Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-16
DEBATE OVER
WHIPPING POST
Bill Providing Cat-'o-Nine- for
wife eeaters Comes Up in the
House.
That is Made by a Bachelor-Rest Of
the Members Make Merry Ov-
er the Measure.

bill for wife heaters, and then lad IL
upon the table, effectively disposing
of it by a vote of 153 to 50. The most
impassioned speech for the measure
was delivered by Mr.. Hepburn UOwa),
who depicted the brutality of the man
who would beat his wife and declared
that to be whipped was hardly AIDE
quate punishment. Mr.. Adams open
ed the discussion with a serious
speech in favor of the bill All the
opposing speeches partook of levity.
and Mr. Adams received more than
one fling because he is bachelor
The bill requiring the return of
freight rebates was passed, also
measure relating to court procedure.
The rebate bill provides that when a
rebate has been received with guilty
knowledge II Is violation of the
law. and double the amount which is
TO be returned by the recipient and
onehalf of this amount is to go TO
the informant.
A new gavel was dedicated to the
memory of Lincoln by Speaker Can
non today in opening the house. and
the birthday of the martyred presl-
dent was remembered in the PRAYER of
The chaplain.
During consideration OF bill TO
regulate the sale of poisons in the
District OF Columbia. the statement
was made that the drug habit. par
Icularly the use of cocaine had
grown at an alarming rate during the
past five years. Chairman BabcOch
said ne had been called at all times
of the day and night by mothers and
persoos interested. TO plead for law
which would make it possible to OBJ
tain this drug. The evil had grown.
he said, to be decidedly greater than
the liquor habit The bill was pass
Whipping Post Bill.
A ripple OF interest was manifest
ed when Mr.. Babcock. at . o'clock
caleld up the bill to punish with 80
lashes wife heaters in the District
of Columbia Mr.. Adams (PaD. in
favor of the bill. was heard 80 min
utes. At once he was importuned tc
yield to questions. but positively de
clined to be interrupted and began
with "a rebuke of the levity with
which the subject has been treated
District of Columbia officials were il
sympathy with the bill. and it was on
ly those possessed with the maud
lin sentiment which sent flowers t,
the criminals cell who opposed it."
The chief of police of Washington
h esaid, has reported sos wife beat
erS in thep asst two years Adequate
punishment. ne said, should be prOvid
ed
Mr. Wachler Md said that, i
the bill passed. the city of Baltimore
has a good whipping post in the cit,
Jail which the district could buy a
a bargain. In 80 years he said i
had been used but twice. The WON
en- of Maryland don't want ii uset
any more than the men"
Where does the gentleman get hi.
information?" asked Mr.. Adams.
AT home" replied Mr. Wachter
and then. 'Oh, | mean in Baltimore
Gaughter).
Mr.. Sims (Tenn.), opposing the bill
predicted that it would get one vote
only in the house. The president
he said, had advocated increased pun
ishment for wife heaters. adding
but he is a year older now and his
last message said nothing about it.
He made the further point that the
report of the local chief of police in
dicated that common law wives anf
other females" received most of the
beatings. Some one has suggested W.
amend the bill to apply to wife chas
ers.' he declared further; Il don't
know whom thai would hit" 1aueh
teri.
Mr.. James made an attempt TO ad
Nocate that the whipping of beat
ers' should be done in public. For five
minutes. Mr.. Stanley tKy) made fun
OF the bill and incidentally took Mr.
Adams to task for never marrying.
1T was" he said, "a brutal meas
Ure for brutaizing a brute" All the
arguments in defense of instrument
of torture buried 100 years ago witt
barbarism. he said would apply to thi
bill
Mr.. Gaines (Tenn.) asked what tn
gentleman would do if he were t
witness husband beating his wife.
1T would depend" replied Mr.. Stal
ley. ION the husband. and upon tn
wife: if she was rel-headed, even m
southern chivalry would not temp
me 10 interfere" Gaughter).
Have Fun With It,
Mr.. Barthold (Mo) offered sever;
amendments. one to put upon tn
rack man guilty of non-support
his family; one that wife deserte
should be pinched with red-hot tongs
another penalizing every man over 9
years old who refused to take a wifi
and providing that he shall stand
the pillOry and, after six months,
he shall still refuse he shall be burr
ed at the stake
These amendments were receive
with hilarity.
Mr.. Mahon (Pa.) created much me
riment by Offering an amendment Dr.
viding for the punishment of wome
VINO are common scolds Common
called hellcats), who shall be duckt
in the Potomac river not less than fl
nor more than ten times. Tn
amendment exempted the presider
members of his cabinet. members
the senate and the house of represe
tatives.
Mr.. Heburn Gowa) took the 40
in favor of the bill after an attem
had been made to extend the time
debate, during which it was stat
many gentlemen wanted to speak n
Payne refused such extension. \
Hepburn declared the situation viii
the bill sought to remedy, a serio
and 'disgraceful one. 1t was impossil
to find an adequate punishment
SI.nvv{ rr,h~ hn1 hon tnvn h