Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-13
The Senate Yesterday Passed the
Appropriation Measure.
BILL FOR PROTECTION OF PRESIDENT


lOmaHc anu consular appropriation
bill was passed and then the senate
took up the measure for the protec
ton OF the president of the United
States. Senator Bacon, Of Georgia
continued his speech, begun Thurs
day, in opposition to the bill. He
argued that the constitution in
tended that each man shall be equal
before the law and said the remedy
for an attack on the president OF
the killing of the president should
be the same as if the crime were
committed against an individual.
He denied congress had jurisdic-
ton to legislate with reference to
an attack on the sovereignty of the
United States through the person Of
an official and maintained that the
contention of those who supported
the measure was in effect that there
was no differentiation between the
crime of treason and an assault up
on the president, which threatened
/ the existence of the government.
He urged, however, that if that were
true assassination of the president
would be treason.
Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, in
terrupted to say that although the
assault upon a president might be
considered an attack upon the SOW
ereignty of the government, it clear
ly was within the authority Of con-
gress to deal with it, as had been
done in the pending bill.
Senator Bacon denied the constitu-
tonality of any law which shall in
wade our institutions, which shall
upturn the recognized procedures
of 100 years and which shall put 1t
in the power of partisans either on
the bench or elsewhere "to Cypress
men on account of political opin-
ion" The bill, il enacted, he said,
would muzzIe the press and make
any editor afraid to express an opin-
ion as to the president or any other
official, for fear that, thereafter, il
any OF these officials should be killed
he might be tried for murder. He
would not, he said, vote for the bill,
even If he were the only man in the
senate and in the house OF repre-
sentatives opposed to it. The only
way to protect the president and
vice president and heads of depart
ments was to prevent persons who
may have designs on their lives from
having the opportunity.
At the conclusion of Senator Ba-
cons speech Senator Hoar, in charge
of the measure, secured unanimous
consent that the bill should be the
unfinished business after the ship
subsidy bill had been disposed of
finally.
Senator Teller, of Colorado, pre-
scented a memorial from the Colorado
legislature urging that the present
tariff on sugar be retained and pro-
testing against any reciprocity with
Cuba as opposed to the rapidly de-
veloping beet sugar interests of the
western states.
Senator Gamble, from the commit
tee on Indian affairs, reported favor
ably the bill ratifying the agreement
with the Rosebud Sioux Indians for
the cession of their unallotted lands
in Gregory county, S. D., to the
United States. There are 4l5,0OO
acres, for which the Indians receive
$1,64OOOO.
A bill was introduced by Senator
Rawlins prohibiting the leasing Of
mineral lands on Indian reservations.
Senator Dubois presented me-
mortal from the American chamber
Of commerce of Manila, urging that
the immigration of Chinese coolie
immigrants into the Philippine is
lands be permitted under restrictions
to be imposed by the Philippine CON-
mission.
The senate, at $3.50 p. m, went in
to executive session and at 1895 p.
m. adjourned until Monday.
The bill to classify the rural free
delivery service and to place the car
riers under the contract system,
held the floor in the house yester-
day. By an amicable arrangement
general debate will be concluded to-
day and the bill will be considered
under the five-minute rule on Mon
day. Those who spoke for the bill
yesterday were Mr.. Cowherd, Of Mis-
souri,; Claude Kitchen, of North Caro-
lina Shackelford, of Missouri, and
Salmon of New Jersey. The follow
ing members opposed it; Messrs.
Padgett, Of Tennessee; Warner, of
Ohio; Small, Of North Carolina; John
son, Of South Carolina; Cromer, Of
Indiana, and Zenor, of Indiana.
The Newlands irrigation bill was
reported to the house by Mr.. Mon
dell, of Wyoming.