AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12426, 15 February 1901, Page 3

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

(By Telegraph from Auckland.) [Per Press Association.] SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24. THE PHILIPPINES, Senator Spooner has given notice that before the close of the,present session he wid press for the adoption of a resolution for the appointment of a Joint Committee of the two houses to go to the Philippines and investigate the conditions there. Among the Republican leaders there .is considerable anxiety regarding the- conditions in the Philippines, and it is felt to be extremely difficult to get reliable information, even in regard to matters of the gravest importance. The Republicans have been unable to get a contradiction even of the assertion- that the Taft Commission promulgated a law condemning to two years’ imprisonment any Filipino who shall refuse to serve in an office to which he has been appointed by the Commission. The Republican Senators appealed to the War Department for a denial of the charge, but they were unable to gee satisfaction. It has also been impossible to gain positive information regarding the Crown lands of Spain in the Philippines. It is known that these are of great extent and value, and shoidd be in the possession, of the United States, but it seems impossible to gain information. THE FILIPINOS' APPEAL. Senator Teller has presented ,a memorial “ from 2006 Filipinos and peaceful inhabitants of Manila.” The memorial is in the form of an appeal to Congress, -and Mr Teller stated it was signed by leading people of Manila, and sanctioned by lawyers, bankers and professional men. It reviewed the circumstances leading up to the present struggle for independence, and paid a high tribute to Aguinaldo and Ids coadjutors in their work of endeavouring- to obtain liberty and independence for the people' of the Philippines. The memorial will have no weight, other than to provoke discussion, and perhaps increase the chances of actual inxestigation as to the conditions and necessities of the people in the islands. THE AMERICAN ARMY. The consideration of the Army Re-organ-isation Bill, in the United States Senate, brought out the fact that, in the 1 opinion of many Senators, war between the States and some foreign Power is not regarded as outside the range of possibilities. “We will be fortunate,” said Senator Daniels, “ if we extricate ourselves from the complications we have got into in the Orient without needing an army of one hundred- thousand men.” A bitter fight was waged as to the propriety of giving the President power to increase- the •Army, and Senator Bacon said, “I think we have fallen upon an evil day, when a Senator can rise in his place in this Chamber, and say that the objections to giving the President power to raise large armies is uncalled for. Senators may scoff, but it is nevertheless a march to Empire. It is a great revolution to propose to eliminate for all time .the'Volunteer system of our Army, which this country has depended on since the beginning of its history, and establish in its place a system of large standing armies.”