Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-20
Perkins and Patterson
Define Their Positions.
TWo-thirds Vote Of the House
Given On Three Bills.
President Transmits Engineers
Canal Report to Congress.

Washington. Feb. 19.-In presenting
petitions against Senator Reed Smcot,
signed by thousands of women OF Cali
fornia and Colorado, Messrs. Perkins
and Patterson took occasion TO-DAY to
define their positions on the protests
against the Utah senator. The former
said that religious views should not be
considered in passing upon the quail
ficatiOns OF senator and that his nom
e3ty and the attributes that command
confidence and respect should be con-
sIdcred above all else. Mr.. Patterson
thought there We're great constitution
al questions to be considered and said
that these would govern his vote. The
petitioners have requested these SEN
atorS to make remarks in presenting
the prayers.
Discussion of the pure food bill Oc-
cupicd practically all Of the day.
When the Senate convened Warren
presented 51S letters from railroad en-
poyes in Wyoming praying against
the enactment of railroad rate legis-
lation as proposed by the Esch-TOwn-
send bill of last session on the ground
that it would tend to a reduction of
wages.
Perkins presented a petition against
Senator Reed SmOOt of Utah retaining
his, seat signed by several thousand
women of California. The petitioners
asked the California senator to accom-
Iany the petition with 4 Few remarks
defining mis- position.
II carrying out this request Perkins
said il was the duty Of every senator IL
sit as a juror on the conduct of col
league and that the chief qualifications
10 determine members eligibility
was that he should be n good citizen,
ali honest man and Of good character.
Whatever his private belief. said Per-
kinS. religious matters should have no
weight in disqualfying member from
Occupying the position Of senator Of
the Cnited States. Perkins. said that
our government was built on freedom
of conscience and no action should be
taken which would in the slightest de-
gree abridse this freedom.
Patterson presented q petition
against SmoOt. signed by several thou
sand Colorado women and said that
great constitutional questions were in
VOWED and in casting his vote he was
to be governed by the constitutional
rights Of the person against whom the
proceedings We're pending.
Hale presented the conference re-
port on the urgent deficiency apprOpri-
a;ion bill which was adopted without
debate.
A message was received from the
President submitting the reports of the
consulting engineers who investigated
the best type of canal to be construct
ed across the Isthmus OF Panama. The
message and documents We're referred
to the committee on inter-oceanic ca
mails.
The pure food bill was laid before
the Senate and Hepburn discussed pro-
posed amendments. He condemned
Moneys proposed substitute and then
took up the various pending amend
monts in the order in which they We're
submitted.
Foraker had offered an amendment
bearing upon the subject of labels or
Liquor packages. which Hepburn said
was an effort to put something into the
bin in "sly way" which would give
some dealers an improper advantage
Foraker insisted that the meaning OF
the bill was not plain and said that the
purpose ot amendment was to pro-
vide merely for the use of some genera
Continued on Page Two.)