Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-02-10
FINAL VOTE IS 81 70 "A
Senator William Alden Smith
Characterizes Bills Support.
crs as towards Who Would
Abandon Task Placed in Their
Hands by Providence.


which would extend 10 the islands Il
greater degree Of sclf-govcrnmcnt and
would authorize tho President to grant
them absolute Independence within four
years, passed the Senate Tonight - to q.
Various democratic senators, lead by
Chairman Stone of the foreign relations
committee, tried unsucCcssfully to obtain
amendment Of certain features of the in i
rcndencc clause but in the end the demo-
Gratis. Joined by six progressive republic
cans, voted solidly for the measure.
1t is understood the bill will 20 ia
the House with the backing Of President
Wilson and will be pressed for early
passage. There has been little indicat ion
of what action the House will take. but
administration leaders tonight seemed
confident that the bill. including tho in
dependence feature which democratic
senators declare squares It with the
baltimore platform. would have the ar-
prevail of the House democratic major
ity. The republican senators who voted
for the hill were Borah. Clapp, Kenyon,
LaFollctto. Norris and Works, By over
whelmnG ma iorities the Senate had re-
fused to modify the Clarke amendment
tains the independence provision and
also gives the President authority to cX-
tend or withhold independence at the
end of four years II he should find con-
dtions in the islands unfavorable. The
time would he extended. however. only
until an incoming Congress could con-
slider the subject
Senator Stone declared the bill in real
ity was not an independence measure al
all because Of the extension provision
and offered m amendment to eliminate
it. but his proposal was voted down
80 to L. Senator Hitchcock, chairman OF
the Philippine committee, sought &c
amend the bill by extending independ
cnce within four years on condition that
the people and Legislature of the Philip
nines should ratify constitution. This
was rejected. - to %.
Senator Norris in opposing a provision
in the bill empowering the President to
retain naval bases in the Philippines
declared President Wilson had been con-
vcrtnd from man of peace to a mill
tarist.
Senator william Alden Smith criticised
tho democrats for their determination to
give NY lit HlllFl'ill'7' "''' " 49,
American people did no. wish to see the
American flag over the islands hauled
down.
This action is an unlustifabIe and IN
called for surrender of American rights
he said. If these islands become
anarchistic and the people get to warning
among themselves. YOU will he blamed
for it as YOU ought to be II other coun
tries 20 to war over them. it will dat'
from the day when YOU towards abandon
cd a task which providence placed il
your hands and which. by this act yo'
are acknowledging you are unable /,
master"
Senator Stone, replying. characterized
Senator Smiths remarks as "a vociferous
scattering. dreary, insane partisa,
haraneuc.'
AS passed, the bill carries a provision
authorizing the President, when indie
pendence is granted to negotiate treaties
needed to adjust all property rights o
citizens OF the United States and othe
countries in the islands and to acqur,
such naval basas and coalins station.
within that territory as he deems neces
sary The upper house Of the Filipino
isfSls4dl ilf Nbulu We elliTEeu u ~ fT'ln
bers. - chosen by the voters and two
appointed by the governor general Il
represent the non-Chris;ian tribes, The
lower house would be increased from s.
to %, the people choosing 81 and the gov
ernor naming nine.
The governor-general would have n veto
power, such as rests now with the sec
dietary of war. 4 two-thirds vote Of the
legislature would he needed to overrule
il, The President would have the right
to interpose an absolute veto within six
months,
NO restrictions are imposed on the
legislatu power to levy export duties.
except that they cannot be levied on ex-
ports to the United States. \ limit OF ST..
100000 is placed on the public indebted
ness, which permits the issuance Of new
bonds to replace the 100000 frar land
bonds now being retired
The bill would Increase the right of suf.
frage from the present 10000 to approx
mately 100000 by extending it to any cit.
zen able to read and write a native lam
Suage. Polygamous marriages. and the
import. sale or manufacture of intoxicat-
ing drinks or drugs, except the native
beverages, would be forever prohibited,
and no laws could he passed that would
permit religious discrimination. slavery
or the creation of a nobility.