Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-22
There VAS AMI unusually interesting debat

There was an unusually interesting debate in
the Senate yesterday over the Edmunds bill to
count the electoral vote. Mr.. Sherman made
strong argument in favor of an amendment he
offered providing that where the two houses
cannot agree ON any question affecting the
count, they shall meet and vote in joint con-
vention. He did not profess that this plan
was wholly unobjectionable, but it secured
what the constitution required-a count of the
vote. The usefulness and legality of the amend
ment were vigorously combated by Mr.. Ed
nunds and Mr.. Hoar, but received the endorse
ment of Mr.. Evarts. whose familiarity with the
general question OF the electoral count is very
well known. The question, too, has had per-
sonal interest for Mr.. Sherman.
1t seems as IL the keen Ohio Senator was right
IN demanding that all possible danger be re-
moved of an electoral stslemate. According TO
him and TO Mr.. Evarts the bill as il now stands
does not meet the real peril to provide against
which the new legislation is sought. AS Mr..
Sherman insisted, with the most vigorous itera-
ton, the constitution requires that at certain
stage in the proceedings "the vote shall then
be counted" He argued, and with great force,
that the bill as framed did not carry this inn
perative mandate into effect. bSt left a chance
for further dispute and a deadlock which might
prevent indefinitely the election of a President.
If this view of the case be the correct one the
Incorporation of the Sherman amendment or
otherwise, so that it will leave no loophole for
obstruction
The annual report of Commissioner Charles
F. Peck O: the New York state bureau of sta
tstics OF labor, which is published to-day is full
of suggestive material. Mr.. Peck devotes most
attention to the wages and home condition of
working women, strikes, and the drivers of
street railroads. He estimates that 100000
women are employed in various trades in New
York and Brooklyn, and IRON his statement il
appears very clearly that the condition of these
female bread-winners is much improved in
those trades where they have organizations And
IL speaks well for the thrift aud selfrcspeet of
these women that though their wages are as
rule smaller than those paid men in the same
or similar occupations, their deposits in savings
banks are propOrtionately larger.
The commissioner shows that strikes are
steadily becoming less and less frequent, and
are now only resOrted to as an extreme ex-
pedient Arbitration is growing in favor and
the commissioner recommends that the state
pass law under which disputes between capt.
tai and labor shall be referred to "a jury. AR
bitrators.r he remarks, cannot command re-
speet unless there is reserve power behind
them" He acknowledges the efficacy of the
boycott, but thinks it is a twO-edged weapon,
and should be handled. therefore, with caution
Like Commissioner Hadley. of the Connecti-
cut board of labor, Mr.. Peck is inclined to look
on the further imm Migration in large bodies of
foreign laborers as a menace to our industrial
classes. MANY of these foreigners he writes,
manage TO subSist where an American would
itarye, and care little for the moraities and re-
inements of life If they allowed to pour
n as in the past, the native laborer must ac-
,ept the conditions of the competitor or go in
search of better country" He cordially en-
dorses trades unions, which, he declares, are
"the salvation OF the workingman."
Editor Dana, who was Assistant Secretary o.
War at the time, and, therefore. knows of what
Lew Wallace of treachery TO the Union cause
because of jealousy to Grant
'.whatever his shortcomings, Gen. HaIleck
was not so eaten up with Jealousy to deIiber-
ately turn traitor 10 his country; and, in fact,
the charge even of neglect or lukewarmness is
not sustained by the records OF the campaign of
1854 however il might be with charge Ofgen-
9ral confusion and want of concent ratiyeneSs
IN the preparations Tor resisting Early march,"
As the queen was returning from Parliament
yesterday .one OF the mounted guards ran down
a boy, vhereupon her majesty stopped the cav
aicade and ascertained by inquiries that the
lads injuries were not serious. In this city we
manage these things differently. Here, if
way OF the horses, he is left to rub his shins
while the naughty charioteer disappears around
the corner with a scOwi and curse.