Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-28
Goth CONGRESS.
CONTINUED From Page One.)

washington. Jan. 27.-The propriety Of
perpetuating in the penal code penalties
against persons engaged in the slave
trade was the subject of an interesting
debate in the Senate today as to the
question Of slavery in the Philippine Is
lands.
The old law against the slave trade has
been retained in the code by the conf
mittee reporting it. but the word per
sons" is substituted for the words ne
groes. mulattoes and colored persons"
Hale declared that slavery being
thing of the past. all reference to 1t
should be taken out of the code.
Hepburn, in charge of the bill. contend
ed for the retention Of the provision. say
ing that there are forms of slavery other
than those abolished by the Civil War.
He cited coolie slavery and slaves for
immoral purposes. which he says exists
in this country, and said the prohibition
would apply to such practices.
He added that he had heard it charged
that slavery Of the old-fashioned kind
still exists in one of the islands of the
Philippines group.
ut is strange" said Hale. referring to
the charge that slavery exists in the
Philippines. that such a condition should
exist in view of the optimistic accounts
from those islands that we have received.
an. glad the senator from Idaho is one
Of those misguided persons who objects
to these conditions, and IL the senator
has brought it out in one instance SHOW
ing this whole melancholy condition. he
has done something for the. benefit OF
the Senate and for the country"
Hale declared, however, that he never
supposed slavery existed in the islands
after the American occupation.
IT am surprised" asserted Tilhlan, TO
hear any senator on the Republican side
disclairn knowledge Of what has been no.
torious since we took possession in the
Philippines and known to exist there.
TillYnan said he was still more surpriS-
ed that 1.-The party which had gathered
so much glory from the destruction OF
slavery in this country" and which hau
absolute contro! of our foreign affairs.
had done nothing to put an end to the
slave trade in the Philippines.
Stone called attention to an agreement
made by General John c. Bates with the
Sultan of Zulu for continuing slavery
and polygamy.
I'VE have even gone further" said
Tillman. land given salaries to the Sui
tan and his dattos."
Hale again said that if these monstrous
conditions existed in the Philippines and
received the sanction of this government
or Of the Senate the fact rad certainly
not been appreciated by him.
Tillinan suggested that the Philippine
islands are governed by Secretary Taft
under the President of the United States.
Hale said: II am not prepared to say
that the secretary of war has suppressed
important facts concerning The Philip
pines The presumption is we have been
told the whole truth"
Hale asked that the paragraphs relat-
ing to slavery be passed over so that
full information might be received con-
corning 1t, and Hepburn agreed.
Sutherland advocated retaining the Sec
tons against slavery. saying that on the
Pacific coast Chinese women had been
actually sold into slavery
Lodge declared that it was a tact OF
common knowledge that Gen. Bates made
an agreement by which slaves might
purchase their freedom. but President
Mckinley refused to approve of that
treaty and shortly afterward slavery was
practically abolished by executive mill
tary order.
The organic act Of 1907 contained
clause against slavery and on Sept IL
1901, the Philippine Commission provided
heaevy penalties against persons who
hold or sell slaves.
The paragraphs relating to slavery we're
passed over and they will come before
the Senate for action at some later day.