Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-12

poisonous fluid that made them forget their
common humanity.
Mr. Clayton of Alabama interrupted with
question: docs the gentleman from
Tennessee seriously apprehend that tnD
bill will ever pass?"
Not for a moment" replied Mr.. Sims,
but l want this House to sit down on the
bill in such fashion that no other such
bill will ever be offered again.
The statement was greeted with loud ap-
plause from the floor and the galleries
Equal Arguments for Torture.
Mr.. Stanley of Kentucky then was recog-
nized. He declared that the only argument
which can be used in favor of this bin IS
that it might be a deterrent Of crime. He
said that the thumb-screw, the rack. the
boot. the wheel and other choice instru-
ments Of medieval times were regarded as
deterrents OF crime, no doubt
mo argument that can be used for this
brutal means Of brutalizng a brute but can
be used In defense of all forms Of torture
that belong to dead past
Mr.. Stanley said that the gentleman from
PENNSYLVANIA (Mr. Adams1 was the last
man he would expect to shed buttermffk-
biscuit tears over such a bill. Mr.. Adams,
of course. is bachelor. Now, If some bold
bad man from Utah should defend the bill
it might be understood.
Look here, SIR" interjected Representa-
tive Clayton of Alabama, with marked In
dignatfon. some of us folks in the far south
want to know what you mean by agonizing
US with references to buttermiik biscuit? '
Sir replied Mr.. Stanley. eft must be
the force o habit and tn time o. day"
Mr.. Stanley went on to say that thereare
more suffering women who complain be-
cause they are not married than there are
women married who complain because they
are beaten. Mr.. Adams. he contended. in
that respect infiicts more pain upon wo-
mankind than the wife-beaters that he
would punish.
Just think" cried Mr. Stanley, "of the
hundreds of women left forlorn and alone
by this gentleman from Pennsylvania. II
this bill passes 1 shall insist upon an
amendment which shall make it a greater
crime than wife+beating for a man to
feloniousy refuse to take wife,
MT. Gaines of Tennessee interrupted to
ask what the gentleman from Kentucky
would do if he saw a man beating his wife.
Sir" replied Mr.. Stanley. while the
House hung In silence upon his answer. ut
would depend largely upon the wife-and
a great deal upon the man.
This sally brought shouts Of laughter
from his colleagues on the floor.
Mr.. Bartholdt said that he glad that
this performance was taking place when
the House of Representatives was meeting
as board of aldermen. Since the eight
zenith century no state legislature had ever
stopped to the fortunes of the middle ages
as punative measures. The average alder
man in the cities had hesitated to borrow
his puniShments from the chamber of
horrors
Mr. Bartholdt went on to say that after
a man went through the whipping post
ordeal he would hardly be a human being.
He would be degraded without honor of
self-respect and he would be branded with
the contempt of all the pitiless world.
Moreover the brand of shame would fall
If possible even heavier upon his wife. upon
his children and upon the entire circle of
his rela tons.
Mr. Bartholdt was interrupted by Repre-
sentative Burton of Delaware. where the
vybj ppi iS still in existence. but Mr..
Burton's remarks were not audible. Repre-
sentative Clayton (AlaD inquired what MT
Burton had said. and remarked that he
should value Mr. Burtou'S opinion very
highly in view of the fact that he should
know all about the whipping post.
Representative Bartholdt created some
amusement by replying that Mr.. Burton
had suggested to him that he stop talking
and let the matter come to a vote 80 that
the impression wouldn't get out that the
House of Representatives was consider
ing the whipping post In all seriousness,
"And so," said Mr.. Bartholdt. Il will
change my tone for fear somebody might
think I am discussing 1t seriously"
The House Convulsed.
Mr. Bartholdt then read a number or
amendments which he proposed to the bill.
The first provided that any male person
who fails to support his wife shall be placed
upon the rack and tortured for as long
time as the public executioner shall deem
necessary. The second provided that any
male person who deserts his wife Shall be
pinched with red-hot tongs on the most
suitable parts of his body.
Mr. Bartholdt's manner of locating the
field of opera fon of the tongs was received
with mingled laughter and applause. The
next amendment provided that any male
person who persistently refuses to enter
the state of matrimony shall be placed in
the public pllory and kept there until his
promise of reform Is secured. And the
next amendment provided that If he doesn't
promise under such conditions he should be
burned d the stake.
Mr. Bartholdt said he would also offer an
amendment appropriating $4,000 for the
erection of whipping post, the rack. the
pillory and the burning stake in the Dis
trict,
MIR. Mahon of Pennsylvania went Mr.
Bartholdt little better in the way of
amendments. His amendment read as fol-
lows:
ANY wife who becomes a common scold
shall be turned over by the court to the
District marshal. who shall duck said Of
fender in the Potomac river not less than
five nor more than ten times. Provided
however. that this shall not apply to the
Presidents of the United States, members
of his cabinet or senators and representa-
tiyeS in Washington"