New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-16
FILIPINOS WON'T
DROP POLYGAMY
General Mcintyre Says
Law Against 1t Cannot
Be Enforced.
BLOODSHED WOULD
FOLLOW ATTEMPT
Democrats Preparing TO Jam
Bill Through Without
Amendment.

Washington, Dec. 15.-Brigadier
General Frank Mcintyre, Chief of the
Bureau Of Insular Affairs, told the
Senate Philippines Committee to-day
that polygamy could not be prevented
in the Philippines without great blood
shed, and recommended that a para
graph prohibiting plural marriages be
eliminated from the pending bill 70
give the Filipnos a greater degree OF
self-government.
The general said that polygamy was
general among some Of the Moros. the
weather. classes regarding many
wives as q mark Of high distinction.
He suggested that a paragraph pro-
viding that no law should ever be en-
acted permitting plural marriages
would end the practice eventually.
The intention 10 force the bill
through without any more discussion
than was absolutely unavoidable WAS
revealed in the committee by the oppo-
sition which met every effort OF Sena-
tor Lippitt, of Rhode Island, to get time
for the calling Of witnesses in regard
to the important amendments sub
mitted.
The administration plan. il is under
stood. is TO bring the bill before the
Senate, if possible. before the adjourn
ment for the Christmas holidays, and
push il through before the approprla-
ton bills and other heavy legislation
begin 10 come over from the House.
The failure of the cloture rule makes
il less likely that this plan will sue
coed. as some of the opponents OF the
bill have indicated their intention 20
fight il vigorously. If il is put through
the Senate, the understanding is that
il will be TANNED through the House
under the Wilson steam roller, with
out amendment, thus avoiding any dan
ger of its finally dying in conference;
The concession which was made by
the administration in the independence
clause OF the preamble provides that
freedom shall be given the islands when
in the Judgment of the United states, II
will be to the best interests Of the peo-
nile of the Philippine Islands," instead
of. "when the islands shall have shown
themselves 10 be fitted therefor" "a was
the provision last year.
The change, however, is far from
satisfactory TO opponents OF the bill.
The discussion of independence IN any
way in legislative act at this time
seems 70 them unwise, and they be-
lieye that II cannot possibly be worded
so as TO stop the agitation now going
on in the islands for immediate inde-
pendence.
Brigadier General Mcintyre, who was
the chief witness at the hearing to-day,
explained that ths amendment was pro-
posed with the full approval OF the
Filipinos themselves.
"They say the question OF indie
pendence is not altogether one Of fit
ness" he explained. Circumstances
might arise in which independence
would be Of no value TO them. And
20 them the very term Of fitness is
obnoxious. You cannot expect any
man to admit that he is unfit
or the changeS urged by the admin
istration in the bill the most impor-
tant of these not affecting the power
Of the Filipinos was one 70 make the
age of suffrage eighteen, instead Of
twenty-one, years. General Mcintyre
urged that men matured earlier there
than here.