Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-05-02
OR TREATY OBLIGATIONS
As to Protection of Aliens Likely To Be
Debated in the Senate.

Debated IN The senate.
WASHINGTON, May "A bill of inter-
national Importance is likely to be dis
clssed 10 the senate this week. 1t is aimed
to make it possible for the United States
To carry out its treaty obligations regard
ing the punishment of United States citi-
zens who commit crimes against alien res
idents of this country of the mob law char
acter. 1t really only makes it possible for
the United States to secure the trial of the
mob leaders, for as the trial will take
place in the same section of the country
and often in the very city where the men,
bers of the mob live, punishment is ex-
tremely doubtful.
Origin of the Proposed Law.
The bill is the result of the recommended
ton in the message of the president which
was inspired by the New Orleans out lawry
when the mob led by Parkinson and other
prominent New Orleans citizens massacred
dozen or so wretches alleged to be guilty
OF murder, some of whom had just been &C
quilted by Il jury also of New Orleans best
citizens, presumably The principal difficult
ty that confronted the United States in it's
dealings with the Italian government over
the incident was that the men concer ned
in the killing of the Italians could not be
tr- ed in the United States courts, but only
in the courts of tie state of Louisiana.
Italy Files Complaint.
The Italian government bitterly COM
planned that this government was violat-
ing its treaty agreement in not taking
into its own hands the punishment of
the culpable persons. Secretary Blaine
explained to Italy that punishment could
be had only through the state courts of
Louisiana, the jurisdition over muir
der in the several states being given
to them. But Italy insisted that the
United States had not acted in good faith,
and to show its feeling in the matter
Baron Fava, the Italian minister, was re-
called from Washington, although diplo-
matte relations were not wholly severed. In
order to avoid in the future any difficulty
of this nature the bill referred to was
brought in by the committee on foreign
relations and it is probable that it will be
passed.
Debated the Matter in the Fl ouse.
ApropOs of this subject there was a spir-
tied debate in the house Saturday over the
proposition to reduce the presidents emer-
gency fund. out of which he paid Italy
So, 600 indemnity for the families of the
Italians murdered at New Orleans. Dis
cussion took place as to the right of the
president to use this fund in this way.
Breckenridge of Kentucky said that he
was glad that this international episode
had been amicably settled, but he ques-
toned the right of the president to settle
questions of this kind without at least re-
ferling the matter to congress, or at leas t
to the senate. He feltthat the precedent
was an unwise one, and he therefore criti-
cised it.
The Idea of Mr.. Chapman.
Chapman of Michigan submitted an
amendment providing that no portion of
the emergency fund should be used in the
payment of claim brought by foreign
nation. 1t was for the United States to
ma ntain its dignity nation, and the
pec1liaritiss of our form of government
should be respected by foreign nations.
The president had no right to set such
precedent. McMillin said the president
assumed to take fund which was never
expected to be used in the way il had been,
and he had no right to commit the govern
ment to the theory that for riots or mob
bling in the states the government of the
United States was liable. Hit defended
the president.