Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-08-17
SENATE HEDGES ON
PHILIPPINES BILL
Promises independence, but
Does Not Say
When
HOUSE EXPECTED
TO ACCEPT BILL


most of its radical features. the Philip
pines bill passed the Senate yester-
day, 81 to % All Of the Senators
voting for it we're Democrats, and
Senator Lane. Of Oregon. was the only
Democrat to vote against it. No
doubt exists that the bill will be APP
proved by the House without change
and signed by the president
The bill declares in preamble that
it is the intention OF the people Of
the United States. and always has
been" to grant the Philippines their |
, independence when a stable govern |
ment has been established
The bill grants the Filipinos much !
greater sef-gOvernment Instead OF
the present commission. appointed by
the president, which acts as an upper
house of the legislature. the Filipinos
will elect Senate.
( Electorate ouadrupled.
When the next legislature is to be
chosen the electorate Will be enlarged
from 100000 to about 100000 The
American vice-governor is retained,
but his duties are TO be fixed by the
eovernor-general No change in the
coinage. currency or immigration laws
can be made by the legislature with
out the approval Of the President
This change is added to avoid Chin
csc problem Americans on the islands
are required to give up American citi-
zenship before voting there.
Senator Borah, who voted not only
for the original Philippine bill, but
for the Clarke amendment. surprised
the Senate by declaring that he had
learned since that vote that the Amer
lean people would never consent to
the Filipinos being given indepen-
dence. He urged that the pending
bill. being a mockery should not be
passed, as It merely deceived the
Filipinos.
ANY one can vote for this pream-
BILE said Mr.. Borah. referring TO the
promise of independence when a
, istable government had been establish
, ed, because it binds the man voting
for it to nothing"
; Won't Give Up Islands.
: Senator Clapp. another Republican
2 who had voted for the Clarke amend
| lment. also declared that the American
e people would never agree to give up
the islands and that the Filipinos
i might as we'll recognize this as inevi-
d table.
S Senator Mclean. Of Connecticut
u tainted the Democrats that they had
: been promising for seventeen years
that they would set the islands free
. when they came into power.
you have control over botf
: houses" Mr.. Mclean said "Wh,
: don't you carry out that promise? Yoi
have tried. I believe conscientiously
" but YOU have failed ANONYMOUSLY"
- "Wby don't some of you Republi
cans who believe with us about TN
~ Philippines help us?' retorted senator
: williams of Mississippi.
1--WE are trying to help you TO dS
= something and to stop lying to these
- Filipinos," declared Mr. Mclean.
Declares Preamble Inaccurate.
Senator Lippitt, Of Rhode Island
J. pointed out the inaccuracy OF saying
"a that il had always been the purpose
se of the United States TO grant indepen
+ dence. He called attention to the fac
IS that while the Treaty OF Paris wai
at being considered by the Senate, two
lie amendments we're proposed, one b,
he Senator Vest Of Missouri. and th'
other by Senator Bacon, of Georgia
Both we're decisively voted down.
Immediately after the vote was an
nounced Senator Phelan, who had beef
talking with Philippine COMMISSIONS
n Ouezon. said that Mr. Quezon had toll
him that "the action is Of great i'm
y portancs to the Philippine people thai
anything that has happened in 80
years of the existence Of that nation.
ST Il hope the delegate of the PHILIP
re- pine Islands" retorted Senator Jones
30 will appreciate the fact that the pre-
~ amble in the bill which has just bee
/, PASSED is nothing more than parcel
: ment declaration carrying out Pre-
~ vision in a party platform, and tina
~ it will have no more effect than tn
=. declarations of the Democratic pla
y forms during the last sixteen years, S
y far as the independence of the Philil
ne pines is concerned"
"a "a, Borah Convinced.
.Ie Il voted to give the Filipino peopl
81 their independence" said Senate
IN Borah. and while | have no chang
nc of view with respect TO the wisdom {
that vote, / have learned somethin
with reference to the Philippine pc
: icy and the views of she people Of n
n. United States since that measure Wa
ar before the Senate. have hecon
W. InOIOuBllN tOuNlnCeu t0di the Ailtl
tie can people as a people. regardless
1st party and party pledges. are in fave
ley Of holding the Philippine Islands.
ge. ut seems presumptuous for one
be- reassert his view in the face of sue
yht public opinion. But what I rise to
now is TO impress on the Filipino pc
pie the lesson which | gathered. an
. that is that they should adjust then
selves TO the fact that they are a pa
Il of the United Safes and will rema
so permanently. / think it almost
upnfortunate as to have the islands Il
the United States to be engaged in &
uncertain policy and occupying an N
certain attitude toward this questiC
and toward these people.
I want 10 suggest to these Poop
in the Philippines that they take
their bonnets and take out their kni
ting and sit down and be content. TIL,
are not on visit. They are here
stay"
II FINED FOR ASSAULT.