Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-17
ATTITUDE
.SUDDENL Y
CHANGES
CODE BILL REVISIONlSTS FLOP
AROUND
Former Friends of Amendments Now
Fight Proposed Alteration, and but
Little Progress Is Made
in Settlement

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan ia complete
change of front was exhibited by the ma
jority in the house of representatives to-
day in the consideration of the bill to
United States. The pacific spirit dis
played by the committee on revision of
laws toward the close of yesterdays ses-
sion, when it appeared as though the
several amendments strengthening GER
tain provisions of the bill regarding cor
ruption in the appointment of persons to
public offices would be adopted had van
ishred today and instead every inch of
ground was fought over to keep amend
ments out of the bill.
When adjournment was taken only six
additional pages had been disposed of
and but one or two verbal amendments
by the committee had been inserted.
Offers Substitute
At the outset of the debate Mr. Hard
wick of Georgia offered a substitute for
the Williams amendment pending yester-
day when the house adjourned regarding
payments to any persons for his indorse-
ment or assistance in securing appoint
ments to office.
The substitute while differing in
phraseology with the Williams amend
ment, arrives at the same end, except
that it disqualifies from any office of
trust or profit under the government all
persons receiving such payment.
Mr.. Payne of New York urged that
the Williams amendment and Hardwick
substitute be voted down. He wanted
the committee on judiciary to carefully
consider such propositions before they
were enacted into law.
Mr. Williams retorted that Mr.. Payne
and other Republicans had made a party
question out of the amendment and SUBJ
stitute, whereas. he said, it was not a
party question, but one dealing with cor
ruption.
The original section was amended on
motion by Mr.. Burke Of Pennsylvania so
as to apply the penalty imposed by Sec
ton III only to those cases where pur-
chase and sale of Endorsements of sup
port for office affects "appointive' offices.
An amendment in the shape of new
section was offered by Mr.. Gaines of
Tennessee, designed to prevent lobbying
before congress.
Derisive laughter on the Republican
side greeted the amendment, followed by
the query from Mr. Dalzell of Pennsyl-
vania, "You are not in earnest. are you?"
"I always am when I attack the ram
parts of the Republican party" was the
quick retort, and it provoked Democratic
applause.
Mr. Gaines condemned the practice of
lobbying as nefarious and contrary to
the public welfare and morals. The
amendment was lost.
An amendment by Mr.. Ansberry of
Ohio, who sought to prohibit any senator
or member acting as an officer, director,
attorney, counsel or agent of any COM
pany or corporation engaged in interstate
transportation, was lost.
In addressing the house Mr.. Ansberry
said he offered the amendment ito the
end that prison doors may open to that
class of citizens who disregard their plain
duty to the people"
He touched upon the Brownsville af-
fair" and declared that no voice on the
Republican side had been raised when
President Roosevelt, "disregarding his
plain duty, assailed the substantial rights
of the colored brother"
The Ransdell amendment which went
over from yesterday and which prohibits
the giving of senators and members by
public service corporations of transpor
tation and the acceptance of the same by
members and senator's again went over
until tomorrow. and the house at 4;0s
.. m. adjourned until tomorrow.