New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-02
House Democrats Force
Favorable Report by
II to s.
TO GAG DEBATE
AND RUSH ACTION
Only Brief Time for Discussion
Will Be Allowed-No Amend
ments Considered.


Washington Narch l.-FolloN lng
their refusal 20 grant hearings on the
Philippines bill yesterday, the Demo
Gratis on the Insular Affairs Committee
Of the House to-day, By a majority OF
eleven to eight, forced favorable re-
pert on the Philippines bill, Just as II
iassed the Senate. not single amend
ment being considered as a result Of
the announcement OF Chairman Jones
that the President desired no change
=, be made IN the bill. A special rule
will be brought out on the bill IN a
reu davs. !. was announced, giving a
lrief time for debate on the measure
after which it will be jammed
through.
The Republican members OF the
committee aye indignant at the steam
roller mthcds employed by the Demo
cr,ts, who we're impatient even OF tne
arguments made by the Republicans
eoains. the bill in the two brief sessions
held by the committee. Altogether
there has not been more than three
tours' consideration by the comm"-
tee of the bill since it was received
from the Senate, despite the fact mat
4 is an entirely different measure
from that proposed in the House AZ
tho beginning OF the session by CHAIR
men Jones, o. the House Committee
In granting independence within -FOUR
voars in the discretion OF the Presi-
dent. however. the Senate DILL rs
amended by Senator Clarke, actually
noets the views Of the Democrats on
the House Committee, including Chair'
man Jones. much better than the origi-
nal Jones bill did. The Jones Dill
would have conferred independence
when the Filpinos were fitted ior IT,
which involved many years Oh amer
can sovereignty, TO say the 'eSs,'
Under the terms of the present Di'"
which. it may be taken for gfah'e''
will be passed By the House witnou'
change under the whip and spur OF the
Administration, the islands are gra"'e"
independence IN from !" to four years
,,,.lees the President shall find condl-
,;ors iustifying him in extending tha'
time 70 the adjournment OF the heA-
Congress- after the four year limit eN-
hires. Even that discretion vested III
the President. no matter what the CON
ditions at tie time may be. would n0t
prevent the islands being cut adril.
after the adjournment OF the congress
mentioned unless additional iegls.s
tion should be passed. ne fresl-
dent would have no discretion AFTER
that Congress adjourned.
The Administration was partcuiarIF
anvious 20 avoid having the Phl!ip
rines bill 20 70 conference between
The two houses after It's passage Dy
the House. The reason, Tor TINS va
that the conferrees on the part OF tHe
senate. VINO would be the two rahs'he
Democrats on the Senate Pnlllpp'he3
Committee, Senator'S Hitchcock ana
Fletcher, and the ranking Repunllcah'
Senator Mclean, might not agree N
cor ference TO proposition "h'0n
would suit the President. Two OF them,
senators Hitchcock and Mclean, voted
ao,ainst the Clarke amendment when Il
W. passed upon By the Senate.
on the other hand friends Of Sen
stor Clarke have been urging the
democrats on the Insular Affairs Com
mittee not to permit any change IN
the hill whatsoever, because they were
not so sure they could hold their lines
IN he Senate should the measure come
back for conference. This urging was
scarcely needed By the House scut-
tiers. however. since they are i'm
mensely pleased at the idea of cutting
90 short the length OF time during
which American sovereignty over the
Philippines will continue.