Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-06
SENATOR PEFFER LOSING No TINE
IN TRYING TO CLEAR 1T.
INvoKEs THE AID OF CONGRESS.
INTRODUCES 4 BILL REMOVING THE
CHARGES OF DESERTION.
Senate Passes Dill AboIishinE the
Death Penalty in Many Cases
Free Homes Discussion De-
ferrcd n Dny-Business
in the House.

Washington. Jan. 5.-(SpeciaI) Senator
PETER is losing no time in his efforts to clear
the war record OF W. II. Linton the Bry-
an elector from Kansas. who was shown
by the Journal to be a deserter from the
Union army. One of the first bills to find
its way to the clerks desk in the senate
to-day was bill to remove the charge of
desertion from the military record of Will
lam II. Linton" 1t is a bill sparse of
phraseoIogy. and few of those who handled
it had any idea of the significance Of the
measure. 1t simply states: BE it enacted.
etc. that the secretary of war he and the
same is hereby authorized and directed to
remove the charge of desertion from the
military record of w. II. Linton. late pri-
vate inc company. Thirty-second regiment.
Ohio volunteers. and issue TO him an hon.
orable discharge" The bill was referred to
the committee on military affairs, where
Senator PETER hopes to push it for an ear
ly and favorable report. 1t will then he
ready for action on the part of the senate.
At late hour to-day it had not been intro
duced in the house. Representative Blue.
should he be asked to submit the measure
in the house, will do so in his capacity OF
Will. OF course, assume no further respon-
sibility on the premises and it will prob
ably devolve on Representative Baker. of
the Sixth district, to explain it.
The senate to-day passed the house bill
abolishinS the death penalty i'll large
number of cases. The measure is in the
line of recent state laws abolishing capital
punishment and applies the same principle
TO federal Offenses although the change is
not extended to Il total abolition of the
death penalty. The present laws. which
have come down from colonial times, have
a sanguinary aspect and prescribe death
for offenses of various character. The bill
passed to-day reduces the Offenses to five,
viz: Treason, rape, murder and two Of
lenses applicable to the army and navy.
In all other offenses. hard labor for life
is substituted as the maximum punish
ment, and even in cases of murder and
rape hard labor may be substituted II the
jury states in its verdict without capital
punishment"
AS the bill has passed the house. after n
long crusade by Representative Curtis, of
New York, and is amended but slightly by
the senate. it is likely to go to the pres-
dent when the minor disagreements are
arranged in conference.
During the day Mr.. Call. of Florida in
troduced resolutions calling for Informal
ton as to the condemnation of Julio San
gully at Havana to life Imprisonment, and
also directing the secretary of state to de-
mand Sanguilys immediate release. Mr.
PETER Populist. of Kansas. delivered Il
speech in support of his resolution for u
national monetary commission.
The bill providing for free homesteads
in Oklahoma for bona fide settlers which
has the right of way unfinished busI-
ness was laid aside until tomorrow.
Mr.. Proctor, Republican. of Vermont,
gave notice that he would speak next Mon
Dental term to six years and fixing the
term of members of the house of represent
atives at three years.
At 2:25 p. m. the senate adjourned.