Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-22

''h'''iHiso wi, jail Ll.-AI the close
a day OF excitement in the House O
representatives, an amendment wa.
added TO the penal code bill, makins
1t criminal offence for any office
or emDloye of the government to give
out advance information regarding any
crop statistics authorized by law to b.
prepared. The original amendment
was by Mr.. Burleson OF Texas VII,
made 4 strong plea for it's passage
but substitute by Mr.. Sherley oil
| Kentucky with brief addition By Mr.
Olmsted of Pennsylvania. was accepted
| The necessity for its adoption wa.
conceded by nearly every member who
| addressed the House and it's snfe run
| ming of the gauntlet was greeted with
| applause. The amendment is as fol.
| lows:
whoever being an officer or en-
ploye Of the United States or Il person
acting for or on behalf of the United
states IN any capacity under or by
virtue of the authority of any depart
nent or Office thereof and while
| holding such Office. employment or po-
sition. shall. by virtue of the office, en-
ployment or position held by him be-
ED'N''NN
| which might exert any influence upon
or affect the market value of any pro-
duct of the soil grown within the
United states, which information is by
law or by the rules and practices of
the department or office required to
be withheld from publication until q
fixed time and shall wilfully impart,
directly or indirectly such information
or any part thereof to any person not
entitled under the law of the rules ard
practices of the department or Offices
to receive the same; or shall before
such information is made public
through regular official channels di-
rectly or indirectly speculate in any
such product respecting which he has
thus become possessed OF such infor-
nation by buying or selling the same
in any quantity, shall be fined not
more than $4,000 or imprisoned not
more than 10 years or both.
provided. that no person shall be
deemed guilty of Il violation of any
rule by any department unless prior
to such alleged violation he shall have
been provided with a duly authenti-
Gated written or printed statement OF
such rule or practice"
Early in the day interest attached
to a tilt between Mr.. DalZell OF Penn
sylvania, and Mr. Randell Of Texas
over the latter'S amendments prohibit
ing senators or members from. being
employed by public service corporation
Believing that Mr. Randell had in
simulated that he represented such cor
porations at this time. Mr.. DalZell grew
indignant and declared that he had
not been employed in such capacity
for 20 wears.
The climax of the debate came when
Mr.. Clark of Missouri announced amid
thunderouS applause that William J.
Bryan would be nominated at the Den
yer convention, while Mr.. Boutell Of
Illinois aroused the members on his
side Of the House to high bitch OF
enthusiasm by stating that Speaker
Cannon would be the Republican
nominee at Chicago.
Washington, Jan. Reconsideration
of the bill to codify and revise the
penal laws of the United States was
resumed in the House of Representa-
Aives today
Randell of Texas, spoke on his
amendments, prohibiting tempting of
senators or representatives by public
service corporations.
\ sharp colloquy occurred between
Randell of Texas and Dalzell Of Penn
sylvania. Randell was speaking on q
proposed amendment to the penal code
bill and upon being interrupted by
DalZell retorted that he did not desire
to be interfered with by any man who
represented a corporation. DalzelI re-
scented the remark but upon Randelrs
disavOwing any personal application
the incident closed.
Consideration of the whole PROPOSE
ton at this time was objected to as
being not germane but Payne, New
York, the majority leader, got the floor
and denounced the amendments. He
said he had not lost confidence in the
character of the men sent to Congress.
He said they We're picked men of in
tellectual ability and integrity.
Payne said it was painfully evident
that there were some first termers
from Missouri who feared that Mis-
souri, would be landed permanently on
the Republican side and wanted to he
returned and who felt that unless they
could get something demagogic in the
bill they would not be returned.
Applause greeted Champ Clark of
Missouri. who rose to reply to Payne.
He defended the right of new members
to express their opinions. When Clark
touched upon the political attitude of
Missouri the Democrats again broke
out into applause. He explained that
at the last election 5000 Democrats
stayed home Because they did not
like a certain telegram sent from
Esopus TO the ST. Louis convention
The next moment he threw the House
into an uproar, when he declared that
on the 18th OF July next, we intend to
nominate William ]. Bryan for Presi-
dent"