Evening star., 1906-02-14
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION
Secretary Of the Treasury Called on
for Information.
ON THE F0RTIFICATIoNS BILL
Coast Defenses Of the Philippines
Taken Up in the House-ship-
ping Bill in the Senate.

The House today adopted resolution
inqufring OF the Secretary Of the Treasury
when the government executed deed tor
the old custom house property in New York
to the National City Bank; where the deed
Is. and In whose custody 1t has been since
Its execution, and why 1t has never been
recorded
Mr.. Lamb (Virginia) obtained the adop-
ton of joint resolution authorizing the
Secretary of War to dehver to the South
ern Historical Society at Richmond. Va.
all of the confederate battle flags in his
custody which have not been identified as
belonging to any organization.
A bill was passed to bridge Arkansas
river at Pine Bluff, Ark.
The Fortifcations Bill.
Consideration of the Notifications appro-
priation bill was resumed, the bill being
taken up for amendment under the tlve-
n,iEute rule.
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Sulli-
van (Mass.) cutting off the 100000 for for
tifications in the Philippine Islands. Every
fortifcation erected in the Philippines he
regarded a barrier to their tndepend-
ence.
All indications now, he said, pointed to
the fortihcation and construction of naval
1t was useless to waste money at Cavite.
Until definite decision was reached he
was opposed to appropriating anything.
Mr. Graft (Ill) regarded the amendment
as simply an emphasis of a proposed aban-
donment of the Philippines. He objected to
departing from the policy of allowing de-
fense works to be located by the experts
of the army and their location or extent
guarded from public knowledge. No mat
ter under what flag the Philippines were
governed they would need coast defenses.
Mr.. Smith Uowa) strongly objected that
this country should ever be driven from the
Philippines by a foreign nation. as was
Spain, because of the lack of proper de-
fense.
This arosed Mr.. Williams, the minority
leader, to action. The proper defense there
was adequate naval power and not land
Notifications. If by the lack of fortifica-
tions this country could run a chance of
losing ''the blessed archipelago" he would
be pleased.
At this point Mr. Sibley PaD asked the
Speaker to reflect that it was "the grea,
democratic leader whose influence had
fastened the Philippines on the United
States.
THAT is one of those awkward ques-
tions." began Mr.. Williams in reply. and
the republicans laughed He continued by
expressing his admiration and personal ar
fection for Mr.. Bryan. and then said: He
made the great mistake of his life when he
did not leave you people free to do what
you wanted TO- But, ne declared, you
cannot escape from your party responsi-
biIity."
The Flag in the Philippines.
general post-mortem on the Inaugural
ton of the Philippine policy and inciden-
tally regarding the many political beliefs
charged to MI Sibley (Pa) resulted when
Mr. Sibley took the floor following Mr..
Williams.
The answer to the question put by the
late President Mckinley: Who viii haul
down the flag" he declared to be now up
to the democratic party as much as ever.
TN tell you.' shouted Mr.. Williams,
the American people who ran II up, will
haul 1t down.
Mr.. Sibley referred to a telegram and let
ter he had received from Mr.. Bryan urging
Mr.. Sibley TO his influence for the
ratification ef the peace treaty. He had
not done this
A half dozen democratic members were on
the object of Mr.. Bryan was to take the
Philippines and then release them.
Mr.. Sibley refused to commit himself.
In depicting the good that had been
done in the islands by the introduction of
the Bible the school and civilization Mr..
Sibley was accused of taking God into
partnership with the republican party.
When this was not the case he retorted,
IL was time for the party TO go out of
business
Mr.. Williams regarded 1t as an evidence
of repentance or shame when acts were
charged to the Deity.
Members enjoyed the fire of questions
across the political dividing aisle. and
when Mr.. Sibiey was next asked If he
admitted that God was not with him
when he was democrat great hilarity
prevailed.