The age-herald., 1902-03-08
Oppose Bill for Protection of
 the President
IS SAME AS INDIVIDUAL
Georgia Senator Thinks the Only Way to Protect Chief Executives Life Is to Prevent Would-Be Assas-
 sins Having Opportunity.

Washington, March 7.-The Senate pass ed today the diplomatic and consular ap- propriation bill and then took up the measure for the protection of the Presi- dent of the United States MT. Bacon of Georgia continued his speech begun yes- terday in opposition to the bill making an extended constitutional argument against it. The Senate agreed to make the bill the unfinished business at the conclusion of consideration of the ship subsidy bill MT. Bacon argued that the constitution intended that each man shall be equal before the law and said the remedy for an attack on the President or the killing of the President should be the same as if the crime were committed against an n- dividual.
 He denied that Congress had jurisdic- ton to legislate with reference to an att tack on the sovereignty of the United States, through the person of an official. At o'clock the unfinished business, the ship subsidy bill, was laid before the Senate.
 Vest and Mallory III.
 Inquiry by MT. Frye developed the fact that MT. Vest and MT. Mallory, who had expected to speak on the bill today were detained by illness. The measure was laid aside informally.
 Continuing his speech MT. Bacon main- tained that the contention of those who supported the measure was in effect that there was no differentiation between the crime of treason and an assault upon the President which threatened the existence
 rAd hsQu that if that were true, assassination or the President would be treason.
 Mir. Spooner. Wisconsin, interrupted to say that although the assault upon a President might be considered an attack upon the sovereignty of the government, .-.it is clairly within the authority of Con gress to deal with it, as had been done in the pending bill
 Bill Unconstitutional.
 MT. Bacon denied the constitutionallty of any law which shall invade our insti- tutions, which shall upturn the recognized procedure of hundred years. and which shall put in the power of partisans, either on the bench or elsewhere, to op- press men on account of political opin- ion" The bill, If enacted, he said, would muzzle the press and make an editor afraid to express an opinion as to the President or any other official for fear that if thereafter if any of these officials should be killed he might be tried for murder.
 He would not, he said, vote for the bill, even if he were the only man in the Sen ate and the House of Represent atiyes op- posed to it. The only way 70 protect the President and Vice President and heads of departments. was to prevent persons who have any designs on their lives, from having the opportunity
 The Senate at 3:30 p. m. went into exec utiye session and at 3:35 D. m. adjourned until Monday.
 THE HOUSE.
 Washington, March 7.-The bill to class ify the rural free delivery service and to place the carriers under the contract system held the floor in the House today. By an amicable arrangement general de- bate will be concluded tomorrow and the bill will be considered under the five-min- ute rule Monday
 Those who spoke for the bill were MT Cowherd of Missouri. Kitchen of North Carolina, Shackleford of Missouri and Salmon of New Jersey.
 The following members opposed It. Messrs. Padgett of Tennessee. Warnock of Ohio, Small of North Carolina, John son of South Carolina, Cromer of Indi- ana and Zenor of Indiana.
 At O clock the House adjourned.