The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1876-04-06
A COMMENDABLE ELECTION BILL.

The bill pa ssed, last Wednesday, by
the National House of Representative.
with regard to the elections is of a very
important character and az the Congress
ional report of the two days has somewhat
obscured the result, we shall endeayor t0
make il clear to our readers.
The till, as reported FROM the Judicia-
ny Committee, on Tuesday morning. by
Mr Caulfeld, of Illinois, Democrat pro
gided that it should be nIisdemeanor for
any person in the employment of the
United States TO solicit or contribute
funds for election in any State. county or
district in the United States.
An amendment was offered by Mr.
Blaine, including Senators, Representa-
tiyes aud Delegates ID Congress. in the
provisions Of the bill aud was adopted by
vote Of l28 10 IS.
Another amendment was offered BE- 1lr.
Goode, Of Virginia, lDemocratl making
it a misdemeanor for any person to use
force. duress, menace, violence or bribery,
TO influence elections Of President, Senator
Representative or Delegate in Congress.
This vas carried by a vote Of 2I2 to 8;
and the bill as thus amended was then
passed By vote Of I73 TO s.
The Cincinnati Times. in commenting
/ this blll says "Sbould this measure
pass the Senate. as it doubtless viii. il
/ will exhibit the Democrats, as 1Ir. Blaine
rather tauntingly pointed out 10 them. ia
an entirely new attitude-that of reeoQ-
nizing the right Of Congress to regulate
and control the manner Of elections in any
State, county or district in the United
States" The amendment Of Mr.. Goode
even goes so far as to justify all that was
sought TO be accomplished by the much
berated "force bill In their efforts to
further the prospects of the eouts by
obstructiug the raising of campaign funds
| by the sins they have kicked over the
State Rights principles of their party, and
more than justified Republican legislation
against which they have but lately made
such indignant warfare"
AS to the ostensible object OF the bin
TO prevent forced assessments upou OF.
fce-holders for political purposes-it i.
certainly very healthy one, and Republi-
can members are to be congratulated on
/ joining heartily in its support. We think
it can be clearly established that the Re
! publican party has been comparatively
free from this sort of business. while ou
the other hand, the Democratic record i
one of outrageous extortion. The little
incident cited by Mr. Blaine, on the sworn
evidence Of a Congressional printer. that
43 per cent Of the gross amount Of an.
! proprlated for printing purposes had been
used for carrying Buchamans election.
is fair sample Of their purity ii the
matter Of collecting cam paign funds. Mr..
| Goode, too, the author of the force
amendment, whose seat from Virginia
was contested. must have felt rather un-
comfortable at the quotation from Coy.
Wise's statement that his election had
been decided by playing dice, abd loaded
dice at that
! Bur the bill has passed the House.
whatever may have been the motives for
/ introducing Il and the country viii re-
| joice thereat II forlids employees Of the
4 GoYernmept and members Of Congress,
from contributing yolnntarilg OF ofhsr-
wise, 70 an election fand aaI Il places ID
the hands Of the Geaffs fna,slst
the power . protect tiA 4 1se
tIons The netnofafs FL
besteF than they knew en
party lsmenfatlons Nj fera