New-York tribune., 1908-01-16
AMEND REVISION BILL.
House Considers Sections Relating
to Bribery
From The Tribune Bureau ]

Kustermann of WISCONSIN. Of the recent addi-
tons the majority. obtained the floor and ex-
pressed homeIy paradox in which many OF ms
brethren conceded He is massive man. with a
noticeable German accent. and after vainly en-
deavoring to catch the thread of the various dis
courses around him. he said that. in his opinion
there were too many lawyers in the Rouse OF
Representatives particularly when legal question
is being discussed. He suggested that committee
of farmers and business men could act with more
unanimity and dispatch. and concluded with the
statement that IF this work cannot be done oy
lawyers. let the lawyers leave 1t, and give II 10
the farmers and manufacturers Of this House, who
will at least draft laws that are constitutional
The aptitude OF the criticism caused some OF the
lawyers TO resume their seats. and the House
settled down to the steady business. which viii
probably continue under consideration for several
weeks
So persistent have been the efforts to amend the
bill that the Committee on Revision of the Laws
to-day consented TO let down the bars. and
result the measure was changed in some impOr-
tant particulars The pacific attitude of the com
mittee served modify the opposing members
and in consequence the proceedings were devoid
of the heated arguments which have previously
characterized the debate. When the House ad-
journed there were pending number of other
important amendments which seemed TO meet
with particular opposition from the committee
but passed until tomorrow IN order tnau
the members might have time 10 consider them
carefully. The portions of the bill which attracted
the attention were those covering Ine giving
and accepting of bribes by Senators and Repre-
sentatives and the sale of Endorsements or sup
port for appointive public Offices 1t is 10 the
amendments touching these questions that the
House tomorrow will devote itself
Mr.. Ieake, of New Jersey, started the debate to-
day by characterizing the bill unscientihc
document. because. he said. IL contained many
omissions of Importance. which served only 10 dis
criminate in favor of class Of offenders against
another
lie lam or e7rI that
an amendment has been admitted providing pun
ishment for the destruction OF birds eggs, when
it comes to providing a sufficient punishment for
men like Hartman and Rockefeller or some Of
the corporations that have been feeding on the
public by reason of your laws. who contribute
millions of dollars TO buy Up elections. you say
Don't put them in the penitentlary' II the Re
publican party is sincere and is entitled TO the
confidence or respect of the people it should prac-
tise on this floor what President Roosevelt
breaches in his message to Congress and on the
stump
Mr. Perkins, of New York, a Republican, sought
TO have the committee elucidate Section 90. en-
bracing the embezzlement Of public funds IN the
hands OF United States In the ten days
discussion of the bill It was the first time a Re
publican had halted the reading to critcse 1t, and
Mr. Perkins remarked that II no amendments were
to be permitted. at least explanations were N
order.
Chairman Noon and others of the committee de-
clared that the section amply safeguarded public
officers in cases OF defalcation where 1t was clear
that thew were innocent of wrongdoing- The COM
mittee again advised members having amend
ments to introduce separate bills covering their
ohiectons which only served TO elicit further at
tacks by Democrats. In these they were led Dy
Mr. Cochran of New York, who reasserted the
contention that the changes should be made IN tue
bill itself and not through separate measures An
amendment by Mr. Cochran to make the statute
aonlicable only when treasurers assistant treas
,rers yilfulIy and negiigenty' fail safely TO keep
the moneys intrusted to their care was lost
The Democrats waged unsuccessful hght
AGAINST committee amendment which Mr. Par
sons OF New York, explained was to correct mis-
nrint The amendment modified the statute pro-
bfbiting collecting and disbursng officers from
trading In public property SO as 10 make the pen
a1t mot more than" $500. instead OF the specihc
amount
D.. ea1 tn,nrisonuent of not more than ten years
m the penalty was defeated He then changed il
70 make the Imprisonment more than one year
amid loud Democratic applause the amendment
was accepted by the committee and was lncoEpo
rated in the bill THE first ray Of light, remarked
NJ Coc.ran at which there was more Democratic
applause.
Party lines were obliterated on an anenonenC
IN Section Jos by Mr.. CrumDackera OF Indiana
,i+ine, the punishment TO any ofcer using certi-
60 ooD+,ining any material statement which
he knows to be false. Supporters of the amend
rnen+ were found both sides OF the chamoer'
but il rejected 81,
Amendments to Section 112 relating to the solicit
,ne or accepting OF bribes by Senator'S or members
80 +btck and fast. Mr.. Randen, of Texas. Of
fered two, the first making it an offence Tor any
nrbIic service corporation to give 10 any Senator
~ vnernber or Judge of a United States Court any
60 RECOMMENDATION OF person property frank
- f.orl,inz privilege money anything OF value
making it a high misdemeanor for such persons 20
receive the same under penalty or me OF si'VV'
or fnnursonment for one year or DoIh' anu '4
-,7fzr1 me
senator or member or Senator or memOer-elecI
- bord a1v employment receive any pay as an
officer representative or attorney OF any hahA OF
-,,blo service corporation and providing a me OF
not more than $500 Imprisonment or not less
than one year and ineligibility TO hold any puoHc
office -, o
Mr. De Almond succeeded in getting into th7 SCI
ton q clause applying the penalty 10 any oehA'oI
or member when the brtbe is given 10 any person
..uith the consent. connivance or concurrence ol
- Senator or member. Several other amend
,,,a,+s NJ minor importance were voted down ana
bv unanimous consent the Randeh amendments
were allowed TO go over until to-Inorro"- o0'
lib was also strengthened by an amendment Which
r,rshes the bribe gver when the br1be Is gwen OF
offered with the consent, connivance or CONCUR
renee of any Senator or member
A vigorous protest against the purchase ana saie
Of Endorsements support for public ofnces was
made by Mr.. Hardwick, of Georgia, who Favored
enIargn the scope Of the present statute so as to
tnc1rds IN addition to Senators. members and dele
gates in Congress. every person who may violate
the law In that respect. Mr.. Hardwick said that
such a change should be made If It were desired 10
have cleanliness in the matter OF such indorse-
rnents particularly the Southern States. where.
he charged appointments were frequently auc-
toned
Mr. Williams then offered amendment cover
ing such offenders and making the whole statute
applicable only to "appointive offices or places
No objection w~s made by one 10 the amend
nent On the contrary. there seemed general