The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-17
ADOPT NEW TACTICS;
OPPOSE EVERY MOVE
Republicans Fight Every Effort
to Strengthen Act Against
Corruption.
STEP TO PREVENT LOBBYING
Members Laugh at the PROPOSE
ton, and Vote 1t Down-Sen-
ate ADOPTS Treaty.
STEP TO PREVENT LOBBYING

WASHINGTON, p. c., January l6.--
a complete change OF front was ex-
hIbited by tho majority In the House
OF Representatives to-day In tho con-
s!deration of the bill to codtty and re-
wise the penal laws of the United
St.tes. The pacific spirit displayed by
the Committee on Revision OF Laws
toward the close of yesterdays ses-
sion, when It appeared as though the
general amendments strengthening GER
tain provisions OF the bill regarding
alleged corruption in the appointment
OF persons to public offices 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:o6
o'clock, only six additional pages had
been disposed of. and but ono or two
verbal amendments by the committee
had been inserted.
AT the outset of the debate Mr.. Hard
wick, Of Georgia. offered substitute
for the Williams amendment pending
yesterday when the House adjourned. |
regarding payments to anv person for
lnie Endorsement or assistance in seeur-
Hing appointments to public Office. The
substitute arrived OF tho same end
lexcept that 1t disqualified from any
Ioflice OF trust or profit under the gov
eminent all persons receiving such
lpay Mr.. Hardwick said that several
attempts had been made to enact such
Legislation. and that Jew years ago
| q tremendous scandal had occurred In
his own district In Georgia in connec-
ton with some post-offlce appoint
nents. He challenged any ono to OPP
pose his substitute on its merits.
4 Tired Of HumbuE Legislation.
! The challenge was at once accepted
lby Mr.. Gardner. of Massachusetts. who
| maintained that any one who came to
Washington with his expenses paid to
friend would violate tho law. He said
he was tired of humbug legislation. and
Inquired: do you think we can square
Yourselves with Our constituents by leg
( islation like that by pretending to
Virtue when there Is not man within
the sound of my voice that canno
ovade these statutes If he has a mind
Ito. You may be able" he added. ito
catch unfortunate members of the
House or member of the Senate some
times who has not covered his tracks
/! properly.
1 AR. Payne, OF New York, urged that
the Williams amendment and the Hard
,twick substitute be voted down. He
WANTED the Committee on judiciary to
Icarcfully consider such propositions be-
fore they are enacted into law.
MIR. Williams was quick to retort that
Mr.. Payne and other Republicans had
made q party question out of the
amendment and substitute. whereas, he
said, it was not o party question, but
onc dealing with corruption. He was
Iaimins at real crime. and II the amend
ment was not satisfactory to the Re-
pnblicans. then, in Gods name" lie
!, said. draw one FOR yourselves"
The suggestion of Mr.. Payne to re.
! fer to committee the proposed amend
ments was supported BY Mr. olmstead
of PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr.. Hardy, Of Texas, offered as a
substitute for the Hnrdwick substitute
4 clause excmpting from guilt the en-
, .poyment Of political ofiiceholders us
, attorneys in the presentation of any
! claim against the government regular
r ly and openly filed. This was voted
: down. as were the Hardwick substitute
a and the Williams amendment.
The original section was then amend.
= ed on motion by Mr.. Burke. OF Penn
a imposed by section Ill only to those
. cases where the purchase and sale o.
= Endorsements OF support for office az.
!. fects "appointtve" officers.
L Would Stop Lobbying.
!; An amendment in the shape OF neu
section was ofierel by Mr.. Gaines. d
h Tennessee. designed to prevent lobby
. Ing before Congress. Derisive laughte
Il on the Republican side greeted tn,
i. amendment followed by the query iron
* Mr.. Dalzell, OF Pennsylvania: You ar,
not in earnest. are you?"
: II always am when attack hi
rampa,ts Of the Republican party" wa
the quick retort, ana It provoked Dem
ocratic applause.
y AR. Gaines condemned the practic,
of lobbying as nefarious and contrar!
y to the public welfare and morals. Mr.
Payne asked II the amendment woul,
Z reach the people OF Tennessee sent /,
u Washington by the tobacco growers.
y no" replied Mr.. Gaines, and cugh
! not. because they arc perfectly clean
# honest people"
"You don't mean to say those lawyer
= came here for nothing:" inquired Nj
d Payne.
e. NO" said Mr.. Gatues, "but they go
It nothing. because the Republicans i
a the Senate squeichel tho legislatto
l. they sought to have enacted"
The amendment was lost.
% Would Open Prison Doors.
All Wy s-AlspGIlS, Z
"a Ohio, which sought to prohibit an
If Senator or member acting as an office
director, attorney, counsel or agent {
10 any company or corporation engage
t. In Interstate transportation was lost
q In addressing tho House Mr.. Ans
IL berry said no offered tho ainendmet
It ITO the end that prison doors may ope
n, to that class OF citizens who dIsregar
le their plain duty to tho people,
He touched on the Hrownsvlie afai
D. and declared that no voice on tho Re
s. publican side had been raised .whe
e. President Roosevelt, dtsregard!ng hi
Il plain duty, assaulted the substantit
1t rights OF the colored BROTHER
Id The Randall amendments, which pre-
Is hibit the giving to Senator's and man
bers by public service corporations {
ie free transportation or tito acroptanr
OF the same by Senators or member
10 again went over Until Tomorrow.
y WORKING DAY IN SENATE
Il Nssnn q ~