The age-herald., 1901-02-20
PettuS Says the Penalty ImpoS-
 ed is Unconstitutional
SOME ELOQUENT SPEECHES MADE
Senator Deboe Delivered His Speech on the Nicaraguan Canal Bill and Maintained That the United
 States Should Control 1t.

Washington, February 19.-By the em- phatic vote of IS to 42 the Senate late this afe>>>, oon rejected the conference re- port on the ssiitary academy appropria iion bill This action came at the con- cluson of spirited debate upon the pro- visions against hazing, inserted in the report by the conference committee of the two branches of Congress.
 Discussion of the provision, which was precipitated at the close of yesterdays session by Mir Daniel of Virginia, oc- cupied the greater part of the days ses- sion, and the report of the conferees was rejected because it was regarded by a large majority of the Senators as too drastic, and while no instructions could be given the conferees by the Senate, it was understod that to secure favorable action by the Senate a modified provis- ion as to the penalty for hazing would have to be presented and agreed upon by the conferees. Early in the day MT. Deboe of Kentucky delivered his an- nounced speech upon the Nicaragua ca nal.
 He reviewed at length the proceedings
 
 strongly advocated the construction of the waterway by the United States. An effort was made to obtain consideration of the bill reviving the grade of vice ad- mral of the navy for the benefit of Rear Adrnrals Sampson and Schley, but it was unavailing.
 He believed the canal was demanded jmperatively by the material interests of the United States He argued that it should be constructed by direct appro- priation from the United States treasury feeling assured that the government would not suffer thereby any ultimate loss
 The Right to Control.
 MT. Deboe maintained that the treaty pnly recently ratified by the Senate gave the United States the right to control the canal when constructed.
 MT. Sewell called up the conference re- port on the Military Academy appropria- tion bill, which aroused the opposition of MT Daniel of Virginia at the close of yesterdays session. Mir Sewel defended the action of the conferees holding that they followed the instructions of both the Senate and House.
 Mr. Pettus argued that the provision of the conference report which debarred a cadet convicted of hazing from ever holding a commission in the army navy or marine corps was clearly unconstitu- tional.
 Messrs. Hawley, Chandler and Lodge expressed the opinion that the conferees had gone too far, and said that while a1azing should be suppressed, no perpet- aal stigma could be put on convicted cadets.
 Mr. Depew in opposing the hazing pen nlty, declared that it had been adopted under public clamor and that Congress had acted upon impulse rather than upon Judgment. He agreed that dismissal from the academy ought to follow conviction of hazing, but the young man, he said, should not leave West Point with brand upon him-a brand that would re- main upon him through life-was going too far.
 MT. Tillman said those cadets who practiced hazing upon their physical !n- feriors were "brutes and dogs" and he doubted whether the provision against hazing could go too far.
 .This school at West Point" he assert ed. ''has become a disgrace in the eyes of the world on account of hazng."
 Spooner Made Eloquent Protest.
 Mir Spooner made an eloquent protest against the enactment into law or pro- vision which does not differentiate be- tween cowa rdice and brutality and mere boyish pranks. He declared the proposi- tion shocked the sense of fairness Of every decent man.
 MT Teller said system of hazing had grown up at West Point totally unlike that in any other institution in the coun- try. It ought to be suppressed with strong hand.
 ,.The people are outraged by this prac- fice." said he. We have got to stop 1t or eventually dismantle the institution"
 MT. Wolcott thought Congress had en- tered upon trifing piece of business. The enactment of the provision would make of the cadets milksops and prigs.
 Mir Hale believed the conference report ought to be rejected He said that prac- ficaIly the whole matter had been left to inc conference committee, the mem- bers of which had put on the bill this remarkable penal code"
 "Out of this question: he declared, Dwe have made most tremendous mat ter (and it Is not such), and have clared there is no such lot of malefactors as the body of cadets at West Point and that they are not such.'
 MT. Money maintained that the propos- al provision was not due to popular clarnor, but to a deep seated and right eous indignation which permeated the entire country. He denounced vigorously fazing maintaining that those who would maltreat a young cadet were unfit to command men.
 MT. Nelson reported the river and har- bor bill and gave notice that at the earl ist possible time he would call it up for consideration. M
 Nr. Daniel of Virginia opposed the con