Evening star., 1912-04-12
Penalty in Bill Against Gun
Toting Passed by House.
DEBATE IN HUMOROUS VEIN
Failure of Effort to Have Policeman
Restored to Duty-District
Pensions Discussed.

The Sims bill to make it felony to
carry deadly weapon in the District of
Columbia had q turbulent course through
the House yesterday afternoon after The
Stars report closed, and as passed is no
more effective against the habit of gun
| totfng than Is the present law, in the
opinion of members of :he House who are
absolutely opposed to this dangerous
practice. The bill allows a judge to fine
a gun toter or to imprison him.
Representative Sims and Representa-
tive johnson made fight against big
odds to get stringent law on the books.
but an observer in the galleries would
say that the House was having fun on
the subject. Representative Cullop of In
diana wanted the bill amended SO that
travellers with revolvers in their grips
would not be molested. He was asked
by Representative Baker of California
whether lady with q bowie knife in her
handbag-"in one of these grips with
strings or chains on"-would be constd-
ered as having a weapon ION her per-
son."
Mr.. CulIop naturally was surprised 70
know that lady would carry a bowie
knife In shopping bag, but confessed
that the bowie knife would be on the
lady's person, under the law.
Shouted Aye With Glee.
In such vein the question of deadly
weapons was discussed by the House of
Representatives. until Representative
Madden of Illinois introduced the min
strel show amendment which would make
1t necessary for all travellers to be
searched on the boundary line before be-
ing allowed to enter. He was laughing
heartily when he presented it, and the
House shouted Aye with glee, and then
later rejected it. After'the much-amend-
ed bill was passed Representative Sims
moved to reconsider the subject, but
nothing was done.
The old case of Spencer Roberts,
policeman, who was under charges sew
eral years ago, and who, it is said, re-
signed just before Maj. Salvester was to
discharge him, presented an interesting |
question to the House yesterday. Repre- |
sentative O'Shaunessy of Rhode Island, |
a member of the House District commit
tee. presented bill authorizing and di-
recting the Commissioners to put Spencer
Roberts on the force and promote him
to the highest salary class. The House
didn't want to do 1t. Representative
Mann of illinois said it would be dan
gerous precedent to interfere with police
affairs in that way.
What Happened to Roberts.
Spencer Roberts. when a policeman,
went into his police station one night
minus his revolver, and part of his equip
ment. and said he had been set upon by
thugs and beaten and robbed. His su-
periors did not believe him and preferred |
charges. The circumstantial evidence |
framed good case against him. but a |
long time afterward it was proven con- |
clusively that Roberts was not guilty. !
Hence the bill. |
1t was passed in amended form.
The House, as a committee of the |
whole also adopted the bill which en-
powers the United States to institute
suits to clear the title Of land along the |
various streams in the District, In which !
land the United States has title. but |
which seems to be in possession of squat |
ters or has other clouds on the clear |
ownership Later the bill was passed.
District Pension Fund.
Representative Redfield's bill providing |
for a method of swelling the firemen's |
and polioemen's pension fund was dis |
cussed for a few minutes, but was left as |
unfinished business. The bill would place |
an additional tax on District property |
and would pay the pension fund out of |
District money alone, no contribution to |
be made by the United States.
Representative Mann at 5 o'clock said |
he wanted to be heard at length on the |
bill, and consequently it was put aside.