Evening star., 1896-03-24
STILL ON CUB 4
Continued from First Page.)

the reading of the journal today was the
passage of the bill which was debated yes
terday to abolish the death penalty in GER
tain cases in which it is prescribed in the
federal statutes. and allowing the jury to
return a verdict qualified without capital
punishment" in cases of rape and murder.
On rising vote the bill was passed, 90-s5.
put Mr. Crowther (Mo) demanded the yeas
and nays, which were ordered.
Ihe bill was passed, 1000. y
A Further Cuban Conference.
Mr.. HIT, chairman Of the foreign affairs
committee. called up the message of the
Senate announcing the Senate's disagree
nent to the conference report on the Cuban
resolution. On his motion the House in
sisted on its substitute for the Senate reso-
lutions and agreed to the further confer
ence asked for by the Senate. The House
&C cnIerees We're not Immediately announced.
Mr Boutelle. chairman of the naval COM
mittee, reported the naval appropriation
bill.
The Speaker appointed the following con-
ferees on the Cuban resolutions: Mr. Hit,
Mr. Adams Pa.), and Mr.. McCreary Qky).
Against Spurious Liquors.
Ihere being no other business before the
House, committees were called. Mr.. Evans
(ky) called sup from the committee ON
ways and means. bill to amend section
3449 of the internal revenue laws so as to
make the sale of 3pirituols liquors. except
under the BRAND which they were known to
the trade designating the kind and quality
punishable by a fine of $500 and imprison-
ment for six months and the forfeiture of
the liquors.
Mr.. Evans explained that the bill was
urged by the internal revenue commits
sioner: The public, he said, was being
swindled by spurious liquors and wines.
Mr.. Cummings On. " made a humorous
speech, In which he urged the passage of
the bill. not only as a protection 10 the
revenue but as conclusive to the safety of
human life. He instanced a case where he
mad purchased "for a sick friend" q pc
cullarly good quality of brandy, which the
physicians, on samplrg, said would kill at
forty rods. It consisted, he said, of a
compound of wood, alcohol, whisky and
strychnine Cheating the revenue was bad
enough, Mr.. Cummings said. but destroy
ing life for the benefit of whisky distillers
was not to be tolerated.
Objected to the Word "Knowingly."
Mr.. Connolly Qll) vas in sympathy with
the purpose Of the bill. but objected to
the word knowingly" as qualifying the
sellers of these spurious liquors. That word
would, he commended furnish the loophole
by which offenders could escape conviction
Mr.. Evans proposed to withdraw the
word but Mr.. Crisp Ga.) objected, declar-
ing that he would never vote for q law
"nlch MADE a man liable to penalties for a
crime which he did not knowingly" COM
init. This law would affect every dealer
in the land. and the onus of proof ought,
ne thought, to be on the government.
Mr. swans replied that no internal reve-
nue. law contained the word "knowingly. +"
NO dealer in spurious liquors could do SO
without knowing exactly what he was
doing.
The wcrd knowingly was stricken from
the bill-25 to 55-and the bill was passed
The Senate joint resolution for the dis
position of certain property now in the
nands OF the receiver of the Church Of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was
adopted.
A bill Was passed amending the act Great
ing the Circuit Court of Appeals SO as to
give an appeal on court orders appointing
receivers. I'm. f"fl,