The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-05-30
XLVICONGRESS-1ST SESSION
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 80
Post route bill with amendments was
ordered printed and laid ON the table.
Consideration of the bill for the appointment
of representatives to Congress according to the
9th caucus was indefinitely postponed.
Bill to grant additional homesteads to settlers
and bill authorizing the cancelling of tobacco
stamps and the petition of Rhode Island
soldiers and sailors was referred.
Mr.. McDonald's election bill was taken up.
Discussion ensued on the resolution to
refer to the special committee on frauds in the
late election, so much of the bill as
relates to Federal interference in elections and
to the denial of citizens Of the right of to vote.
Mr.. Mcdonald asked if there was any
qualification or disqualification for voting
established in any of those Southern States
that did not affect all alike.
Mr.. Blaine-You mean OH the statute
book?
Mr.. McDonald-Yes sir.
Mr.. Blaine-We are talking now about
the actual practice at the polls where districts
containing 10000 or 10000 lawful voters are
represented by men for whom 5000 OF 1000
votes are cast. The Senator from Georgia yes
terday said there was no need of any more
coming out to vote for the whole thing was
settled in advance.
Mr.. Hill-He said no such thing and he will
express his exceeding qualification if for once in
his life the Senator from Maine will quote him
correctly.
Mr.. Blaine-The Senator is a difficult man
to quote correctly, but he admitted that practi-
cally the Republicans were not allowed to vote
in Georgia.
Mr.. Hill-The Senator said no such thing
He said everybody was allowed to vote there
Mr.. Blaine-if the district was divided
between two Democrats, then the Republicans
come out, but the record shows when the at
tempt was made to run a Republican against
a Democrat it was walk over OH the part of
the Democrats That was she case in the
districts when in 1878 the Democrats got their
certificates of election on votes very much
smaller than the Republican vote of those dis
tricts had been two years before.
Mr.. Hill again said he had never intimated
such thing and protested against being mis-
quoted.
Mr.. Blaine asked Mr.. Hill to explain how it
was certain districts in Georgia in 1876 cast a
larger Republican vote than the whole vote in
1873, when there seemed to be no Republican
votes cast.
Mr.. Hill said those facts only applied to dis
tricts where there was no opposition candi-
dates.
Mr.. Blaine-Why was there no opposition
when the Republicans were in the majority?
Mr.. Hill-Because nobody else chose to rum
Ii the Senator wants me to answer his insinua-
lions that there were means brought to bear
by which anybody was prevented from ruu-
ming who wanted to run or that anybody was
Situations are utterly without foundation, in
fact have no support but his own statement
which is no support at all. Naughter.)
Discussion in this vein continued at some
length.
Mr.. Gordon introduced a bill in relation to
importation of cattle for breeding. Referred.
The Senate took up the House bill making
appropriations for certain rivers and harbors.
Mr.. Hereford spoke in its favor.
Mr.. Conkling got the foot but yielded for a
motions to adjourn, and the Senate adjourned
till Monday.
A resolution from the ways and means COM
mittee to finally adjourn June 10, lies over I'M
til Saturday with notice from the Republicans
that they, will propose an an amendment,
provided that the appropriation bills have
been passed. and by some Democrats that the
resolution be recommitted until bill is re-
ported to repeal the duty on quinine and to i'm
pose an income tax.
A bill was passed authorizing the Secretary
of the Navy to place at the disposal of the
state authorities for quarantine purposes any
condemned government vessels.
The reading of the veto message was COM
pleted shortly after o'clock
The reading was listened to with close and
for time almost respectful attention. An
audible litter went through the Democratic
ranks when the sentence was read as to the eff
feet of the existing law being to secure honest
OiCSVlouS, duu again MiiOu ScutcuCc WAS rodu
as to what good faith, honest endeavor and ju-
dicial authority can do for the protection of the
electoral franchise, the Democrats laughed
outright and the Republicans as counter
demonstration applauded.
Mr.. Cox wanted the sentence read again but
was not gratifed.
At the conclusion of the reading the Repu b.
cans again applauded but not with any enth u
siasm.
The House refused to pass the bill over the
veto, liz to 81, not two-thirds in the affrma-
alive. 1t was a strict party vote.
OF the Greenbackers Ladd and Stevenson
voted in the affirmative, Barlow and Ford in
the negative.
The message was then referred to the COM
mittee on judiciary with leave to report by bill
or otherwise.
Senate amendments to the subsidiary
coinage bill were concurred in. The principal
amendment limits the legal tender quality of
subsidiary coin to $40 instead of $50 as in the
House bill
Adjourned until Monday.