The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-17
AME MOMENTS ARE
 FOUGHT IN HOUSE
Complete Change of Front Is
 Made By Republicans
LITTLE PROGRESS ON LAWS
Democratic Members Propose Changes In Laws Relating To Corruption In Public Office, But oppo-
 nents Vote Them Down,

Washington, January 16.--A complete change of front was exhibited by the majority in the House of Representa- tives today in the consideration of the bill to codify or revise the penal laws of the United States. The pacific spirit displayed by the committee on revision of laws toward the close of yesterday $ session when it appeared as though the several amendments strengthening cer- tain provisions of the bill regarding cor ruption in the appointment of persons to public office would be adopted had van ished today and instead every inch of ground was fought over to keep amend ments out of the bill. When adjourn ment was taken at 4:06 o'clock only six additional pages had been disposed of and but one or two verbal amendments by the committee had been inserted.
 At the outset of the debate in the House on the bill to codify and revise the penal laws, MT. Hardwick of Georgia of- fered substitute for the Williams amend ment pending yesterday when the House adjourned, regarding payments to any person for his indorsement or assistance
 
 flee. The substitute, while differing in philology with the Williams amend ments, arrives at the same end, ex- cept it disqualifies from any office of trust or profit under the government all per- sons receiving such pay. MT. HardwicS said that five years effort had been made to enact such legislation and that a few years since a tremendous scandal had occurred in his own district in Geor- gia in connection with some postoffice appointments. He challenged anyone to oppose his substitute on its merits.
 Challenge Accepted.
 The challenge was at once accepted by MT. Gardner of Massachusetts, who maintained that any one who came to Washington with his expenses paid to interest himself in behalf of some ap- pointment would violate the law. He said he was tired of humbug. legislation and inquired: Do you think we can square ourselves with our constituents by legis- lation like that by pretending to virtue when there is not man within the sound Of my voice that cannot evade these statutes if he has a mind? You may be able" he added, ito catch un- fortunate members of the House or Q member of the Senate sometimes, who has not covered his tracks properly
 Mir. Payne of New York urged that the Williams amendment and the Hard wick substitute be voted down. He wanted the committee on judiciary carefully to consider such propositions before they are enacted into law.
 Not Party Question.
 MT. Williams retorted that Mir. Payne and other republicans had made a party question of the amendment and substi- ute, whereas, he said, it was not a party question: but one dealing with cor ruption He was aiming at real crime and if the amendment was not satisfac- tory to the republicans. then in God s name" he said draw one for your selves" Noticing the unusual re- publican attendance, MT, Williams sar- castically remarked that he had heard that once or twice the discussion of the bill the party whip had been resorted to to muster enough votes to vote down legislation recognized as needful. The suggestion of MT. Payne to refer to
 
 froNTINIIEn ON PAGE Rl