The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-05
Would Authorize President to Grant Them Independ-
 ence in Four Years
GREATER MEASURE OF
 SELF-GOVERNMENT
Will Have Influence of Administra- ton Behind It in House and Will Be Pressed-Attempts to Amend Bill
 Are Unsuccessful in Senate

i Washington, February 4.-The Philip lands greater degreesof self-government and would authorize the President to grant them absolute independence within four years, passed the Senate tonight 52 ot 24. Various democratic senators, led by Chairman Stone of the foreign rela- tions committee, tried unsuccessfully to amend certain features of the independ- ence clause but in the end the demo- crats, joined by six progressive repub- lcans, voted solidly for the measure.
 It is understood the bill will go to the House with the backing of President Wilson and will be pressed for early pas sage. Administration leaders tonight seemed confident that the bil including the independence feature, which demo- cratic senators declare squares it with the Baltimore platform, would have the approval of the House democratic ma jority.
 The republican senators who voted for the bill were Borah, Clapp, Kenyon, La Toilette, Norris and Works. By over
 
 to modify the Clarke amendment, which contains the independence provision, and also gives the President authority to eX tend or withhold independence at the end of four years if he should find conditions ir tie islands unfavorable. The time would be extended, however, only until ar incoming Congress could consider the subject
 NORRIS RAPS WILSON
 Senator Norris, in opposing d provision in the bill empow ering the President to retain naval bases in the Philippines, de- clared President Wilson had been con verted from a man of peace to a mili- tarist
 Senator William Alden Smith scored the democrats for their determination to give up the Philippines and declared the Amer ican people did not wish to see the Amer ican flag over the islands hauled down.
 Senator Stone, replying, characterized Senator Smiths remarks as "a vc :rous. scattering. dreary. inane partisan ha- rangue"
 As passed the bill carries a provision authorizing the President, when inde- pendence is granted, to negotiate treaties needed to adjust all property rights of citizens of the United States and c- 1T countries in the islands, and to acquire such naval bases and coaling stations within that territory as he deem neces- sary. The upper house of the Filipino legislature would be enlarged to 24 mem bers, p chosen by the voters and two appointed by the governor general to represent the Christian tribes. Tho lower house would be increased from 8l to 90, the people choosing S1 and the gov ernor naming nine.
 VETO POWER GIVEN The governor general would have a rotn power such as rests now with the Secretary of War. two-thirds vote of i the leg1siature would be needed to over rule it. The President would have the right to interpose an absolute veto with l in six months.
 1 No restrictions are imposed on the | llegislature's power to levy export duties, except that they cannot be levied on l exports to the United States. A limit of sl7, 7,000,ooO is placed on the public in 1 dehte which permits the issuance
 of new bonds to replace the S7,0oo,0Q0 friar
 land bonds now being retired. 1 The bill would increase the right of l suffrage from the present zoo,000 to ap- l pro,lirna tely TOO 090 by extending it to any l citizen able to read and write a native language. Polygamous marriages, and the 1 importa tion, sale or manufacture of in- 1 toxicating drinks or drugs except the native beverages, would be foreTer pro- | hiblted and no laws could be passed | that would permit religious discrimina- l ton, slavery or the creation of mo- bility.