The Washington times., 1902-03-20
Oppose Anti-Anarchy Bill
In Present Form.
VOTE ON MEASURE TODAY
Senator Spooner Upholds Republican
View in a Mastery Speech-Regards
Question as Vital One, and Believes
Punishment Should Fit Crime.

The bill for the protection of the Pres
ident was under discussion all day yes
terday in the Senate. No decision was
reached, except an informal agreement
that there shall be a vote today at
o'clock.
The Democrats are making a strong
fight along the line suggested by Senator
Bacon that the bill infringes on the State
rights.
Senator Bailey made a speech on this
line, and Senator Culberson introduced an
amendment to the bill In the nature Of a
substitute, eliminating the features that
the Democrats have objected to.
Another event in the discussion was the
introduction late in the afternoon OF
bill by Senator Bacon. ito provide for
chists." This bill. Mr. Bacon stated, was
originally framed by Mr.. Hill of New York
in the House. which passed that body but
failed to pass the Senate.
The most important speech in the dis
cassion was that of Senator Spooner. He
occupied the greater part of the ses-
sion in what was considered mastery
exposition OF the Republican point of
view. He disagreed with the constitu-
tional points and argument made against
the bill by Mr.. Bacon on Tuesday, though
he said that no Senator could doubt the
patriotism and unspeakable abhorrence
of anarchy of the Senator from Georgia.
Assault on President.
An assault upon the President. Mr..
Spooner argued, did not constitute trea-
son within the definition which the fathers
placed in the Constitution, but it was.
just the same, a crime against the Gov
ernment. Are we," said he disabled or
any line of reasoning from declaring it to
be crime, and furnishing 1t as crime:
If, he continued, 1.-The Senator's argu-
ment were crystallized into law, this
would be an impotent Government to pro
teet itself against obvious crimes endan-
gering our institutions, and obstructing
the operations of the Government 1t
would make of this the weakest Govern
ment under the sky.
What a strange thing it would be-
said Mr.. Spooner, ''if Congress had no
power to provide protection for the Pres
tdent, when the President had authority
TO protect the judiciary of the country"
His speech was an eloquent and ex-
haustive arraignment of the theory that
the rights of the States should prevent
the protection of the Government
Question Vital One.
In conclusion, Mr. Spooner said that
he had great feeling on the subject. not
of bitterness, but of earnestness. because
he regarded the question as vital He
never should believe in any doctrine that
involved the denial of the right Of Con-
gress to define as a erirne che assassina-
tion or attempted assassination of the
President or Vice President, or a com
spiracy to take the life of those officials
''If,'' he added, President Mckinley had
been permitted to live and to linger along
for years, his assassin could only have
been punished for an assault with an in
tent to commit murder by Imprisonment
for ten years. And all that I have to
say about it is that, regardless OF the
laws of the State, the crime ought to be
made by an act of Congress- punishable
by DEATH
Senator Bailey made an argument along
the same line as that of Senator Bacon.
ne Stdteu very edTHtSlly ludl ut WIS as
strongly in favor of protecting the Pres:-
dent as any other Senator. but that he be-
lieved this could be done quite as salts
factorily by bill amended along the lines
by Senator Bacon.
The demand of the country" he said.
lis that the Government shall lay its
heavy hand upon the anarchist. But in
The attempt to suppress anarchy let us
not turn anarchists ourselves and over
turn the law
He stated that he believed il would be
possible to; secure unanimous vote ''if
the right bill is provided
Senator Teller said that he was strong
IL In favor of an anti-ararehy law be-
cause the sentiment of the country un-
demanded it. He said that he
would vote for the present bill even
though il were not amended. Mr.. Teller
suggested that in his opinion the pro-
;isiCn of the bill that the President shall
oe defended by soldiers is n mistake He
said that civil guard from the Secret
Service of the Treasury Department would
DC quite as effective. if not more so.
The amendment Of Senator Culberson
eliminates several sections of Senator
1oar's bill. 1t limits the provisions OF
he bill to the President and Vice Presi-
lent. eliminating the provision regarding
he Cabinet officers. The fourth section
# the bill. relating to the instigation of
In assault on the President. Is also
lropped.
Amendments Up Today.
The bill and the amendments of Sem
tors Bacon and Culberson will all be
AIKEN up today at the conclusion OF the
morning business.
The bill introduced by Senator Bacon
provides that no anarchist shall be al
owed to enter this country. and that an
rchists already here shall be deported.
1t is provided that the Board of Spe-
ial Enquiry of the immigration Bureau
hall have control OF the carrying out of
he law with power to examine persons
of being anarchists, and If they
re found guilty. to eXpel them. An ap-
zeal is allowed to the Secretary of the
'reasury.
Another provision is that the Secretary
+ the Treasury shall appoint immisra-
ion agents abroad to prevent persons sus-
ected of anarchy from embarking for
his country.