to make suoh a
declaration, in view of the results Of the
last election but for the cheering words
Of the President in his recent m sssage 10
congress.
Mr.. Carmack then read the Presidents
statement that in due time the Filipinos
should be treated In the same manner as
the people Of Cuba had been treated. and
added: We welcome the President into the
ranks Of the ant-imperiaiists. He is al
most eligible to become a member Of the
Anh-lmperialist League Of Boston. He
is sick Of his pest 1t Is the groan OF the 4,
weary Titan anxious to get rid Of his bur}
den.'
Immediately after the passage OF the bill
Mr. Hepburn Rep., Idaho) moved to tale
up the pure food bill. Mr.. Lodge moved !
N executive session. Mr.. McCumber carte
to Mr.. Heyburn's rescue and demanded |
roll call on Mr.. Lodges motion There !
was no. sufficient number Of hands up, And |
The demand was refused. So at 440 the |
Senate went into executive session and !
hen, in pursuance Of an order previously |
mads, djourned until Monday.