The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-06
CLAY STILL TALKING.
Georgia Senator In Opposition
to Ship Subsidy.

Washington March 6.--At the conclu-
sion of routine business in the senate
today consideration was begun of the
Dill providing for the protection OF the
president of the United States. Pending
discussion of the bill Mr.. Frye tMaine)
in charge of the shipping bill, asked un-
animous consent that final vote upon
that bill and all amendments be taken
on Monday, March II, at p. m.
Mr.. Bacon, (Ga-) a member of the jul
dlclary committee then discussed the
bill for the protection of the president.
II was ne thought, a very grave CUES
ton and he did not believe the measure
ought to be passed without amendment.
In view of the recent calamity which
had befallen the nation in the assassi-
nation of President Mckinley the sub
Ject of the pending bill was a difficult
one to discuss. He paid high tribute
to President Mckinley, saying The was
the most amiable courteous man have
ever met in high station" and from him
he personally had always received the
kindest consideration. Mr. Bacon be-
lleVed the proposed law was unneces-
sary and did not provide 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 to
hide himself from avenging justice. He
urged that the bill indicated that there
was not sufficient reliance upon the
Grim inal laws OF the several states.
Mr.. Depew IN. J. pointed out that in
the state laws there were no differen-
tiation between the assassination of the
president of the United States and any
other person and an attempt at assas-
sination was not punishable with death
in any state as the pending bill pro-
Vided.
Mr.. Plat Comm suggested, too, that
some states had laws against capital
punishment.
Mr.. Bacon continuing said that the
bill involved the right and the propriety
federal IN a a w
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 assassina ton, as
the anarchist was willing to sacrifice
his own life.
Mr.. Hoar CMass) interrupted to say
that the pending bill was proper, be-
cause the assassination, or attempted
assassination of the president was an
interruption of the government and it
was vitality important to the govern
ment 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 1T should be shown that the crime
was committed against the president
because of his official position, or for
the purpose of destroying the govern
ment, or impairing the execution Of it's
constitutional power"
Mr.. Bacon said the bill was practically
an enlargement of the law of treason and
proposed to make treason of something
that, under the constitution, was not trea-
son. 4
Mr.. Patterson (Col) suggested that
most embarrassing situation would have
arisen should the assassination of Presi-
dent Mckinley, for instance, occurred in
the state of Iowa, where capital punish
ment is not permissible. 1t would have
resulted he said, in the state being dis
graced by mob law, as no American COM
munity, he thought, would have been sat-
isf1ed with mere imprisonment for the as
sassin of President Mckinley. He agreed
with the main proposition of the bill.
At 215 the senate took up the ship sub
sidy bill and Mr.. Clay (Ga.) continued his
speech begun yesterday.
IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, March e~-The house today
resumed consideration of the bill to class
ify the rural free delivery service and
place the carriers under the contract sys-
tenn.
Mr.. Boutell Oll.) made a speech in sup
mort OF the measure