New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-04
4 STEP BACKWARD IN THE SENATE.

The refusal, OF the Senate Committee on the
Philippines to report the Payne Philippine IarlH
bill either favoraby or unfavorably disapponts
the country and is not creditable to the Senate
Runlors that pique and wounded self-esteem
inspired this blow at measure 10 which the
administration is so strongly committed may
be put aside as groundIess or exaggerated II
may be granted that the obstructionlsts on the
committee had no private grudges to satisfy
and that they voted TO deny relief TO the Eli
pinos on some honest though mistaken theory
of public policy But such an admission hardly
betters the case for II leaves the committee
In the unfortunate attitude OK wilfully sacrlnc-
ing the administrators humane and rauonai
programme-a programme acceptable TO nine
tenths OF the American people-to the selnsh
and iIIusory demands OF a few special interests
II the committee represents the Senate, then
the Senate is ready 10 write itself down as
body willing to be swerved from policy or
reason equity and enlightenment by the clamor
o. few misguided producers of tobacco and
sugar.
We are reluctant to believe that the commit
fee does truly represent the Senate Certainly
on q casual glance the composition or lhe
committee seems a little peculiar Ihree OIL
It's members come from New-Englano III
single New-England state-Connecticut-a few
tobacco growers imagine that their industry Is
going 10 be affected by the entry OF Phhpplne
tobacco at lower rates. In this contention tney
were opposed By the late Senator o. IL. Platt
and are to-day opposed by Representative HILL
perhaps the ablest member of the delegation
In this Congress Yet In the committee two
Nsyy.England votes from Maine and Connect
cut were cast to kill the Payne tariff BILL and
only one was given in favor of reporting IL Of
the sixteen Southern states only one-Loulslana
actively antagonizes reduction OF rates on
Philippine sugar. Yet of the four votes from
the South In the committee two were given Tor
the PAYNE bill and two against it In the MID
die West only one acknowledgements greatly
exercised over sugar rate concessions 10 the
Fflipinos But the two votes from this section
were cast against reporting any tarln Dill. IN
the states beyond the Mississippi the beet sugar
interest has some political strength. But this
strength was greatly overrepresented in the
Philippines Committee, IN which two Of the
three votes from that region were cast against
the Payne bill.
Under these circumstances Senator Lodge
would be entirely justified In appealing TO the
Senate itself to rescue the bill by discharglng
the committee from its further consideration
II may be that the Senate n whole Is unw1ll-
ing TO 60 on record as sitting measure OF such
manifest Justice and urgency that the two par
ties In the House of Representatives laid aside
partisanship 10 support II Alter aPPIJinS Jul
coastwise navigation laws to the Philippines it
is Illogical and cruel to deny to the Filpinos
the benefits OF free access TO our markets, and
the Senate cannot afford to turn a deaf ear to
such plain considerations of honor and honest
dealing The interests which are now fighting
concessions TO the Filipinos fought reciprocity
with Cuba and long delayed It But they had
to yield in the end to public sentiment In
dealing with the Philippines this story of dull
resistance and ultimate surrender will probably
be repeated. But the Senate shows lamenta-
BILE short-sightedness IN thus inviting public an
tagonism and encouraging public belief that 1t
has lost touch with popular sentiment In clash
ing with the administration and the House of
Representatives on this and other questions the
Senate really puts itself on trial, and such ex-
hibitions as that just made by the Philippines
Committee cannot greatly impress an inteli-
gent and impartial jury.