New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-26
WARM DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTION BILL-A DRFIAN
CHALLENGE FROM Mr.. VOORHEES, WHICH WA
PROMPTLY MET.

THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTION BILL-A DEFIANT
CHALLENGE FROM Mr.. VOORHEES, WHICH WAS
PROMPTLY MET.
IBT TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
EWAsHINGToN. May 25.-The Senate has to-day
devoted itself with patriotic slnglcness of purpose
TO the work of formulating issues for the campaign
The terrible things hurled across the aisle which
separates the two parties from each other in the
Senate were strong reminders of the stirring scenes
CT the extra session, but the tender avoidance of
personal illusions of painful nature, and the
general undcrcurrent of merriment and good fellow
ship features which will not appear in The Record,
bore evidence to the modifying effects of the long
intervening season of quiet.
Senator Bayard brought up his bill fixing limit
to the term of chief supervisors of election and sub
mitcd an amendment to it, providing that the terms
of the present chief supervisors should expire the
first of next July. His attention was called to the
fact that this would leave the country without
supervisors for the election, wheTeupOn, with n
great show of fairness, he signted his willingness
10 accept an amendment giving the President the
right to fill vacancies temporarily, during the
recess of Congress.
This defect in the bill was its most conspicuous
feature, and It was doubt designed for the pur-
pose Of having one point to give away to the Repub-
Leans.
The true meaning Of the measure was disclosed
when Mr. Thurman oifcrcd an amendment making
all present chief supervisors ineligible for reappoint
ment.
The debate became interesting and general Mt
once Ii covered the whole series of political events
during the period Of reconstruction, and ranging
from tissue ballots and the abolition of polling
places in south Carolina, to the massacrcs at COu-
shatta and Tcnsas.
Senator Teller, to whom these matters are as
household words was the chief speaker He assailcd
the Democracy as patty numerically He wound
M w declaring that the party had done nothing
during the present Congress and did not dare TO 10
anything-nut even 10 90 into caucus upon any
measure of publc Importance They were unit
ONLY in regard to the removal of such safeguards as
still renamed around the ballot box.
This brought Senator voorhees, To his fcct, and
very soon the whole Democratic scheme OF silence
was gwen away. He wOuld not allow any man TO
dare him or the Democratic party to discuss any
uucStlun. lie 'dciirl the Senator from Colorado,
or the Senator from New York, or the Senator from
Vermont to mention any subject of public import
ance which the Democracy hal been afraid to dis
cuss or had avoided.
Both Srmator,C Conkli ling and Senator Edmunds were
ON their feet trying 10 accept the senator's pointed
challenge hut the more they tried the louder SEN
ntoT Voorhees, shOuted. When an opportunity was
offered and a halt dozen more measures which
thc,Drmocracy had cUuspicuOuSly hyoldedI talking
about were mentioned. Senator voorhees, changed
the subject and entered upon brief discussion Of
4 q merits Of tho BRyard bill.
The debate ended good naturcdly, and will be
rcsumcd tomorrow.