The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-26
rorty.sixsh Copgress..seeond Session.
WASHINGTON, May 25, 1880.
nj

rOrty.Sixsh CODgress..seeond Session.
WASHINGTON, May %, 1880.
SENATE.
Senator Witbers moved to postpone all
prior orders and proceed to consider the
pension cases on the calendar.
Mr.. Bayard stated that last night he had
moved to take up bill OF great public i'm.
portance 1.-THE supervisors billy, which he
was unwilling TO have displaced by any
other business.
The President pro tempOre stated that Mr..
Bayard's motion would come up as untin-
ished business at balf-past 1.
Mr.. Edmunds hoped they would not be
TOO hasty in making a decision. The mo-
ton to take up bill fell with the adjourn
ment, and would have to he renewed.
The President pro tempOre hoped Mr..
Edmunds would point ont his authority.
Mr.. Edmonds said he had good many
witnesses, and would have them sworn il
necessary.
Mr.. Withers's motion was agreed to.
After the passage OF a number OF pension
bills, Mr.. Window, from the Appropria-
tons Committee, reported the agricultural
appropriation bill, and it was placed on
the calendar.
At the expiration OF the morning hour,
on the renewed motion of Mr.. Bayard, the
Senate took up the supervisors bill, which
provides that supervisors OF election shall
be appointed by the President, with the
consent OF the Senate, and shall hold office
two years.
Mr.. Bayard proposed to change the date
on which the terms of the supervisors now
10 office should expire from May 1st to July
1st. He also agreed to so amend the bill as
to recognize the Presidents right TO APP
point new supervisors during the recess OF
the Senate. Mr.. Bayard explained the bill.
and in reply to questions and criticisms OF
Mr.. H0ar said it was not intended to affect
the powers OF supervisors in any way but
to regulate their tenure OF office. Many OF
them had already held their places since
1871, and there was no provision for their
removal for cause. Their office could be
vacated enly by death or resignation. Mr..
Bayard thought this opposed to our prac-
tice OF government.
Mr.. Conkling spoke in opposition to the
bill, and declared that 1t was one more link
in the chain OF legislation intended to null
lily the laws guaranteeing free elections.
Mfr. Mcdonald supported the bill, and
said he did not believe Federal interference
with elections was beneficial OF constitu-
tional. Since, however, the Democrats
could not repeal the election laws, they pro-
posed 10 take the teeth out OF the Federal
election machinery, and render 1t harmless
as possible.
MIR. Teller opposed the bill, and referred
10 the lawlessness in various parts OF the
South as proof that Federal election officers
were needed.
While speaking OF the use Of tissue ballots
in the South, Mr.. Hampton handed him
tissue ballot and asked him to read it.
Mr.. Teller said it purported to be Re-
publican ballot, and he thereupon went into
the history of the election in Charleston,
asserting that the Republicans used tissue
ballots in a legitimate manner to prevent
the Democrats from distinguishing them
from their tissue ballots and throwing them
out.
MFR. Hampton remarked that the present
! representative from that county was elected
| by 10000 majority. Mr.. Teller had said
| q. 900 Democratic tissue-ballots were cast.
Even allowing the 1900, he still had 5000
majority.
| Mr.. Thurman moved to amend the bill
| by providing that no person who has held
| or who now holds the office Of supervisor
of elections shall be reappointeG. He said
| he knew some supervisors Of elections had
been bad men, and he did not intend they
| should ever be reapponted.
| Mr.. Hoar said this bill was part OF
scheme TO destroy the liberties OF the peo-
pie by sort OF "dry rot" The Govern
ment was not to be overthrown by yio-
lence, but by the corruption OF the ballot
box.
MIR. Hampton said Mr.. Hoar might in
struct Massachusetts, in duty under the
Constitution before he condemned other
States. That State DISTINGUISHED 10000
men under the educational qualification;
vet she kept her full popular represents
ton in Congress in violation OF the Consn-
tuition.
An animated, running debate followed,
in which Messrs. Hampton, Butler, Hoar,
and Teller took the principal part, aud
which turned upon the evidence taken be-
fore the Wallace committee and the inter-
probation OF it In various ways.
A long, desultory, running debate was
then brought on by the assertion OF Mr..
Teller that the Democrats were afraid TO
discuss certain questions, and dared not
open their mouths about them.
Mr., VOORHEES, challenged the Republicans
10 name such questions, and a sharp col
Ioqly followed between Messrs. voorhees,,
Conkling, and Edmunds-the two nrst-
named senator's attacking one an0thers re-
cord with some bitterness. -,
At 6:10 p. NJ, without action on the Dill
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. The intervening hour up TO III O'Clock
belonging technically TO Mondays session,
that hour was spent in the consideration OF
the sundry civil bills, the bill for public
buildings being disposed OF as reported.
and all amendments for new buildings pe'hs
ruled out on points OF order.
AT II O'Clock the session OF yesterday ter
minated and that Of to-day began.
The House dispensed with the morning.
hour and continued, in Committee OF tue
Whole, the consideration OF the sundry c'vii
bill.
Amendments were adopted providing Tor
light at the mouth OF the Amite river,
Louisiana, and for an increase OF $4,000 10
appropriation for coast and geographic sur
yeys. ,a