The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-16
SENATE DEBATES
PHILIPPINE BILL
Vote viii be Taken on the
Measure Today
WILLIAMS BLOCKS THE GAME
No Progress Is Made In the House on
Currency Measure Because of Mr..
Williams Obstructive
~ .. Tactics.
WILLIAMS BLOCKS THE GAME

Washington December 15.-The senate
spent practically the entire day discuss
ing the Philippine administrative amend
ments. A number of amendments were
suggested and debated, among them be-
ing provision relating to railroad bonds.
mining locations and tariff rates. Under
unanimous agreement the vote on the
bill will be taken tomorrow, and the
disposal of all amendments will occur at
the same time.
formal order to enter on the Swayne
impeachment proceedings was adopted,
but it did not fix a day for beginning
the work.
When the senate was called to order
Mr. Plat, Connecticut, chairman of the
select committee to consider the recon-
mendations of he house of representa-
tives for the impeachment of Judge
Charles swayne, presented the report of
that committee The report was in the
shape of an order, which after reciting
the circumstances in the preamble, pro-
ceeded as follows:
"Ordered, that the senate, will according
to its standing rules and orders in such
cases. provided, take proper action there
or mpon the presentation of the articles
of impeachment of which due notice
shall be given to the house of represent
tatives."
The resolution was agreed to.
The urgent deficiency appropriation
bill was passed without debate.
Philippine Bill Taken Up.
The Philippine administration bill was
taken up and Mr. Stewart spoke in sup
port of the railroad bond provision, say
ing that no other agent was equal to
railroads as a eivilizer of savages.
Mr.. McCumber opposed the bond pro-
vision and added an amendment striking
1t out He thought the time had passed
for guaranteeing any private enterprise
for interior Improvement.
Mr.. Hepburn addressed himself to the
existing law affecting mining locations In
the Philippines. and offered an amendment
providing in effect for return to the
American method of location, instead of
the Spanish method adopted in the present
law.
Mr.. Lodge said the idea in adopting the
Spanish system of locations in the Philip
pines had been to avoid a disturbance OF
existing conditions there.
Without taking action on Lir. Heyburn's
amendment, the senate passed to consid-
GRAFTON of an amendment suggested by
Mr. Newlands in the shape of sub
stitute for the railroad bond provision
of the bill The substitute reduces the
rate of interest on the bonds to IN per
cent, and provides that they shall be
guaranteed by the government of the Uni
ted States The amendment provided
method of taxing the railroads In the
island. Mr. Newlands commended that its
adoption would materially assist In the
financing of the roads.
Called II Paternalism.
Mr.. MoComas opposed such an amend
mont rs a formof paternalism. He pre-
scented a substitute for section s. empow-
ering the Philippine commission to amend
the tariff laws of the island.
Mr.. Lodge indicated a willingness to ac-
cept the amendment on behalf of the Phil
ippine committee, but Mr.. Platt of Con-
necticut criticized it, and said 1t was
best to modify the tariff for the United
States.
Messrs. Lodge and McComas replied
that the amendment required the APP
proval of the American congress to the
proposed modification. but Mr. Platt re-
newed his opposition and said II congress
could delegate its power to the Philip
pine commission it could delegate 1t to
the judges Of Alaska.
Mr.. Culberson offered a substitute for
the bond provision of the bill. an amend
ment granting 5000 hecatres 10000 acres)
of the Philippine public lands for every
mile of railroad constructed in the
islands.
Mr.. Bailey proposed an amendment CIV.
ing the Philippine government authority
to regulate the charges of the roads to
which 1t is proposed to extend aid.
At 1925 p. m. the senate went into ex-
ecut!ve session, and at 4 p. m. adjourned.