Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-21

Soon after the Senate convened, Aid
rich, chairman of the committee on
finance. reported the bill to repeal war
revenue taxes. He gave notice that he
would call up the measure for consider
alton, tomorrow.
Consideration was then resumed of
the bill for the protection of the Pres
ident of the United States.
Kawlins. Utah, said he was not in op-
position to the main resources to be
accomplished by the pending bill, but
1t fell short in his opinion, of affording
that complete protection of the Presi-
dent which he ought to have.
Mallory, Fla, said the proposed leg
islation was most important. 1t was
novel and practically without precedent
in the history of the country He said
there was no doubt of the power of
Congress to provide protection for Fed
eral officers, but he held that the pun
1shment should not be inflicted except
when it was established that the offence
was committed against the President or
other officials only when he was in the
performance of his duty as such Off
L
ley had had proper military guard he
would not have been assassinated. The
guard was not provided for pomp or for
display, but for the safety and security
of the President. Such a proper guard
could be furnished only by the army.
Mallory doubted whether a military
or any other sort of guard could have
prevented President McKinley's assas-
sination at Buffalo. He believed that
a competent guard of civilians was bet
ter and more in line with our institu-
tons than a military guard.
Hawley expressed his establishment
that some senators should persist in
misrepresenting the measure in mis-
understanding the constitution and in
splitting hairs over inconsequentiaI
matters. He saw no reason why the
Senate should hesitate for five minutes
to pass the pending bill. In his opinion
it was well considered and thoroughly
matured. In conclusion he said: Il
have an utter adherence of anarchy
and would give $1,000 to get a good shot
at an Anarchist
Nelson vigorously supported the pend
ing bill. In defence of the provision for
the protection not only of the President.
but of all those who by law are in line of
succession to the Presidency he said
there might be conspiracy to assassi-
nate every one of those fen When Pres
ldent Lincoln was murdered there was a
project involving the assassination Of
several members of his cabinet. A con-
spiracy might be formed at any time
and wrecking of the entire executive
branch of the government To guard
against such contingency the govern
ment ought to be equipped with how 10
protect not only the President and the
succession to the Presidency but the very
life of the government through them.
McCumber, while he had no doubt of
the authority of Congress to enact the
proposition, said he did object to some of
the bills provisions. He did not believe.
Tor instance. that an attempt to take the
life of the secretary of the interior ought
to be punished with death merely because
of his official position. He did not think
such provision was in accord with either
reason or justice. The people of the
United States were not expecting that
kind of legislation for the protection OF
the President. He hoped a bill would be
offered to protect the President and the
government against anarchy and Anar-
chists. That was the legislation demand
ed by the American people. AS the bill
stood he could not support it.
Carmack said his objections to the bill
did not apply to the question of its con-
stitutionality. But / believe, said he.
that it is bad In principle and utterly
and absolutely unnecessary. No more fu-
tile, no more unnecessary law ever en-
numbered the statute books of this coun-
consideration
He declared that such an act would
not have prevented the assassination OF
any President and he was certain the
measure never would accomplish one of
the results hoped for from its enactment.
He was willing to go to almost any extent
to safeguard the President or to stamp
out anarchy, but he did not believe it
just for Congress to legislate on the as
sumption that the several states were
either unwilling or incompetent to protect
the President or any other official who
might be within their borders.
Discussing the proposal to establish 4
military guard around the President, ne
declared that President Roosevelt. for
instance, would not endure it for a mo-
ment. 1t would be absolutely intolerabla
Continued on page %