The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-05-21
AN UNUSUAL
OCCURRENCE
Bill Killed In Final Stage In
Congress
MR.. MCCALL THE HERO
Anti-graft bill Was Held to Reflect on
Integrity Of Congressman and
to Enhance the Executive
Power.
MR.. MCCALL THE HERO


Saturday, by vote Of l07 to 66, res
fused to pass the ''anti-g graft bill, SO
called, dealing with cotton leaks aud
other matters Of a. confidential charac-
ter. which, should they become publicly
known, might have d tendency 70 Affect
markets, because the conferres had reg
commended that members Of Congress be
included within the scope of the bill.
The opposition was led BIZ MIR, Mccall
of Massachusetts,, assisted by NH. Crurn-
packer Of Indiana, Mr. Grosvenor Of
Ohio and Mr.. Gardner Of Massachusetts,
while the friends OF the measure We're
represented by MIR. Burleson OF Texas
and Mr.. Jenkins Of Wisconsin. Early in
the day the Democrats made their last
stand against the Lee bill. paying the
heirs of Samuel Lee $4,000 as allow
ance for the contest he made for a
seat in the 47th Congress, and being
completely outsoted desisted from fur
Their lilibustering, the consideration of
the "antiAeak' bin taking up the rest
of the day
Tie debate was on the conference
report approving the bill, making ii
misdcmeanor for advance information
10 be given ont III any officer or en-
ployen of tile government that would
tend To exert an influence or affect the
market value Of any product grown
within the United States or affect the
value Of stock and bonds, came up in
the House Saturday.
The conferrees OF both Senate and
House recommended that the penalty
prescribed for officers of the government
who violate the code created by the act
should apply 10 members of Congress-.
Mr. Mccall said the clause of the bill
sought 20 be Incorporated was an adj
yertiseinent to the world that the mem.
bers were crooked. He said members
OF Congress we're neither collectors nor
the guardians u secret government sta
tistics. They are representatives and
can have no secrets from their constitu-
cnt=. " III YOU are to enter upon this
field" Mr.. Mccall said. why not make
a complete code WHY not provide that
members shall be taken into the police
court and be fined when they fail to
vote. imprisoned when they do not at
tend the sessions Of the House, and that
the speaker when he plays The ear
7hHil w HuEBtu ~ fis tdfle ldli III
the public square, Ii You want to. en-
courage filing the chambers of the two
houses with patriots Of the gum shoe
breed, mere eiphers whose footballs YOU
never hear, men who will want always
70 stand behind somebody. somebody
who perhaps at the moment ii playing
all the roles of government, then pass
such bills III this. Laws like this viii
make Congress still less attractive TO
honest men.
"Gcntlemen must bear in mind that
We arc moving rapidly these days, and
that il is possible that in the not dis
tant future we may have in this c0un-
ttry the state trial, the spectacular and
bizarre prosecution when a man may
be pursued in the criminal courts, not
because he is guilty, but because, for
political reasons OF to enhance the popu-
larity Of somebody or for some so.called
state purpose. human sacrifice Is de.
manded. You will by this bill furnish
a very ready weapon TO be suspended
over the heads Of honest men in either
house Of Congress, and you will transfer
an increased influence over them To the
department which initiates prosccu-
tions."
During the course OF his speech. which
was punauatcd with applause. Mr.. Me
Call paid his respects TO ex4Secretary
Paul Morton, OF whom he said. II am
very far from regarding MIR. Norton
as an cnorinity Of wickedness. lie Is
an able man, and ! believe an honest
man, but he should, | think. have been
permitted to go to the courts. Certainly
two very eminent doctors selected by
the administration prescribed the courts
and yet we saw Mfr. Morton reacncrated
and made whole again by the course Of
treatment which lie took at the immun-
| ity baths. Quite naturally, too, the
executive would regard more lcnicntly
the officers of bis own department, with
whom be was more closely in contact
and who enjoyed his confidence. This
is shown by the case OF MIR. Garfield,
an excellent officer, who needed no yndi Z
cntion, but who was declared free from
all blcmish by that same remarkable
message which denounced the officer of
another department who at the same
time was acting under all the sanctions
surrounding the judiciary, great CO.
ordinate branch Of the government,
There is no possible reason for sup
porting this bill unless it be to create
inference that we must be exceedingly
good men when we are willing 10 pass
our time III cnacting unealled.for laws
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