Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-06-04
AGREEMENT ON SUPPLY BILL
House Adopts Conference Report and
Measure is Nearly Ready
for President.

WASHINGTON, June 3.-In the house to-
day Mr. Burton OF Ohio called up the con-
ference report on the river and harbor bill.
After some debate the report was adopted.
AS soon IS signed by the presiding officer
of each house 1t will go to the president
Under the order adopted yesterday the
house then went into committee Of the
whole to consider the bill for the protec-
tion of the president Of the United States
and for other purposes-known as the anti
anarchy bill.
The house committee reported a substi-
tute for the senate measure. Mr.. Ray Of
New York. chairman of the judiciary com
mittee, who was In charge Of the BILL ar
gued that the senate bill was unconstitu-
tional.
Mr. Lanham of Texas supported the feature
Of the bill to exclude anarchists, but op-
posed that making 1t a particular offense
to kill the president or any one in the line
of presidential succession. He argued that
every man was equal before the law and
that existing laws were ample to punish the
killing or attempted killing OF the presi-
dent.
Mr.. Ray Of New York explained the Diff
ference between the senate bill and the
house substitute. The purpose OF the house
bill was to protect the president vice
president and those In line Of succession,
and to prevent the entry into the United
states or the naturalization Of persons who
preach anarchy or forcible destruction Of
government. The imperative reason for the
passage Of this bill was the nonuniformity
OF state laws for the punishment of homi-
eide. The senate bill, Mr.. Ray contended,
was unconstitutional because 1t provided the
death penalty for the killing Of the presi-
dent, the vice president and cabinet off,
GERS in line OF succession, without regard
to whether at the time they were engaged
In the performance OF their oficial duties
Every decision Of the supreme court on
the subject, he said. indicated that con-
gress had Jurisdiction to enact laws pun
ishing offences against officers only when
they were engaged in the performance Of
their official duties and for that reason the
house substitute used the language, ANY
person who unlawfully, purposely and know
ingly kills the president while engaged In
the performance of his oflcial duties or be-
cause OF his officIaI character, or because Of
any Of his official acts or omissions, shall
suffer death.
Mr.. Lanham OF Texas approved that pro-
vision OF the bill designed to prevent and
discourage the coming into the United States
OF all persons who oppose government and
seek Its subversion. Anarchists, he said,
should have no place in a free government.
But he said he could not give his asesnt to
any bill that singled out any particular cit
izen and made it a special offense to take
his life. He denied that one honest. law
abiding mans life was more sacred than
anothers.
"If l we're president" said Mr.. Lanham,
II should rather not have this bill on the
statute books. would regard 1t as a spe-
cial invitation to some crank to slay me
wherever he found me-"
Bills were passed for holding terms Of
the circuit court Of appeals Of the Eighth
circuit annually at Denver. Cheyenne and
St. Paul; to authorize light and fog signal
at semiahmoo Harbor. Wash; senate bill
to grant 100 acres OF land. embracing GER
tain hot springs. to the state Of Idaho.