The development of Philippine politics

348 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS

Bill. Defeat of Clarke Amendment by big majority in the
House, and its passage by only the Vice-President's vote in
the Senate proves that I was right when I said that in my
opinion Congress is against fixing in advance date for independence. I have fought all I could for Clarke amendment.
QUEZON. (1X
Approval of the Jones LaIv
As between no legislation and the Jones Bill, the decision was naturally for the Jones Bill. Several explanations as to the defeat of the Clarke amendment have been
given. One was that the Catholics of America had instructed the Catholic members of Congress to vote against
it. As a result all but three Catholics voted against the
Clarke amendment. Another explanation was that Mr.
Murphy, of Tammany Hall, wanted to show the President
that Tammany Hall could yet defeat him, for the President
had been having his own way in legislation before this
time.
After the defeat of the Clarke Amendment in the House
of Representatives, the Jones Bill with its preamble, which
had passed in 1914, was again approved with hardly any
opposition. Conferences were then held between representatives of the Senate and House, and on August 29, the
Jones bill, with some modifications, was finally approved. (2)
(1) These cablegrams are taken from the private collection of the writer. He
was secretary to Commissioner Queson at the time and thus had opportunity
to observe, collect documents, and note down facts about the proceedings of
Congress on Philippine bills.
(2) Public No. 240, 64th Congress, S. 381.