Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-07
Diversion of Waters Between
America and Canada,
RESOLUTION IN SENATE
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR BILL
PASSED.
Consideration Resumed of Measure to
Punish Assassination of the Presi-
dent-Rural Free Delivery.

Soon after the Senate convened today
Joint resolution authorizing the President
of the United States TO invite the govern
ment of Canada to join in the formation OF
an international commission to examine
and report upon the diversion OF the
waters that are the boundaries of the two
countries was reported favorably from the
committee on commerce.
Mr. Hoar Mass urged that the meas
ure ought to be considered by the foreign
relations committee. it opened "a very
important and a very delicate question"
involving diplomatic procedure. ON his
motion ii was referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
A resolution, offered by Mr.. Harris
CNansD, directing the committee on Indian
affairs to investigate the matter of the re-
moval of certain Greek Indians from the
lands assigned to them and to report by
bill or otherwise was adopted.
The Senate agreed to a conference with
the House upon the bill providing for the
redemption of certain internal revenue
stamps. and Messrs. Aldrich OR. ID, Platt
Comm and Teller (ColD were named as
conferees on the part of the Senate.
Diplomatic Bill Passed.
On motion of Mr.. Hale tMe.) the Senate
then began the consideration of the diplo-
matte and consular appropriation bill.
The bill was read. 1t carries in round
figures s2.8e0.e0o in appropriations
Mr.. Bacon (Ga) offered an amendment
providing that the student interpreters en-
ployed in the legations and consulateS in
China should he selected in a non-partiSan
manner and that they should agree to re-
main in the service for ten years. The
amendment was agreed to.
The bill as amended was then passed.
Punishment Of Assassins.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
bill providing for the protection Of the
President of the United States
Continuing his speech begun yesterday
Mr.. Bacon commended that the enactment of
the bill in its present form would be an ex-
tension of treason s defined by the author
tiles. He quoted various writer's on law
and the Constitution in support of his point.
Merely because the crime named in the
pending bill was not designated as treason
did not change its character. 1t practically
was made treason by the penalty provided
and the means resorted to to Apply the
penalty to the criminal. He indicated his
belief that such provision was unconstitu-
tional, maintaining that treason had been
defined in the Constitution only after long
and careful debate during which every pos
sible contingency considered.
He argued that the Constitution intended
that each man shall be equal before the
President the killing of the President
should be the same if the crime were
committed against an individual
He denied that Congress had jurisdiction
to legislate with reference to an attack on
the sovereignty of the United States through
the person Of an official
Shipping Bill Laid Aside.
At O'Clock the unfinished business-the
ship subsidy bill-was laid before the Sen
ate. Inquiry by Mr.. Frye, in charge of the
measure developed the fact that two SEN
ators, Mr.. Vest and Mr. Mallory. who had
expected to speak upon the bill today,
were detained by illness The measure
then was laid aside Informally, and con-
sideration Of the bill fer the protection Of
the President was resumed.
Continuing his argument, Mr.. Bacon
maintained 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 exist
ence OF the government. He urged. how
ever that il that were true, the aSSaSSina-
ton of the President would be treason.
Mr.. SpOorer tWis) interrupted to say
that although the assault upon President
might be considered an attack upon the
sovereignty of the government. it clearly
was within the authority of Congress to
deal with it, as had been done in the pend
ing bill.
Mr.. Bacon denied the constitutionality of
any law which shall invade our institu-
tons. which shall upturn the recognized
procedures of one hundred years and which
shall put it in the power of partisans either
on the bench or elsewhere ITO Cypress men
on account of political opinion" The bill
Il enacted, he said would muZZle the press
and make any editor afraid to express an
opinion to the President other official
for fear that thereafter ii any OF these
officials should be killed. he might be tried
f0r murder.