Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-17
PENAL CODE CAUSES
HOT DEBATE IN HOUSE
All Amendments Offered by Demo.
Gratis Made Party Issues and
Defeated BY Republicans.
MANY QUICK AVID SHARP RETORTs
Republican Majority Regards the Bill
in the Light Of Party Question
Rather Than Something Which Deala
With corrup,Ion-one Congressman
Wants SOME Trus, Officials Jailed.
ny Aspoc,niel presa,

WASHINGTON ID. c.. Jan. t6.-A
complete change of front was exhibit
cd by tho majority In the house of
representatives today In the consdcra-
ton of the bill To codlfy and revise
the penal laws. Tho pacific spirit
displayed by the committee on rcvis
ion of laws toward the close of yestcr.
days session when Il appeared ms
though the several amendments
strengthening certain provisions of the
bill regarding alleged corruption In
the appointment OF pcrsons to public
Office would be adopted, had vanished
and instead every Inch OF ground was
fought over TO keep amendments out
OF the bill. When adjournment was
taken at 4:06 o'clock only six amend
ments had b,en disposed OF and one
or two verbal amendments by the
committee had been inserted.
At the outset of the debate Mr.
Hardwick. of Georgia. offered substl.
tute for the Williams amendment
pending yesterday, when the House
adjourned. regarding payments to any
esslaisongl-tfor-=iIika aendorAement-e of as.
sistance in securing appointments to
public Office.
The substitute arrived at the same
end except that II dIsqualifies from any
Office OF trust or profit under the
government pcJsons hcceiylng such
pay.
Mr.. Hardwick said that for five
years. efforts had been made to enact
such Legislation and that a few years
ago tremendous scandal had oc.
CURED in his own district In Georgia
in connection with some pos:ofiioe APP
pointments. He challenged any one
to oppose his substitute on its merits
The challenge was at once accepted
by Mr.. Gardner. of Massachusetts.
who maintained that any one who
came to Washington whose expenses
were paid to introduce himself In be-
half Of some appointment would in
woke the law. He said he was tired
of hnmbng legislation and inquired:
DO YOU think we can square oursel
YES with our constituents by legisla
ton like that by pretending to virtue
when there is not n man within the
sound of my voice that cannot avadc
these statutes If he has mind to?
You may he able he added, ito catch
unfortunate members of the House or
member of the Senate sometime who
has not covered his tracks properly"
Mr.. Payne. New York, urged that the
Williams amendment and the Hard
wick substitute be voted down. He
wanted the committee on judiciary to
carefully consider such proposi tions
before they are enacted into law
MIR. Williams Sharp Hetort.
MIR. Williams was quick to retort
that Mr.. Payne and other Republicans
had made party question OF the am
endmcnt substitute whereas he said 1t
was not Il party question, but one
dealing with corruption.
He was aiming at real crime. ana If
the amendment was not satisfactory
To the Republicans, then in Gods
name he said, draw one for your
selves"
Tho suggestion of Mr.. PAYNE to re-
fer to committee the proposed amend
ments, was supported by Mr.. Olms-
tead. PENNSYLVANIA. Mr.. Hardy, of
Texas offered substitute for the
llardw.ck substitute, a clause, exempt
ing from guilt the employment of poli
tical Office holders as attorneys The
presentation of any claim against the
government regularly and openly filed
This was voted down, as was the
iiardwicli substitute and the Williams
| amendment.
The original section was then
amended on motion by Mr.. Burk. of
PENNSYLVANIA, so as to apply the pen
atty imposed by section ia only to
! those cases where the purchase and
sale of Endorsements or support for of
flee affects "appointivc" Offices.
An amendment in a shape of new
section was offered by Mr.. Gaines
Tennessee, designed to prevent lob.
bying before Congress.
Deirsive laughter on the Republi.
can side greeted the amendment. fol
lowed by the query from Mr.. Dalzell.
Pennsylvania, You arc not in earnest
are YOU "
81 always am when attack the
ramparts OF the Republican party"
was The quick rctort, which provoked
Democratic applause.
Mr.. Gaines condemned the practice