The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-02-18
CONGRESS ON RECORD
AGAINST SCUTTLING
Boston Transcript.)

l
The insincerity, indeed the flagar-
ant untruthfulness, of the Philippine
scuttlers' pretence that this govern
ment has all along been committed to
the policy of secession in the Philip
pines, is exposed by the record of
Congress itself. Since the Constitu-
ton vests the authority of dispo sing
OF territory of the United States sole
ly with Congress. it is obvious tina,
any pledge or intention to relinouish
sovereignty over the Philippines, TO be
OF the slightest force, must have been
made by Congress. But Congress
never made any such pledge and never
expressed any such intention. On
the contrary, at very significant time
and in very significant way il refused
to do so and thus practically put itself
on record for the permanent posses
sion of the islands.
1t was in February, 1899. The
treaty of Paris was before the Senate
for ratification. Under the terms or
that treaty. the Philippines were to be.
come absolutely and forever our prop
erty. 1t such was not to be the case.
1t was necessary for the treaty to be
amended, or for some authentic inter-
probation OF it to be made to the con-
trary OF its obvious intent. An effort
was made to secure such action: for
days. '"o's
Senator .McEnery introduced a join,
resolution. on February 6, declaring
that the ratification of the treaty was
not intended to annex the Philipp;nes
permanently as part of the territory
OF the United States. On February "a
an amendment was offered by Senator
bacon, to the effect that the United
States disclaimed any disposition or
intention to exercise permanent sover-
eignity over the islands, but asserted
MS determination to turn them over
to a native government. whenever
such a government was established
winch was satisfactory to the United
States.
Senator Bacon's amendment was
carefully considered and discussed.
and then was defeated and rejected
precisely in the way in which the
Clarke amendment was carried. That
is to say, the Senate divided EQUALLY
upon it, % to q, and the vice presi-
dent cast the deciding vote against il.
ne original resolution of Senator
Nc Emery then came up. It was pass.
ed by the Senate. but. being a Joint |
resolution, had to be passed by the
House OF Representatives it is was to |
De valid. 1t was sent to the house. but
was not passed. that body not even
honoring it with vote.
The view: taken by the House, which
was undoubtedly the correct one. was
that Congress was not competent To Il
interpret a treaty The treaty was
contract between two sovereign
powers. and it was not for one ~
those powers, acting alone, to declare
what it meant. That could be done
only by agreement of the two sigma
tory powers. or, in case of their fail
ire to agree, by an impartial tribuna,
Of arbitration. So this attempt to
commit Congress and the nation n
he policy of scuttling failed. and by
inevitable inference the eoyernmen,
md the nation were left Committed 70
he obvious intent of the treaty name.
y, that we were taking the Philin-
'ines tor QUIZ permanent possession.
Mrs. ]: A. Tucker was at Mamma
Monday looking after business of The