New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-08

REPORT OF TIIR MINORGTY OF THE SENATE COM
MlTrEE on ALLEGED ELECTION FRAUDS-sOME
THINGS THE MAJORITY REFUSED TO sLE-A
PROPOSED BILL
IBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBCSEl
WASHINGTON, May 7.-Scycra weeks ago Senator
Wallace presented the majority report OF the Sc
lect Committee to inquire INTO alleged frauds in
the late election" OF which no il chairman, upon
that branch Of tho inquiry relating to the cyyingof
assessments upon department clerks and others IN
Government employ mere. The report was accom-
panied by bill making il penal offence punish
able By fine and imprisonment for any official OF
tho Government to contribute money for political
purposes. or TO allow contributions to be solicited
from his subordinate officials. To-day Senator
Teller presented the views Of the minort..
The report quotes the statute relating to political
assessment and declares that the testimony taken
by the committee fails to show any violation III
vasion of it, 1t reviews the testimony at length,
and gives full history Of the proceedings of tho
Republican Congressional Committee during
the last Presidential campaign, showing the
means taken to raise money, and the
amount raised for the campaign, and meets
srraten the allegations Of the majority Of the COM
mittcc that improper measures used 10 obtain
Republican campaign funds.
"Al the testimony" sIys the minority. shows
that no attempt was made to compel payment, and
that non-paymcnt did not even call for reproof
from the committee any one else and the COM
mtee, with the fullest opportunity, after an exist
ence of over one year. with its present majority and
present chairman, could not find one man who had
been DISCHARGED for failure 10 contribute nor one
man who had been coerced into payment or even
urged to pay" In discussing the bill submitted by
the majority the minority report says:
II Is based on the theory that the of m0nov, CON
trhuted by a certain class of citizen onicchodcrs IN
Ffaol ttfff l. or TttDt.f
c"r moi herroi"re known to the crlmna ] code Of % ths
States of the United Sjacs. II ie To- punish net
that 'ay be Of itself not only harm ~, but probably
right to contribute his money to procure public speakers
10 address the people on political questions and nc has
the night to contribute his money 10 eupoy tho
prcss to do the same thing The press viii reach moro
people than viii be reached from the pniIi-
fra, f9 ro'f Ge contribution. there men more IN dGs mr.
than from those who arc striving to gct nl Ia the
duty of c oceoldcts any less han tat Of thos" not
In advancing thcr political sentiment, Why may not
Tins bill Is udcfnslblc on any principle, It Is ahlor.
rent To all ideas OF rghf, n is In violation OF the rights
the land Is ~ volaou Of those rights recognized hy Mi
Eugiish-Np"akuV prHplc independent ol constitutional
Is prlniciOu- one ana, II aimed at existing evil j.
| tcntod moro dlnrerous tian that cvll coln-
nrnt Of n systcn OF d.l,radation to bc
imposed on czcns Of the United sturs simny hrcause
they hold offices under Tho Government. We soon
be a'ici 10 prolmt the oiccnodrs from participating
! III llo National ana state elections. Tho arguments
used to support tlis bl With equal proprcty bc
! laI he
close thc mouth Of the oncchOicr well a. ll- purse
Tho use or money In political campaigns for ur-
poses cannot be too bcyercy condemned /! used 10
corrupt the vote or 10 alsfy the rcturur IN any WV
not against ihr voter corrupted or drul alone. bG,
against the Whole lCJplc Ol the United States, AMI
| lie orlcr hand It ls used mr ,l'a purp
OF diGnSH- political Information among the pr0, %
E"lt" thcm 90 dHl' nee ~ the cNimiu;, Of ne g!,
careful con,i to cf the nciits and dr,u lt, i tS
az
Governments tEru iis usc T. uub!c h,t ing a.a DO orr
present siat Of suricty, wien The uoo.c rl, f., be
| reached mainly through the pre-. i.t.Ir,li 10 ms
Pcrpetuity OF the E"Uublci and wActhrr ~ nee Is "A
blessing or a"r'r has nothing to DO With tic class OK
men WHO contriha'c II.
The purp1rc o The l Of the comnnttco Is not to pre-.
vent The contribution oi money TO cul!glcn Ir people
OF political tIou. lu to secure MONOPOLY ul such
| insirhWrhialU 10 men who SrclIug Ghlc. and
HHSdlIhA moe "ao u'id H. II SfolId DE- entitled,
| Mll 10 c0nI'i al poItca Information 10 bo paid fOr
| The minority AXIS what the committee found in
is investigation TO call for such bill Tho report
then summaries tie testimony in regard to the de-
nal of the rights cf fr nchiso in the south the op-
erations Of Democratic and military clubstEe tissue
ballots and other Democratic campaign measures,
| and says:
Tho committee bal its HIes uucoutradctcd tcstl-
moDy show that tricks subtcrfugr ana mnnlrulaon
OF the ballots, ias"aton OF tho Returns forrc violence
fraud, forgery perjury, oal0i-boN stuhng and tAuIder
resortcd TO In many sections OF tho country during
that election to defeat aud sot NJ naught the VIII the
| people political party that has, one or It's
safti5,G e, articles o fGith the doctrine
TO protect It's voters AZ the polls violence or fraud
and has never refused to appropriate itar the result
repetition thereof. will hardly DO able 10 deceive the
people and distract their attention from the real pur-
lions from the contributions OF Government officials to
be used In legimae manner and for legitimate pur-
! pose.
The minority submits substitute for the bill IN
troduced by the majority. 1t makes 1t penal of
fenco for any Government official to make enforced
aaseasments upon his subordinatest for oaudidatea