Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-16
SUSTAINED THE CHAIR
House Rules Out Declaration of
Policy Toward Filipinos.
ON THE PHILIPPINE BILL
Amendment Proposed by Mccall Of
Massachusetts,.
TWO REPUBLICANS WITH HIM
Vote in Favor of the Point of Order
Was 1913, Opposed 123-Mr. Smith
Given Time for Remarks.
TWO REPUBLICANS WITH HIM


In the House of Representatives this
morning during consideration of the PniIip-
pine tariff bill Chairman Olmsted OF the
committee of the whole ruled as out or Or
der an amendment by Mir. Mccall declaring
that il was the settled policy OF the Cn'teo
States to grant The F'ilipnos independence
as soon as they were capable OF seil-eoV-
eminent Mr. Mccall Immediately appealed
from the decision, the chair was sus-
tained. 19s to 123 Only three republicans
voted to overrule the chair. These were
Mr.. Mccall. Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts
and Mr. Fordney of Michigan.
In the prayer of Chaplain Couden open
ing the session of the House today refer
enCe was made to the rescue by Capt caste
and his little crew OF the men. women ana
children Of the steamer Cherokee, STRANDED
off the New Jersey coast.
Exonerates the President.
Mr.. steenerson (Ninn.) obtained the floor
on a question of personal privilege. He had
read from a Boston paper an article quot
ing President Roosevelt as saying to Mr.
Stevenson last Saturday that If he had
known Mr.. STEVENSON was opposed to the
Philippine tariff and statehood bills he
SHOuIu not nave dpFpittcNi WI. toeS'StSS.
man as receiver OF the general land ONCE
at CroOkston MINI.
Mr. Stevenson first commented that II II
were true the President had used the Ian
guage attributed to him 1t was a serious
matter. But" he continued, the article
Is faIse-no such language was ever used
by the President" Republican applause)
Nor anything ever said by him In my
hearing that could he susceptible of any
such meaning" Still more applause greet
ed this statement
Mr. Stevenson said the whole thing was
not only false but was ridiculous, because
he did not hold the views on the bills, as
stated. He closed by stating that his inter-
view with the President was entirely pleas
ant. He regarded it as confidential. but au-
thorized the President. so far as he was
concerned. to make public so much of 1t as
the President might remember.
On motion of Mr.. SulZer New York;, the
House agreed to a resolution asking the
Secretary of State to transmit to the House
all the correspondence and dispatches be-
tween this government and the Austro-
Hungarian government concerning the ar
rest, detention and fine OF Marcus Braun,
special immigrant inspector OF the United
States.
MI. Smith in Short Speech.
Taking up the Philippine bill for amend
ment, Mr.. Payne secured the adoption of
the committee amendment. when Mr.. Will
liam Alden Smith sought recognition for
twenty-five minutes.
On Mr.. Payne's objection Mr.. Smith re-
torted- why. sir, in my twelve years serv-
Ice In this House l have not occupied the
floor as long the gentleman held It In
opening the debate on this bill.
Mr.. Smith was given twenty minutes on
the statement that he did not altogether
hold the views Of the opponents of the bill
Mr.. Smith contended that the bin would
not only not assist the Philippines, but
would be detrimental to them.
Mr.. Payne replying to Mr.. Smiths ar
Rument. maintained that there would be no
discrimination against Philippine sugar be-
cause of the Brussels convention and sa Id
in support OF his statement that he had a
telegram from Mr.. Wilson of brussels
which said so far as the Brussels c0nven-
ton was concerned the question Of the
Philippine tariff was definitely settled
AT this point MIR. Smith sought to inter-
rupt Mr.. Payne. but the latter turned on
Mr.. Smith, who stood In the aisle directly
behind him. and asked: viii the gentle
man give me my own time? He has had
half an hour and only have five minutes"
Read the telegram. calculated Mr..
Smith
Mr.. Payne said he had read the telegram
in his opening speech and had just stated
its contents.
Read itr' again said Mr. Smith
Mr. Payne appealed to the chair for
projection from the gentleman"
There was general laughter and applause,
after which Mr. Smith was warned not to
interrupt again. He however kept his feet
and as soon as Mr.. Payne took his seat Sc
cured the reading of the telegram by unan-
imous consent. It said:
Permanent sugar commission sitting at
Brussels suppressed compromising duty on
sugars imported from Philippine Islands
until new examina ton of Philippine regula-
tons Is made In conjunction with the legis-
lation of the United States OF America
Cuba and Porto Rico. Question believed to
be definitely settled as regards Philippine
sugar
Mr.. Smith simply injected the remark
after the reading that this meant any tariff
the philippines Islands may put UP for
themselves.
After short speeches by Mr. Grosyenor
(Ohiol. Mondel (Wyo) and CasseIl (Pa.) a
rising vote was taken on an amendment by
Mr.. Smith TO make the tariff 60 per cent,
resulting in its defeat, 10 to 1877.
Policy Toward the Philippines
An amendment defining the purpose of
the United States in the Philippines to be
TO fit the Islands for elf-government and
to give them independence when they have
reached the proper state. was offered by
Mr.. Mccall CMass.)
Mr.. Payne at once raised the point of or
der that the amendment was not germane
TO the bill.
Speaking to this Mr.. Mccall said 1t was
the same proposition that prevailed with
reference to Cuba. He believed the United
States had pursued the policy OF drift
long enough II was our duty under the
treaty of peace between the United States
and Spain 10 declare our intention with ref
erence TO the Philippines.
Chairman Olmsted ruled the amendment
was not In order. supporting the ruling by
long line of precedents.
Mr.. Mccall appealed from the decision OF
the chair. Pending a vote on tn eappeal
Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) made plea FOR the
amendment. s..sI.
Mr.. Payne urged that respect for the
rules of the House be maintained He had
seen members run wild" in the House blu,
had never observed beneficial results To
such members from opposition to the rules
The decision of the chair was sustained
by a rising vote OF l9S to 123 MIR. Mccall
CMass.). Hoar (Mass.) and Fordney mich :
being the only republicans voting to sus
tain the appeal The text of the Mccall
amendment Is as follows:
And provided further, that nothing
herein contained shall be construed TO NEAR
that II is the purpose of the Congress that
the United States should permanently retain
sovereignty over the Philippine Islands fol-
self-government at the earliest pract;ca bls
moment and when hat biol how