Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-30

with their duties, or to punish any violation
OF the law from which their powers are de-
rived.
If this bill is approved only shadow OF
authority Of the United States at national
elections will remain. The substance will be
gone Supervision Of elections will be re-
duced to mere inspection. without authority
on the part Of the super'i sors to do ANYTHING
whatever to make elections fair ones. All
that will be left to supervisors is permission
to have such oversight of elections as politi-
cal parties are in the habit of exercising with
out any authority of law, in order to prevent
their opponents from obtaining any unfair
advantages.
The object of the bill is to destroy any CON
troll whatever by the United States, over
Congressional elections. The passage Of this
bill has been urged upon the ground that the
election of members Of Congress is matter
which concerns the States alone; that these
elections should be controlled exclusively by
States; that there are and can be such cleo
tons as National elections, and that the eX
listing law of the United States regulating
Congressional elections, is without warrant
| in the constitution.
! 1t is evident. however. that the trainers of
the constitution regarded the election of
members of Congress in every State and in
every district, as in a very important sense
justly matter of political interest and con
Germ of the whole country The original
prov isiun of the Constitution on this subject
is Is follows
The President quotes the constitutional
provisions in support of his position, and
says Congress in 1866 passed Il c0mprehen-
sive law which prescribed full and detailed
regulations for the election of Senators by
legislatures of the several States. In pursu-
ancc Of this law all the members of the pres
cnt Senate of the United States hold their
seats. Its con,ttutionality is not called in
question. 1t is confidently believed that no
sound argument can be made in support of
the constitutionalty of national regulation of
senatorial elections, which will not show the
election of members Of the House of Repre-
sentatives may also be consttutionally regu-
lated by national authority. If the power to
supervise in any respect whatever the Con-
grcssicnal elections, exists under section {. !
| article |, Of the constitution, it is Il power
which. like every other power belonging to
the government of the United States, is para
mount and supreme, and includes the right to
employ the necessary means to carry it into
effect.
| The statute which regulates the election Of
! representatives is the essential part which it
! is proposed to repeal by this bill, has been in
! force eight years In no reported case has
/ the constitutionaity been called in question
by any [. :. judge.
If it is urged that the law is unnecessary,
the ample reply is furnished by the history of
| its origin. The people were especially
prompted by investigation and exposure of
frauds in the city and State of New York. in
the elections of '76. These frauds complete
| ly reversed the result of the election in that
State, both as to State officers and President
and viccPresident. They attracted the at
tention of the whole country. He then quot
ed the finding of the committee in the forty
fourth Congress, on the 1876 election in New
| York.
This bill recognizes the authority and duty
of the United States to appoint supervisors to
guard and scrutinize Congressional elections,
but it denies to the government all power to
make its supervision efiectual.
SO far from public opinion in any part OF
the country favoring any relaxation of the au
thority of government in protection of cleo
tions from violence and corruption, believe
1t demands greater yigor both i'll enactment
and in execution of the laws framed for that
purpose.
As Congressional elections will not occur
until after the regular session of Congress,
there seems to be no public eXgency that
would preclude seasonable consideration at
that session, of any administrative details in
regard to these laws.
In conclusion he says
with my views of the constitutionality
and value of the existing laws, cannot APP
prove any measure for repeal except in con-
ncction with enactment of other legislation
which may afford wiser and more efficient
safeguards for free and honest congressional
elections"
The reading of the message was listened to
with close and for a time almost respectful
attention, only an audible litter went through
the democratic ranks when the sentence was
read as to the effect of the existing law being
to secure honest elections, and again when
the sentence was read as to what good faith
honest cndcavor and judicial authority can
do for the protection of the elective franchise,
the democrats laughed outright, and the re-
publicans as Il counter demonstration APP
pauded
Mr.. Cox wanted the sentence read again,
but was not gratihed.
At the conclusion of the reading the re-
publicans again applauded but not with any
enthusiasm.
The House refused to pass the bill over the
veto ~ to 9l-not the necessary two-thirds
vote.
1t was strict party vote, greenbackers
Ladd and Stevenson in the affirmative, and
Barlow and Ford in the negative.
The message was referred to the judiciary
committee, with leave to report by bill or
otherwise.
The Senate amendments to the subsidiary
coinage bill were concurred in. The princi-
pal amendment limits the legal tender quail
ty of subsidiary coins to Zoe instead of 20, as
in the House bill.
Adjourned until Monday
WASHINGTON.