Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-22
57TH CONGRESS-.
Senate Passes Bill for Repeal
Of the War Taxes,
Also Bill for the Protection Of Presi-
dent and Other Officers.
House Passes River and Harbor Bill
Without Change.

war revenue taxes and that for the
protection of the President of the Unit
ed States. The revenue bill was passed
without division and after only one
short speech. Tillman embraced the
opportunity afforded by the considera-
ton of the bill to protest against the
upon tea.
The bill for the protection of the
President was under discussion during
the greater part of the session. Patter-
son of Colorado, made an extended
speech in opposition to it, and Fair
banks supported it. All amendments to
the measure were rejected and it was
passed by vote of So to Is.
The bill provides that any person
within the United States who shall will
fully and maliciously kill the President
or any officer on whom the duties OF
President may devolve, or any sover-
eign of a foreign country, or shall at
tempt to kill any of the persons named
shall aid, abet, advise or counsel the
killing of any of the persons named OF
shall conspire to accomplish their
death, shall be imprisoned not exceed
ling 20 years: that any person who shall
threaten 10 kill or advise or counsel
another to kill the President or any
official on whom the duties of President
may devolve, shall be imprisoned not
exceeding 10 years; that any person
who shall wilfully aid in the escape of
any person guilty of any offences men,
toned, shall be deemed an accomplice
and shall be punished as a principal.
The secretary of war is directed to
detail from the regular army q guard
of officers and men to protect the Pres
ident without any unnecessary dis
play" and the secretary is authorized
to make regulations as to the dress,
arms and equipment of such guard.
Soon after the Senate convened, Tel
Ter, Col, presented resolutions of the
Colorado Legislature praying for the
Intervention by the an offer of it's good
offices of the United States government
to terminate the contest between the
British and Beers. The resolutions
were referred to the committee on for
eign relations.
At the conclusion of routine business,
considera ton of the bill to repeal war
revenue taxes and for other purposes
was taken upon motion of Aldrich,
chairman of the committee on finance.
The measure was read at length.
All of the amendments proposed by
the Senate committee to the House bill
were agreed to during the reading of
the measure. At the conclusion of the
reading of the bill, Hoar while doubling
whether an amendment was proper
said he had one in mind, but would not
offer it unless it met the approval of
the finance committee. He said his
amendment was a proposition to re-
fund TO charitable and educational in
situations the taxes they had paid on
legacies left to them while the old law
was in operation.
Aldrich said the amendment mani
testify would be out of place as this bill
was one simply to repeal certain speci-
fic war taxes.
Hoar. therefore, did not offer his
amendment.
The bill was read a third time, re-
ported to the Senate and then laid aside
until after the measure for the protec-
ton of the President was acted upon.
The bill for the protection of the
President was then taken up and Pat
erson addressed the Senate.
He was in accord with the purpose of
the bill, SO far as the President and
Vice President were concerned. The
feature of the measure to which he was
particularly opposed was the provision
that the counselling and advising of the
murder of the President was a crime.
In answer to inquiry by Patterson,
Hoar declared his belief that one who
advised or counseled the killing of the
President was as guilty as the man
who actually committed the crime.
He did not believe that if the pend
ing law should be placed on the statute
books it would suppress anarchy or
Anarchists. He declared that such a
law as that proposed would open a
Pandora's box of evils and force the
Congress to repeal it before long. I'm
der no possible contingency. therefore.
could he give his support to Sections 8
and of the bill.
Patterson said that under the pend
ing bill a man who had declared in his
own house that the President ought TO
be killed would be found guilty and
could be sentenced to a long term of
Imprisonment. To this he strongly OBJ
jected.
In reply to an inquiry by Vest he said
he would have no special objection to
a PROVISION that would make punish
able such declaration or counsel made
in public speech or public print
Fairbanks cordially supported the
pending bill. 1t contained no party is
sues and he hoped no party lines would
be drawn upon it. Referring to the
argument that the bill creates class
legislation. Fairbanks said the bill was
not intended for the personal benefit of
the President merely. but for the pro-
lection of the people and to bring about
the orderly administration OF the gov
eminent. The bill had not been con-
ceived in the heat of passion but was
the fruit of wisdom and deliberation.
1T is inspired by the obvious neces-
sity," said he. in conclusion, "of throw
ing about the Chief Executive addi-
tional safeguards so as to render i'm
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