New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17
AID FOR TIE PHILIPPINES.
BILL PASSED BY SENATE.
Mr. Lodge Tells of Vast Benefits to
Result from 1t.
lFFom THE TRIBUNE BuREAU,I

lFROM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU1
Washington. Dec 16.-By a vote of Al to %
the Senate late this afternoon passed the Philip
pine Public Improvement BILL which, in the
opinion of leading Senators. constitutes the most
important legislation affecting the islands since
they became a possession of the United States.
The principal feature of the bill is Section 4.
which was redrafted last night by Senator
SpoOner and accepted on behalf of the Philip
pine Committee by Senator Lodge This section
authorizes the Philippine government 70 guaran-
tee for a period of thirty years interest at
per cent on first lien bonds to he issued by
railroad company which shall construct a rail-
road system according to plans to be agreed
by the Philippine Commission The redrafting
of this section so far eliminated the objections
of Republican Senators that practically all voted
against a motion to strike it from the bill.
IMPORTANCE OF RAILROAD
THE Importance of this legislation TO the
Philippines hardly be exaggerated" said
Senator Lodge. the chairman of the Philippine
Committee. tonight 1T means the promotion
of civilization in the islands, the opening up
TO the commerce of the world of vast sections
of untold fertility and productiveness. Such a
railroad as is proposed is the most powerful
possible guarantee of peace and prosperity.
There IS a short railroad in the islands
only 120 miles long and it is paying a good
profit the investment although 1t suffered
many viCissitudes during the recent troublous
times in the archipelago. One of the note
worthy features of its traffic is that so per
cent of its earnings come from the passenger
fares, and these not high That indicates
the desire of the Filipino people to go about, to
travel.
"Of course. It is possible that railroads might
have been built without government aid but
they would probably have been built here and
there, wherever there seemed TO be a prospect
of the best profits. and the government would
have been powerless to dictate TO them or to
direct their construction on a systematic plan
Railroad building in the tropics is an expensive
undertaking, and capital might have long hesf-
tated to take the risk while now proper rail-
way development is insured and the roads will
be constructed in such sections as will serve
the best interests of the Philippine people"
Secretary Taft also expressed much gratifica-
ton over the passage of the bill by the Senate
While some of it's provisions are more con-
servative than he thought necessary. yet he ex-
pressed himself satisfied with the measure
and he will endeavor to have il adopted by the
House as il passed the Senate. He will make
an effort 10 secure from the present Congress
tariff legislation for the Philippines along the
lines recommended I'm his annual report to the
President. He expects to act promptly. and
''-illpilpN VIII HdNS a tpIttIeICe NllH Oudlr-
man Payne of the Ways and Means Committee
on the subject
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The bill passed limits the totaI annual con
tingent liability authorized to $1.200,0o0: pro-
vides that the bonds on which the interest is
guaranteed shall constitute at all times a first
lien the property; that they shall he issued
only on satisfactory proof of the completion of
the railroad in sections of twenty continuous
miles; that any sum advanced by the govern
ment under the provisions of the bill shall be-
come a first lien on the property of the railroad;
that the total amount of the bonds which in
teres- is guaranteed shall in event exceed
the amount actually invested i'm cash in the
construction and equipment of the railroad and
that the entire guarantee shall terminate at the
end of thirty years. except thai if the govern
ment shall have paid any part OF the guarantee
it shall then have the right to foreclose it's iieE
on the property Of the railroad, The hill also
exempts from taxation all bonds issued by the
Philippine and Porto RiCan governments: au-
thorizes municipalities in the Philippines 20 in
cur a bonded Indebtedness amounting 70 = per
cent of the assessed valuation of t0otr property,
at ; per cent interest, authorizes the Philippine
government to incur bonded Indebtedness OF
S5O00O00 for improvements, at 412 per cent ir-
terest; provides FOR the administration Of the
llnllSIdtlol laws py the fHllpplllS dUInOfU-eJ.
establishes system for the location and patent
ing of mineral. coal and saline lands; fixes the
metric system for the islands, and gives the
Civil Governor the title of Governor General
SENATOR KNOWS INDEPENDENCE.
One of the interesting incidents of the voting
on amendments was Senator Knox's vote in
opposition TO a majority of his party. He yoted
for an amendment offered by Senator Bailey
providing that the proposed railroad shauld in
sert in its charter declaration of the right of
the Philippine government to fix rates to be
charged by the road. The amendment was o.
fered when debate not ir order. and the
managers of the bill! therefore were unable 70
explain that the provisions OF the Bailey amend
ment We're already incorporated in the organic
act of the Philippines. better known as the
Spooner compromise and confirmed in the bill
passed Nine Republicans besides Sena or
Knox voted for the Bailey amendment NJ.
Knoxs vote was taken as evidence of rhe indie
pendence of the new Senator who will doubtless
he guided only by his convictions.
An amendment offered by Senator Nulberson,
and voted down. provided that certain public
lands in the Philippines should he set aside for
school purposes hut il was worded that il
would have meant that 81 3IO0u0oO acres. praC-
tiCalIv half the public domain. must be so sci
apart. Provision for school lands made in
the Spooner compromise, and the Philippine
Commission has almost completed the work of
segregation.
The hill approved ivy the Senate to-day was
passed ny the House al the last session OF Con
greSs. II Will now go back 10 the House, but.
as the only changes have strengthened It's pro-
visions, it is assumed that the House will ap-
prove it without a conference.
The hnal vote on the bin to-day was preceded
by the presentation of many amendments and
a general discussion of them well of the
provisions of the bill The debate confined
generally 10 the merits of the measure. Mr.. Nc
Cumber. OF North Dakota. was the only Repub-
lcan who voted with the Democrats against final
Passage.
ANOTHER PEACE RUHOR.