New-York tribune., 1908-01-15
BLAME FOR DEMOCRATS
PAYNE ANSWERS ATTACK.
Charges House Minority scith Fiji
clustering for Campaign Ends.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

IFrom The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, jan 14.-The thunderous charges
from the Democratic members of the House that
the penal code bill is to be used stop to egis-
lation rudely turned against them this after
noon, when Representative Payne, of New YORK.
showed that the only delay in the enactment OF
the law being caused by Democrats them
selves. with the evident disposition to manufacture
campaign material by stump speeches and by
stirring pleas for the 'laborins man., intended
solely for the consumption of constituents
The chief section under consideration was that
relating to campaign contributions, which had
overwhelmingly passed the House last year. I'M
posing fine Of not more than $l,ooo on any oIncer
of corporation consenting TO a contribution kep-
resentatIve Payne said the Democrats now SPEAK
ing most forcibly against the section were among
those who voted for it last year, and INSISTED that
the objections brought forward now were equaIiy
Objectionable then, save that the campaign iof
Congress not so close on them, ana caIipdlsh
material not scarce.
Although nany amendments 80 the code were
offered during the afternoon none was adop'eu'
and the House made rapid progress to Secuoh 90
Representatives Cochran. Goldfoge and F1tzgeraio'
of New York: Williams. of Mississippi LIE AT
rnond of Missouri and James of Kentucky, led I'D
the attack what they termed the hSh halueu
methods of the majority. while Represent
Moon, OF Pennsylvania, showed his legal aoiii'S py
answering all legitimate inquiries in mastery
manner.
When consideration of the bill was resumed MI
Wilson, of Pennsylvania. moved TO strike OUT the
whole of Section 45 which prohlblteo any one ioh
inducing an artifcer workman employed at any
arsenal or armory TO leave the service OF the gov
ernment and enter private employ. The amend
ment started storm of discussion as 10 the heces
sity of such legislation in time OF peace, MI
Cochran of New York characterized the sectlon as
extraordinary and laying pitfalls 1or lhe uii-
warv I'VE are asked to vote for the section, ne
said under the whip and spur of shout on tue
other side" referring to the Republican poruoh oi
the House.
ofI Ipdi maintained
proposed law did not prevent a man Voiun'ariiS
leaving the governments service, but that IL was
intended to provide element OF pubic pohcy'
rThe element OF public policy would exist only IN
case of war" interjected Mr.. Williams, or Missis-
sipni. who referred to the Webb amendment voted
down Yesterday which sought to limit the appllca-
ton of the law to times OF war
Mr. Hull. of Iowa, chairman of the Commlttee on
Military Affairs declared that in time of peace 'e
government was preparing for war. If that were
not necessary he said. there would be no need 81
present for q single soldier sailor The amend
ment he said sought to destroy the ability OF the
government to care for its defence. The amend
ment was lost, rs to 1o
With view to what ne said was the purlhcauon
Of the election laws Mr.. Hardy, OF Texas, offered
an amendment to Section IS making 1t unaWIui Tor
any corporation to make any money contrlputioh
in connection with any election at Whlch state
legislators are to be voted for who upon electioh
shall have the right to elect a Cnlted 0ta'eS OCH
ator. was voted down.
All amendment covering violations or the Id"
prohibiting national banks or corporations from
making money contributions In connection with
any election to any political office was offered by
MI Cochran of New York The present law pro-
vides a penalty of $1,000 fine or not more than one
years imprisonment both. Mr. COCHRAN
amendment called for $1,000 fine and imprfson-
ment for ten years. The penalty of the existing
law he said, was ridiculously disproportonate 10
the enormty of the offence, and reduced the mat
ter from crime to the level OF opera bouffe. lie
said that under the law as 1t now STOOD the cui-
prit could get off with only l-cent iihe or one
minutes Imprisonment.
A statement by Mr.. Moon that the section was
drafted at the last session of Congress by Dem
ocratic statesman and should not be AMENDED
except in separate bills, called forth addresses py
Messrs. Goldfogle of New York. and De Ar
mond of Missouri who said they had no such re-
gard for the sanctity of the Democratic law as
| to prevent them from trying to amend it,
Mr. Williams. of Mississippi. while agreeing that
the law referred to a Democratic idea, ad-
vanced by Senator Tflrnan. said it was not his
bill as originally drawn. He favored the Cochran
amendment. and said the real criminals in the
flesh and blood should be fined and imprisoned
as much as the law created. artificial paper ex-
listing things called corporations"
Mr.. Payne flung back at the Democrats their
charge when the bill first taken up that 1t
was to be used by the Republicans as ouner
The delay, he declared had come from the Demo-
cratic side of the House, and the Democrats had
not made their charge good. THE time for bun
combe and political speeches to go out into cir
cuIation in the country, he said, should be when
some other bill is under consideration. The pres
ent BILL he argued, should have chance to become
q law.
Mr. Sims of Tennessee, diverted the discussion
on the Cochran amendment by issuing a warning
10 the House to get ready for section u.s. not
vet reached. He said that earlier in the day he
had noticed in the gallery lobbyist for the liquor
interests; that he had at once suspected Niger
in the woodpne" and presently found him. Sec,
+ion 91s he said by its peculiar and adrot word
ing converted every postof1ce route in the United
States into a jug carrying route" by making it
mandatory upon postmasters to accept for trans
portation packages of liquor. though the section
ostensihly prohibited their acceptance. The Cock
ran amendment was then lost-ss to T-and the
House adjourned.