The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-14

for DcpFlVInS Negroes Os Hnclr
I1Ights as CitiZens-Party Lines
| Drawn i'll all Votes.
Washington January Jo.-Vigorous
idefence UT state nights In dealing
with vioIaIions OF civil rights or with
special state elections, where troops
are called into service, served TO en-
|liven the debate in the house or rep
lresentatives today in connection with
the consideration Of the bill to codHy
tthe penal laws in the United States.
A number of democrats mostly from
lsouthern states, strenuOusly sought by
amendment to reserve to the states
themselves the discretion as to the
qualifications of voters or of persons
to serve on juries and to limit The
ipowers OF federal judges in certain
cases, but every attempt failed The
republicans presented a solid front and
! the votes all were on party lines.
The bill was still under considera-
ton when at SOC p. NJ, the house ad-
journed.
| When debates on the bill was re-
sumed in the house today Mr.. De-
Almond of Missouri, expressed the
view that powers given to federal
Judges in certain cases should be
curbed He said he favored giving
them just as little absolute power as
Ipossible He then offered an amend
ment to section % Of the bill relating
Ito conspiracies to intimidate govern
rlent officers by changing the fine to
not less than $500 and imprison
ment with or without hard labor to
not less" than six years or both The
original provision calls for a fine OF
not "more" than $4,000 and not more"
than six years Imprisonment.
| Mr.. Williams of Mississippi, opposed
the amendment and it waG lost. There
upon Mr.. Williams moved TO strike
out the whole section remarking that it
was another relic Of reconstruction
days and was put on the statute books
| to meet the Ku Klux conditions of
those days. Ku Kluxism had passed
and he thought the statute should have
passed with it. The motion was lost
lila to 129.
| Mr.. DeArmond then sought to amend
| by fixing the fine at not more than
one thousand dollars instead of five
thousand dollars and not more than
one years Imprisonment instead of
sly years. This amendment likewise
was lost, 107 to 118.
Section 81, on motion Of Mr.. Webb,
| # North Carolina, was amended so as
limit the punishment therein pres
ribeG to persons who "wilfully" sub
iject inhabitants of any state or ter
itory to the deprivation of any rights
guaranteed under the constitution or
laws of the United States or to Pc
euliar punishments because such in
habitant is an alien, or because of his
color or race.
Opposition to Section %. sclib;ng
penalties for attempts to discUaiif" for
jury service any citizen on account Of
race or color came from Messrs Hardy
of Texas, and Bartlett Of Georgia. the
latter of whom moved to amend by
striking out the clause applying the
statute to juries In state courts. Both
declared that the section as framed
was usurpation of states rights.
Their arguments were vigorously
combattedby Mr.. Moore Of Pennsylva-
MIA. who remarked that the section
as it stood represented the action of
a democratic congress and a demo-
cratic president had declared the law
was good. Taunting the democrats with
their slogan equal rights for all, spe-
cial privileges to none" Mr. Hepburn,
of Iowa, inquired as to this. He spoke
of the popularity and Of the ability OF
Mr.. Williams to adorn the senate and
yet he said that that gentleran had
only triumphed by a small margin
ever Governor Vardaman, "who made
his campaign upon the proposition q
repeating the constitutional amend
ment and taking from a large class
of citizens all of the rights of their
citenship.
Mr. Hepburn declared that as long
as that spirit lived he wanted the let
ter Of the law to live
Mr.. Williams said that gentleman
was mistaken in his understanding In
the cause Of his reduced majority In
the senatorial race Nobody in Miss
issippi. he said. had any idea that