The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-19

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WASHINGTON, March 1S-For
VI three hours today the senate had
under consideration the bill pro-
viding fer the p-otection Of the presi-
dent Of the United States. and for the
punishment by Uuited States courts of
those who commit assaults on him. Mr..
Bacon OF Georgia opposed the bill and
Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts and Mr..
Mason OF Illinois supported it.
Mr.. Bacon's argument followed the
lines Of his speech delivered ten days
ago. 4lr. HOar's speech was devoted
largely 10 legal and constitutional
phases of the measure. He maintained
the right Of the government to protect
itself against assaults upon its sover-
eighty through the president Mr.
Mason made an attack upon anarchy
and its methods, and incidentally
sharply criticised an amendment to the
bin offered By Mr. Bacon. He de-
nounced it as opening the G0Or to spe-
cial pleading for the benefit of assas-
sins Of the president.
This drew Mr.. Bacon's fire. He con-
sidered Mr. MasOn's criticism a per
sonai reflection on himself, and resent
ed It. An explanation by the Illinois
senator cleared the atmosphere. Earli-
er in the day a lively debate was pre-
cifitated BY the effort of Mr.. RaWlins
of Utah 70 have printed as a document
some Philippine correspondence. Even
lualiy the matter was ordered printed,
as requested. Discussing Mr.. BacOn's
argument, nj. Mason Went on to say
that the senator from Georgia knew
Of hi
honor or integrity Of L Irpose.
Denies Insulting Bacon.
What I said" replied Air, Mason.
''Was that the amendment offered by
the senator from Georgia was a basis
If special pleading for men who should
be caught in the act Of taking the life
of the president. It opens wide the door
for special pleading. What ] said did
honor Of the senator"
A resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Morgan. calling upon the secretary
Of the interior and the secretary of war
concerning the Pacific and Philippine
railroads. was amended by Nj. Hall
TO read;
That the secretary Of the interior is
directed TO send to the senate a state
ment OF traffic relations between the
railroads that connect between the Wa
ters of the Pacific OCEAN and the GOV
eminent Of the United States win re-
erenCe to the statutes upon which su n
relations have been conducted. And
that the secretary of war is directed to
send 10 the senate a statement of the
traffic relations between the railroads
in the Philippine Islands. and as TO the
charters and OWT ership Of such rail-
roads. The resolution was passed,
Ra,zlins Wins a Point
Alr. Rawlins rose to read the CORE
spondence which he had desired 20
have printed as q document. He asked
that IL be printed in the Congressional
Record without reading. ar. Scott Of
West Virginia objected
Nr. Rawlins then began to read the
correspondence, which was very vol
luminous 1t proved 20 be a collection
of private letters exchanged between
unnamed persons in this country and
prominent Fiiipinos. in which we're dis
cYssed the political relations IF the
United States and the Philippine ISL
auds. Mr. Rawlins declined TO yield
to any senator for any purpose. He
dnallv sent the letters to the clerk 5
desk. from which the reading was con-
1inued. As letter after letter was read
and the name Of the writer was not
disclosed. AIR. Platt rose and inquired;
as this entirely a nO-name seriesE
Il object to the interruption, inter
jected Mr. Hoar.
As Mr.. Platt pressed for an answer
10 this inquiry, Mr.. Rawlins said;
"Tr a plot ike this it is always best
in keen the audience in a state OF eX-
recitation. The correspondence VIII uls-
close the names of the writer's OF the
letters.
few minutes laser Mr.. Wellington
al MARYLAND said he understood that
tha objection TO the printing of the
rorreSpondence had been withdrawn
without further reading. therefore, the
CORRESPONDENCE was ordered printed IN
the Record and as a document
Pension Bills Passed.
Thirty-nine private pension bills
we're PASSED and the calendar cleared
The unfinished busiDess-the bin FOR
the protection of the president of the
United States-was then laid before the
senate. Mr. Pettus of Alabama said he
would be forced to vote against the bill
as ne objected to the re-enactment cf
the old sedition law,
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia offered an
amendment 10 the 1rst paragraph Of
me bill providing the penalty of death
assault upon the president was COM
nitted because of his official position,
or for the purpose of destroying the
government or tmpairing the exercises
OF its constitutional powers"
Briefly considering the amendment
Mr. Vest of Missouri discussed the pos
sibilities of a federal Jury acquitting az
assassin Of the president because the
motive as specified by Mr.. Bacon
amendment had not been proved. II
such a cased be asked. would the as
sassin be liable 10 Indictment under
the state laws? Mr.. Bacon said an as
sault on the president might be crime
against thu person, and it might be q
crime against the government The
rIrpose Of his amendment was intend
cd 10 diHerentiate between the Two
crimes.
Mr. Bacon cbntended that an assault
anon the president As a person eugh
20 be- punished precisely as any simi!al
odense against any other citizen wal
--.,,-=-I.s.F. ofhas-y4ffea an official efasS.