Evening journal., 1889-02-14
BIG DAY AT THE CAPITAL.
A Scene in the House Border
ing on Riot.
HARRISON AND MORTON ELECTED

The smalls-EIliott Contest Ends in the
Defeat Of smaIIs and a Row in the
House-Iast Formal Act OF the Election.
our Loose Naturalization Laws
WASHINGTON, Feb 1.-THE house in the
Smalls- Elliott contested election case decided
to seat Elliott by vote Of: Yeas, 14Si
nays, l26.
The debate was the hottest and most vio-
lent that has occurred during the session. In
defending southern election methods Mr..
Crisp said that representatives Of state
which had 70 resort to "blocxs OF fven had
better look at home before going abroad in
search Of election fraud. This fired the In
diana members, who came promptly to their
feet
Mr.. Crisp declined to permit Interruptions,
and in the midst of the uproar his time ex-
pred Then scene OF intense tumut and
confusion ensued During the delivery OF
Mr. Crisp's speech the main aisle Of the house
had become thronged with members Of both
parties, who kept up an incessant demand for
the regular order The speaker pro tenn. at
tempted vainly TO quell the tumult, which
was gradually assuming the proportions of a
riot
He was finally Obliged to call upon tho
sergeant at arms That official armed with
the silver mace OF authority, proceeded up
the main aisle, scattering the members on all
sides, but even with his assistance II was
many minutes before the presiding officer
could bring the body TO a state OF compare
tive quiet. Then Mr. Crisp asked leave to
extend his remarks in the Record; but Mr..
Johnston undl objected unless he could be-
given the same permission in answer, he said,
TO the fling made against his state by Mr..
Crisp AT Mr. Rowells suggestion, however,
leave wns granted to Mr.. Crisp 10 print and
Mr.. Johnston again came forward with his
request, but Mr. OiFerrall (Va) objected
| The speaker laid before the house three
messages from the president, announcing his
disapproyal Of private pension bills. Re-
ferred to the committee on invalid pensions.
MIR. Oates tAla.l, from the committee on
judiciary, reported bill 10 amend the natur-
alizntion laws.
At o'clock the joint session TO count the
electoral vote was begun. 1t lasted until 2. 30
AT 1898 the legislative proceedings were
suspended, and A. few moments afterwards
the senate was announced, and the senator's,
headed by officers, filed into the chamber.
Senator Ingalls, leaned on the arm Of Secre-
tary McCook, ana Capt Bassett carried the
box containing the returns from the electoral
colleges The representatives remained stand
ing until the senators had taken the seats as
signed them, and then Senator Ingalls,, seated
on She right Of the speaker, called the joint
! assembly to order and said:
! This being the day and the hour appointed FOR
opening the certificates and counting the votes
or electors for president the senate and house OF
| representatives have met together pursuant to
the constitution and the laws OF the United States
II there be no objection TO the electoral vote OF
the state Of Alabama the certificate will be read
by the tellers, who viii make list OF the votes
/ thereof,
The presiding officer then broke the seal Of
{ the certificate from Alabama and handed II
3 70 senator Manderson. The first two or three
certificates were read but as most of them
: were cumbersome with details, great deal OF
time was being consumed, so on motion the
reading was dispensed with, and the telers
merely told how the votes were cast and
mentioned any peculiar circumstance. The
list OF states was gone through alphabetically.
The count was completed in due order, and
Harrison and Morton were declared president
and vice president
OUR LOOSE NATURALIZATION LAWS
Mr.. Oates, in reporting the Oates naturaH.
zation bill to the house, accompanied it with
a report from the committee urging its pas.
sage Existing law, the report says, allows
any alien on his arrival in this country
though wholly illiterate and grossly ignorant
Of its laws and institutions, 20 declare his in.
tention 70 become q citizen OF the United
States and 70 renOunce allegiance 70 any for
egn power, and particularly to the one tC
which he then owes allegiance No prooi
whatever-not even his oath-is required t
show that he is iit or proper person TO be
come a citizen. He may be a notorious thief
4 murderer outlaw, anarchist polygamist,
leper OF hardened criminal, and yet our Law
allows him, by making this affidavit befor,
the clerk Of the court ian obligation which
such a character would regard as a mer,
form and not bindingl, practically all thu
benefits Of citizenship within the Unitec
States. In some instances aliens owing mill
tary service to their native country come te
the United States and remain until natural
lied, then return 20 their native land where
they reside indefinitely, owing it no allie
glance, but claiming protection Of the United
e States while rendering them no service. This
s and similar practices have involved this gov
! ernment in complications abroad which
2 caused Presidents Arthur and Cleveland 70
= recommend TO congress the revision Of our
naturalization laws