The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-19
FOR PROTEC ton
OF PRESIDENTS R I /: I
Senate Spent Three Hours in
Consideration Of Measure.
THREE Spec HE'S WERE MADE.
Iloar aud Mason Supported Bill, While Mr..
Bacon, of Georgia, Opposed it-ln House
Hepburn Made Onslaught on
Rivers and Harbors Bill
(Ey Associated PreSS \

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1S.-For
three hoCrs to-day the Senate had under
consideration the bill providing for the
protection Of the President of the United
States and for the punishment of those
who commit assaults upon him by the
United States courts. It was discussed
atalength by Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, who
opposed it. and Mr.. Hoar., of Massachu-
sets. and Mr.. Mason, of 1lli1ois, who sup
ported it.
Mr.. Bacon's argument followed the
lines of his speech delivered ten days ago.
Mr.. Hoar's speech was largely legal and
constitutional in its scope. He main
tanned the right of the government to pro-
tect itself against assaults upon it's SOW
ereignty through the President Mr.. Ma
son made an attack upon anarchy and its
methods and incidentally sharply. criti-
cised an amendment to the bill offered
by Mr.. Bacon. He denounced it as open-
Ing the door to special pleading for the
benefit OF assassins of the President. This
drew Mr.. Bacon's fire. He considered
Mr.. Mason's remark a personal renee
ton upon himself and resented 1t with
heat An explanation cleared the atmos-
phere.
Early in the day lively debate was
precipitated by the effort of Mr.. Rawlins.
Of Utah. to have printed as document
some Philippine correspondence. Event
ually the matter was ordered printed, as
requested.
BACON AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, offered an
amendment to the first paragraph Of the
bill for the protection Of the president
providing the penalty Of death for an
ASA ssin of President, If the assault
upon the President was committed be
cause of his official position or for the
purpose Of destroying the government OF
impairins the exercise OF its constitution
al powers"
Mr.. Bacon said an assault upon the
President might be a crime against the
person and it might be a crime against
tho government. The purpose of MS
amendment was to differentiate between
the two crimes.
Mr.. Bacon contended that an assault
upon the President as a person ought to
be punished precisely as any similar Of
Tense against any other citizen was pun
ished: otherwise an official class would be
created in the United States. The found
alton stone Of our government. he main
tanned, was absolute equality before the
law.
Mr.. Mason said the present was a bad
time to fix special pleading for anarchis-
tic criminals. In the course of a legal and
constitutional argument in support of the
points made by Mr.. Bacon. He suggested
that Mr.. Racon's amendment and his OBJ
iectons to the bill were founded not on q
special rule of law. but a special rule of
escape for the criminal specified by the
measure.
Mr. Bacon took a sharp exception to
the criticism of Mr.. Hoar. asserting that
the Massachusetts Senator's tatements
we're "uniustifable'' and ''misrepresented''
his argument.
In the House.
(By Associated Press.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 1S.-The
general debate on the river and harbor
appropriation bill in the House was en-
livened to-day by Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa,
who made his annual onslaught upon the
measure.
Contrary to his usual custom, Mr. Hep
burn found several things in the bill to
commend, although some of his criticism
were quite severe.
Mr.. Hepburn said that Congress should
set a definite limit upon the depth of
water sought to be obtained in seaport
harbors-thirty feet, for instance-and
| place a limit upon naval architecture.
| Otherwise he declared there would be no
end to the depth of water which would
| be demanded.
| The other speakers to-day were N1essrs.
! Ball, of Texas. and Lawrence, of Massa-
| chusetts. both members of the committee
| and Messrs. White, of Kentucky: Thomp-
| son and Burnett, of Alabama, who spoke
| in favor of improvements of interests to
their districts. 1t was agreed that genera
| debate on the bill should close tomorrow
| at 3 o'clock. Saturday, April 18th, was set
| aside for memorial services on the late
Representative Stokes. of South Carolina.
| and the late Representative Crump of