Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-03-26
BILL DID NOT PASS.
House Considers the Matter OF
Death Penalties.
COCKRELL SEES NO OBJECTION 10 IT
But Would First Like to See Lot OF Tex.
ritory Cutthroats Hanged-Trea-
son Punishable only by
Imprisonment.

imprisonment.
Washington, March 24.-The house
spent most of today considering the
Curtis bill to abolish the death penalty
in all cases where it is prescribed in the
federal. statues (sixty in numDer) save
in cases of murder and rape, under sec
tons $3.50 and 5345 of the revised
statutes where, however, the jury might
qualify the verdict without capital
punishment" The bill makes no
changes in the penalties that can be In
s1icted by military and naval court
martial. Among the crimes now pun
ishable by death abolished by the bill
are murder and robbery on the high
seas accessory before the fact to muir
der, piracy, ETC., on the high seas, de-
struction of vessels at sea, piracy, arson
of vessels of war, etc. The bill failed TO
pass for want of a quorum.
The senate bill authorizing the leas-
ing of educational lands in Arizona,
which was. modification Of the bill
passed by the house over the presidents
veto some time ago, was passed as Werc
also several bridge bills.
Bills were passed to amend the act Of
March 2, 1893, relating to the promotion
OF the safety of employees and travellers
on railroads; to authorize the construc-
ton Of wagon and motor bridge across
the Missouri river at ST. Charles, Mo-:
also several other bills Of minor i'm
portance.
The house then proceeded to the con-
sideration OF the District OF Columbia
business.
After the district business was COM
pleted Mr.. Henderson (Rep., Ia, chair
man of the judiciary committee, called
up the Curtis bill abolishing the death
penalty in certain cases and permitting
Jurors in cases of rape and murder to
bring verdicts qualified without the
death penalty
NOT READY FOR 1T YET
s'I have no objection to the enact
,nent of the bill into the law a little
later on said Mr.. Cockrell Dem.,
Tex.) but I would like first to get rid
of the cutthroats and robbers whom the
government is protecting in the Indian
Territory"
Mr.. CuIberson (Dem., Tex.) gave the
bill his support. He said with reference
to the Indian Territory cases, Of which
SeVenty-three were pending, that the
district attorney believed that oonvic-
lions could be more easily secured II
qualified verdicts were allowed, as few
of the murders were deliberate, pre-
Tnedtated killings He criticised the bill,
however. because 1t made treason pun
fshable only with life imprisonment. AL
though there were few cases of trea son.
that crime, in his opinion, should head
the list.
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep., Ohio opposed
the bill. not because it curtailed the
death penalty, but because he did not
believe that juries should fix penalties.
He was not willing to yield his judg-
flent on this subject to the Judiciary
committee or the department of justice.
While the present attorney general was
a very distinguished lawyer, he (Gros-
Venor) did not believe that he had ever
tried criminal case in his life.
SENATE DISAGREEMENT.
During the progress of the debate the
disagreement of the senate to the con-
ference report on the Cuban resolution
was announced, but no action was taken
by the house.
Mr.. Gillett Rep., Mass.) and Mr.. Hep
burn (Rep., Iowa) opposed the Curtis
bill, while Mr.. Ray (Rep., N. Yo in
dorsed it.
Mr. Little CDem. Ark) proposed an
amendment providing thattn order many
criminal cases the jury should fix the
penalty, not exceeding the maximum
fixed by law. The amendment was de-
feated, 1888.
Mr.. Gillett offered an amendment.
which was agreed to 6S to II, making
treason punishable by death.
Mr.. Barrett (Rep., Mass) submitted
an amendment retaining the death pen
atty for the commission of all crimes
now puHlSneDDic ny OSdLH, Oul SIlpOW-
ering the juries to qualify their verdcts,
without capital punishment" The
amendment was lost. 2S to Al.
When the bill was reported to the
house, Mr.. Barrett renewed his amend
ment, which was again defea ted, % to
5S
When the bill placed upon its passage,
Mr.. Barrett made the point of no quo
rum. Speaker Reed was unable to count
more than 12S members, and at sos the
house adjourned.
Washington, March 2S.-The house
oommittee on election of president and
vice president today reported favorably
the bill introduced by Corliss of Michi-
gan, providing for the election of sena-
tors by direct vote Of the people.
MRS, DRAYTON GETS A DECREE
she Satisfies the Court That Her Husband
Deserted Her.
Trerton, N. J., March 24.-Chancellor