New-York tribune., 1916-07-23
Senator Lippitt's Objec-
tions Mostly Favored by
Conference Committees.
LEGISLATURE LEFT
TO PRESENT VOTERS
President to Have Veto over
Any Amendment to the I'M
migration Laws.


on the Philippines bill was reached by
the Senate and House conferrees late
to-day. and it is expected that the con-
ference report which will be drafted IN
the meantime will be signed and the
bill reported to the Senate on Mon
day.
The conferrees were all present eX-
cept Senator Lippitt, of Rhode Island
whose demands with regard to changes
in the bill were set forth in long
talk with Chairman Jones, Of the
House committee, yesterday. so tha'
the conferrees to-day we're acting IN
perfect knowledge Of what the Rhode
island Senator would be willing to ac-
cept.
At the conclusion of the conference
several members said they had no
doubt that Mr.. Lippitt would be salts
fed, since he had been given his way
as TO most Of the changes.
Only Two Amendments Refused.
Roughly. only two Of Mr.. Lppitt's
demands were not granted. One of
these was that the position Of Vice
Governor be retained. and that this
official should have jurisdiction over
the non-Christian tribes. II was de-
cided 10 retain the Office of Nice-Gov-
ernor, as provided in the Senate, but
not in the House bill, but it was also
decided not to define his duties, leaving
this function to the Governor General
In this connection members OF the
committee argued that the fear for the
non-Christian tribes had been shown
70 be unjustifed by events Of the last
two years, particularly since the lower
branch of the present Philippine
Legislature had proven more liberal
with appropriations for schools and
other improvements in the Moro dis
trict than the upper house, appointed
by the President of the United States,
had been.
The other demand Of Senator. Lip
pitt which was not granted related 10
the rights of Americans TO vote IN
the islands 1t was held that the
change desired by Mr.. Lippitt would
permit Americans TO vote m the ISL
ands, and also to vote in the United
States, should they make the trip TO
do so. The majority of the confer
rees felt that the organic act should
not force the Philippine government
TO permit Americans to vote, if these
Americans had not given up their
American citizenship.
Americans Already Vote.
Il was stated that Americans al
ready actually did vote in the islands
and that no change was contemplated
in the wording Of the old law, which
would prevent their continuing TO do
so, although the law would not force
the Philippine government TO continue
granting this right.
The Senate amendments. providing
for an American auditor and director
of civil service, were adopted by the
conferrees. The House provision,
which would leave the districting of
the islands 70 a commission, was APP
proved. Senator Lippitt had demand
ed that the districting should be done
in the bill, as provided by the Senate,
so as 10 prevent the possibility of
gerrymandering. but he is understood
now 10 be satisfied with granting this
function to a commission. as his main
fear had been that the Philippine Leg
islature would take political advantage
of this possibility.
One of the big points on which Mr..
Lippitt insisted-that the next Legis-
lature, or the first one TO be Filipino
in both branches, be elected by the
present electorate acceded to by
the conferrees.
tion be held in September the
present electorate can choose a Senate
which will serve with the House elect
ed at the June election. Then, when
the next Legislature is chosen, the new
electorate, consisting of about 500 900
voters, as against the 100000 in the
present electorate, may exercise the
suffrage.
Another important amendment on
which the House conferrees yielded 20
the Senate, as urged by Mr. Lippitt,
was that providing that any change
in the immigration laws OF the islands
must be approved by the President of
the United States before going into ef-
feet.
The House bill had provided that
al! CHhhBtS ~ lIt coinage OF currency
laws should be approved by the Presi-
dent, but made no reference 20 the i'm
migration laws. At present the ap-
proval of the President is required be-
fore any change in the immigration
laws can be put into effect, even though
the upper house Of the Philippine
Legislature, which is now appointed
by the President, would have 10 pass
such change before it would 20 to
the President.