The Butte inter mountain., 1902-03-20
PUBLIC SENTIMENT FAVORS
PROTECTION BILL. R
SENATOR BAILEY IS OPPOSED
Against the Measure Although Tt !,
Was Not Generally in Favor go
Substitute offered. eat e
(By Associated Press.l

Washington, March 20.-During the en-
tire session of the senate yesterday Ithe
bill providing for the protection of the
president of the United States was un-
der consideration. Mr.. Spooner of Wis.,
consin contended that the government
had an absolute and inherent right to
protect itself against assaults made
either upon itself or upon any of its Of
ficers. q
He maintained that an assault upon
the president was, in the very nature OF
things. an assault on the nation, fer
there never was time when the presi-
dent was not I'm the discharge of the
duties of his Office. His argument was
largely legal and constitutional and
throughout was forcefu and entertain
ing and instructive.
Mr.. Hoar. In charge of the measure.
elucidated some arguments he had made
previously. and Mr.. Teller of Colorado
and Mr.. Bailey of Texas spoke briefly
upon the bill. The Texas senator sail
he could not support the measure as 4.
stands. because he could conceive of nv
assault made upon the president as
person and not as an official of the gov"
ernment. The assaiant in that event
ought to be punished precisely as If hs
had assaulted any other citizen.
Mr.. Spooner's Argument.
Replying to the argument of Mr.. Ba-
con, Mr.. Spooner said 1t did not follow
because under the act of Edward ILL.,
assassination of the King of England OF
attempted assassination of the king, was
treason, that the assassination of tho
president of the United States was trea-
son. An assault on the president, how
ever, was a crime against the govern
ment, and he did not think the govern
ment was disabled by the constitution
from Furnishing it as a crime BY it's very
nature was an insidious assault upon
the sovereignty OF the United States,
whatever might be its motives. .n0H
lie decared that If Mr.. Bacon's argu-
ment were crystalized into law this
would be an impotent government, un-
able to protect itself against obvious
crimes, endangering our institutions ana
obstructing the operations of the gox-j
ernment.
Mr.. Spooner said he never would be-
lieve In any doctrine that was a denial
OF the right of congress to define as a
crime the assassination or attempted as
sassination of the president vice
had lived, although he might have lin
gered wounded and incapacitated for
years, his assailant would have beea1
punished by 10 years imprisonment
"Regardless,' said he "of the. laws Of
the states. | believe that such crime
ought to be punished by DEATH %dsst
Mr.. Cuberson offered a substitute FOR
the pending measure. 1t makes the as
sassination or attempted assassination
of the president, vice president or the
sovereign of a foreign country within
the jurisdiction of the United States
punishable by death. Those who shall
counsel or advise the killing of the pres
ident or who shall conspire to kill him
or the sovereign of any foreign country
shall be punished by Imprisonment nor
to exceed 20 years.
Mr.. Teller of Colorado said that while
he had no objection to legislation of the
kind he did not recognize there was any
crying need for 1t. However public
sentiment seemed to demand 1t and hn
wanted as nearly a perfect bill as pos
sble. No legislation would protect abb
solutely, the president because If any
man OF determined spirit made UP mis-
mind to kill the president, he would ac-
complish his purpose. I..55
NIT. DallSyS . OpDlloH. 81
Mr.. Bailey of Texas maintained that
the governement had ample authority to
protect its officials in the performance
OF their duties, but said he doubted alts
authority to punish "A man who would
assault or kill an official merely as a per-
son. The demand of the people Vas that
the government should place as heavy a
hand as possible on anarchists
He was in accord with the sentiment
that would hound the pest from one sec
ton to another until he had no resting
place, but he warned the senators not to
make anarchists of themselves in the
effort to protect the president against
anarchy. A properly drawn bill to meet
| the demands of the American people
would command the unanimous support
of the senate.
| Directly in line with the suggestion
contained In Mr.. Bailey's remarks, Mr..
Bacon of Georgia introduced bill for
| thS deportation and exclusion of allen
| anarchists. 1t was the bill, he said,
which, introduced by Former Senator
| Hill of New York had been passed by
the senate, but had failed in the house.
He offered it as a suggestion to the ju-
dietary committee.
The senate at 2:45 p. M, Wert into
executive session and, a few minutes
| later, adjourned.
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