The San Francisco call., 1908-03-03
IRE IS AROUSED
BY PEONkGE CASES
Clark of Florida Criticises
Prosecutions BY Attorney
General
Says State Is Prepared TO COm-
BAT AiE Charges Against
People

WASHINGTON, March "A variety
OF subjects were considered by the
house today. A resolution was passed
authorizing the immigration committee
TO investigate charges OF peonage in
certain states. In the debate on that
question Clark OF Florida denounced
Assistant Attorney General Russell in
connection with certain prosecution in
Florida and referred sarcastically TO
Attorney General Bonaparte.
Clark said that the state Of Florida
was prepared 10 answer the accusa-
tions Of .'peonage. slavery, involuntary
servitude. brutal and inhuman treat
ment OF laborers" and other publica-
tions which smell Of the slums and in
some OF the most remarkable docu-
ments emanating from the department
OF justice Of the United States, which
he charged were absolutely false in all
essential particulars.
The people Of Florida. he asserted,
courted the fullest investigation Of a
matter which had been so injurious to
the fair name Of their state. He pre-
dicted that these people will come
through the ordeal of investigation
without the smell Of fire upon their
garments and in spite OF the batteries
OF slsnder which for the past year have
been belching their infamous slum be-
gotten fabrica tions
SCORES THE BIG CHIEF
The department of justice, Clark
charged. had never been especially dis
tinguished for the legal knowledge of
the alleged lawyers who are generally
supposed 10 be housed therein" but he
said that usually something of a
lawyer" had been at its head He
feared that the country had fallen into
evil times" with reference to the big
chief OF the department Whatever
may be the qualifications Of Attorney
General Bonaparte, he said, that Off
cial had been unfortunate IN the selec-
tion OF some OF his interiors TO whom
had been committed peonage prosecu-
tions in Florida and other states.
Clark referred TO Attorney General
Bonsparte as the transplanted bud Of
alleged French nobility who had be-
come acquainted with a lady bearing
the eupholioNs cognomeR Of Mrs. Mary
Grace Quackenbo whose field OF labor
previous 10 her acquaintance with the
great Baltimore lawyer was in the
siums Of the east side OF dear old Man
haitian isle"
He presumed therefore that Bona
parte considered this great slum
worker" 4 very proper person 10 send
TO Florida TO regulate conditions in the
south.
CRITICISES RUSSELL
Clark next turned his attention 10
Assistant Attorney General Charles ".
Russell who was given charge of the
luVestigation and VINO ne said called
10 his aid Mrs. Quackenbos7
My Cod. he exclaimed. what a
combination In normal times il would
be an sftiiction upon any people to
send into their midst Charles W Rus
sell. z southern man and a southern
democrat, and Mary Grace Quackenbos
in combination or separately
There followed lively discussion
over 2 bill 10 deport after the serving
Of their sentence, all aliens convicted
Of felony The measure was defeated
-Four hundred pension bills and a few
other private bills were passed and the
remainder of the time was consumed
IN considering the postoffice sppropria-
tfon bin, which. IL is said, will be dis
cussed for several DAYS.
An important bit OF legislation was
offered by Hepburn Of Iowa through a
bill imposing q tax of 50 cents per 100
shares on stock or agreements to sell
INCREASES WIDOWS PENSIONS
ar~-r