The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-06-12
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS-.
Extra Session.
The Senate.
THE SILVER BILL.

THE SILVER BILL.
WASHINGTON. June Ex-senator Coke's reso-
ldtion to discharge the finance committee from
further consideration Of the Warner silver bill
and to declare it before the Senate for action
was laid before the Senate, but was postponed
till tomorrow. On motion Of Senator Voor-
heeS the motion by Senator Burnside Tor an
executive session was rejected 10 to 81.
AMENDING TITLE.
The Senate concurred in the House rcsolu-
tl0n;to instruct the committee on enrolled bills
to amend title of an act to amend an set
making appropriations for the construction,
etc., Ut certain works OH rivers and harbors re.
Gently passed, by substituting the words ian
proved March Sd, 1872 for approved March
4th, 1879"
GEN SHIELDS PENSION.
Senator Vest introduced and asked unani-
nous consent for present consideration of the
bill to continue the special pension of 5l0O per
month granted to the late Gen. Shields, to his
widow until her death. ant if xhe leaves any
minor children, t. said children during their
minority
Senator Ednunds Thought tho bill should
take the course usual with such bill, and on
his oh lection t." its present consideration il was
placed Oh the calendar.
sUNDRy CIVIL BILL.
Senator Eaton, from the com mittec on appro-
priations, reported back the House Joint reso-
lntion repeating certain clause, of the sundrv
civil appropriation act passed ut tho last ses-
sion, with recommendation that the Senate
nou-concur i'll the Nonsc. Amendment
agreed to-
THE ARMY AND ELECTIONS.
On motion of Senator Harris the McDo:ald
bill, authorizing the employment of the mil.
itia and land and nuvy forces of the United
States in certain cases. was taken up, and Har
ris made speech in support of the BILL Sem
ator Harris said the constitution gives the
States exclusive control over tho qualifications
Of voters. 1t gives Congress permission To
make Or alter, etc., the time and manner ef
holding elections, but it is conceded by all i'm
partial commentators that this power was in
tended to be used only as means of preserva-
ton IN case States should fail to make such
regulation. The language is mandatory to tho
states that they shall prescribe qualifications
VI voters, etc. 1t is only permissive to Con
gress that it may make or alter, etc. The
word "manncr.' Of course, only refers t. the
methods, that is whether by ballot or viva
vocc, or other similar methods.
Senator Harris quoted the decision of the
supreme court in the case of Miner vs. Happer-
net. and in tho Cruikshank case, that the gen.
erai government has No voters Of its own in the
States, etc. Yet, ostensibly, under the clause
OF the constitution above cited and the elab-
crate ~ stem of election laws, has grown up
under which the government has assumed the
dictation Of the qualifications for voters in the
States. Deputy marshaIs and supervisors are
appointed, as claimed, to prevent fraud. This
has q taking sound and would be effective were
it not known that, instead of preventing
fraud, those officers have extended and intro
duced new phases Of it. Of what use is it,
asked Senator Harris, for the States to pre-
scribe qualifications for voters, us it is their
duty, when these federal officers whose chief
claim to appointment is their bad cbal acter
and partisan zeal, are authorized to override
such qualifications and decide according to
their own pleasure who may or may not vote
There was no State, he said, so corru1t a. not
t" DC able to preserve the purity Of its own
elections, and he denied the usefulness. az
well az the constitutionality of the laws IN
question.
When Senator Harris concluded the Senate
adjourned