The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-07
MONDAY DATE FOR A VOTE
The Measure Providing For Protection
of the President.
CLAY OPPOSES IT MIrs PRESENT FORM
Declares il an Invasion Of the Jurisdiction of
the States. Patterson of Colorado
Says il Ought Not Pass as il
Stands.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington. March ga notable speech
was made in the enate today by Mr..
/, Hanna, of Ohio, on the pending shipping
bill, which he discussed from the stand
point of an American business man. His
arguments were carefully arranged, he
was always forceful and earnest and at
times became eloquent. He commanded
the undivided attention of the Senate and
OF the galleries and when he closed he
received the congratulations of many of
his colleagues.
Early in the session, Mr.. Frye, in
charge of the pending shipping bill, OBJ
tanned an agreement that the Senate
should vote on the measure and all pend
ing amendments at p. m. Monday, March
II, that time being entirely satisfactory
10 those opposed to the bill.
Before consideration of the shipping bill
was resumed an extended debate oc-
Cured on the measure providing for the
protection of the President of the United.
States. Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, took the
ground that in its present shape the bill
was an invasion of the jurisdiction of the
States and that it ought to be amended
radically Mr.. Patterson, of Colorado,
while he agreed to the general PROPOSE
tions of the bill, urged that it ought not
to pass in its present form. No action
on the bill was taken.
Senator Bacon said that in view OF
the recent calamity which had befallen
the nation in the assassination of Presi-
dent Mckinley, the subject of the pend
ind bill was a difficult one to discuss.
He paid a high tribute to President Nc
Kinley, saying that he was the most
''amiable, courteous and pleasant man /
have ever met in high station and from
him he personally always had received
the kindest consideration.
Mr.. Bacon believed that the proposed
law was unnecessary and did not pro-
vide a more certain punishment for the
assassin than was provided now in the
State laws. The world, he insisted, was
not large enough for the criminal to get
beyond the reach of the law, and there
was no place secret enough in which TO
hide himself from avenging justice. He
urged that the bill indicated that there
was not sufficient reliance upon the
criminal laws of the several States.
Mr. Oepew, of New York, pointed out
that an attempt at assassination was not
punishable with death in any State, as
the pending bill provided. Mr. Platt,
Connecticut, suggested, too, that some
States had laws against capital pun
ishment
Mr.. Bacon continuing said that the bill
involved the right and the propriety of
the Federal Government to enforce law
within a State different from any law on
the statute books of the State. So far as
the anarchist was concerned. the death |
penalty was not a deterrent against the |
crime of assassination. as the anarchist |
was willing to sacrifice his own life.
Mr.. Hoar, Massachusetts, interrupted |
to say that the pending bill was proper |
because the assassination or attempted |
assassination of the President was an in
terruption of the Government. and it |
was vitality important to the government |
that such interruption should not occur |
Mr.. Bacon urged that the bill at least
ought to be amended in accordance with
his proposition already offered, so that
it should be shown that the crime was
committed against the President, "be
cause of his official power or for the
purpose of destroying the government or
lmpalflnS tn6 execution Ol It's cOuSll-
tutional powers
Mr.. Bacon said the bill was PRACTICAL
ly an enlargement of the law OF treason
and proposed to make treason of some
thing, that, under the Constitution was
no. treason
Mr.. Clay, Georgia, resumed his speech
on the shipping bill begun yesterday.
He predicted the complete failure of the
pending measure. Natural conditions
alone, he argued, could increase the for
eign carrying trade of the United !
States |
Mr.. Hanna then addressed the Senate, |
his remarks being principally in answer |
to the statements made by Mr.. Clay in |
his speech of yesterday. IIe said that |
when Mr. Clay quoted from Mr.. Frye's |
remarks that all that there was in this |
question which required legislation was
embraced in the one question of labor,
he was correct. Il stand bv that propo |
sition. but l go further. Ninety five |
per cent of the cost of ship built in
American ship yards or in any ship.
yards is purely labor. The cost Of the |
construction of ship in the United |
States as against that in either England, |