Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-13
Fiftieth Congress-second Session
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.
 SKNArK.-Mr. Teller moved an amendmen
 appropriating $100,000 for the purchase O
 guns from one ,pounders to thirty pounders) and small arms of the Hurst Rein 1 force Cartridge Arms company of New Jer l sey. He gave an explanation of the merits
 claimed for the Hurst guns, large and small
 and spoke of the fact that gun inventors ir
 this country have had no encouragement
 from their own government and have sold | their inventions to foreign governments, par l tieularizing in that connection the Hotchkiss | and the Maxim guns.
 MT. Plumb expressed his concurrence with | the general scope and idea of MT. Teller's re- marks, but said that the difficulty was that I in this country inventors were legion, and | that if the government were to experiment l with every invention of improved guns or l missiles or engines of war the en- ! tire appropriation made to the ordnance bureau for that purpose would be quickly used up. Referring to the Springfield rife, MT. Plumb spoke of 1t as one of the best practical weapons, answering all the pur- poses of small arms in modern warfare, and as at least a fair compromise among the diff ferent kinds of small arms. Mir. Plumb con- sidering the general subject complimented the present administration of the navy de- partment. He was glad to say that, during the past four years the navy department has
 
 judicious way. The result was that (quot- ing 8 remark made to him by Dr. Hale) he was prepared to believe that within ten years the United States would have the best navy in the world.
 After further discussion MT. Teller's amendment was withdrawn in favor of the one offered by MT. Hale (and agreed to) ap- propriating $50,000 for testing the Hurst guns, and then the bill was passed. A mes- sage from the President, transmitting re- port from the Secretary of State, as to the seal fisheries of Behring's sea was presented, read and referred to the committee on for eign relations. MT. Evarts asked unani- nous consent that unfinished business-the Union Pacific bill-be laid aside and the re- port of the committee on privileges and election outrages in Texas be taken up.
 MT. Harris objected and suggested the danger of an extra session. The question was taken on Mir. Shermans motion to lay aside the Pacific railroad funding bill and to take up the resolution and it was agreed to by party vote of g to 19.
 The resolution was read as follows:
 Resolved That the committee on privileges and elections be directed carefully to revise the existing laws regulating elections of mem- bers of Congress with view of providing for more complete protection of the exercise of the elective franchise and for the punishment of offenders against it, and to report to the next legislative session of the senate by bill or otherwise.
 MT. Harris suggested that, in order to avoid an irritating sectional debate the vote be taken at once, and without discussion, on the adoption of the resolution.
 MT. EYarts, somewhat embarrassed by the proposition, did not reply immediately but looked to Republican senators around him for indication of opinion on the subject. The Democrats had great laugh at MT. Evart's apparent hesitation, but finally the senator said he should be glad te keep the debate within bounds, but he thought it right that the committee which reported the resolution should be permitted to lay before the Senate the grounds on which the resolu- tion was placed. At this point MT. Evarts yielded to motion to adjourn, and the Senate at 4:45 adjourned.
 HoUsE-On motion of Mr. McCreary the Senate bill, to enable the President to pro- tecs the interests of the United States in Panama, was referred to the committee on foreign affairs, and leave was granted to the committee to report at any time. The House then resumed the consideration of the Smalls- Elliott contested election case. MT. O'Ferrall, g member of the committee on elections, defended the majority report.
 Mir. O'Ferrell stated that intimidation had been rife on the part of Smalls and his sup- porters and the free use of the elective fran chise had been trampled under foot by the man to whom the minority wished to give 8 seat on this floor. He read voluminous ex- tracts from the teitimonys to substantiate this assertion. He then proceeded to combat the position that because mans skin was black he necessarily voted the Republican ticket. When the 18th amendment to the constitution had been adopted, and the negro given the right of suffrage, it had not been on the condition that he should for all time vote the Republican ticket. The negro had not been relieved from the bondage of slav- cry to put on the yoke of party servitude.
 Mir. Cooper of Ohio spoke in behalf of the contestant. He disclaimed any knowledge of the fact concerning Smalls conviction of bribery, and ridiculed the evidence upon which the majority relied to substantiate the charge of intimidation. He commented sar- castically upon South Carolina Democrats being overawed by Republican negroes. Dur ing his discussion of the case he was inter- ruped by MT. Spinola of New York, who in- quired whether the gentleman would recom- mend eolored man for a cabinet position.
 Mir. Cooper am ready to recommend any man who is fit for place in the cabinet. I am ready to recognize the right of every American citizen no matter what may be his color do not recommend him on the basis that he is white or black or yellow, but on the basis that he is free competent citizen.
 Mir Johnson of Indiana, who followed, de- clared that the elections committee had done Smalls great inj justice, as by it's own fnd- ings Smalls had 227 majority. He challeng- ed the Democratic members to meet the proof of intimidation in the case. Twenty eight years ago the gentleman from Virginia, (Mr O'FerrelD and his associates told the Southern people that they could come up North and whip half dozen Yankees, at least before breakfast, and now they were holding up their hands and crying out to Almighty God to protect them from a few colored women in the South.
 Mir McComas of Maryland said that after eighteen years of negro suffrage this case was only a striking case of usurpation of power. The like had often occurred since 1876. What was called an uprising against carpet bag rule, bribery and robbery, had ended in the abridgement of the civil and political rights of the colored people of the South. After two decades of negro suffrage the white Democratic representatives in Congress from the black belt declared that the blacks were to be forever servile.
 After some remarks by Mr. Outnwsite of Ohio, the contestant Smslls was then accord ed the floor to advocate his own claims. He had supposed he said, that the case was toibe tried upon the evidence taken, but he found that he was placed on trial for an set said to have been committed in 1873 in South Caro- lima. 1t was true he had been arrested in 1877 charged by the Democrats with receiv- ing bribe in 1873. He was as innocent of that charge as a babe unborn. He had been convicted and had appealed to the United States Supreme court and the appeal had been doeketed. Pending the appeal Gov ernor Simpson, without request from him, directly or indirectly, had granted him par don. He had denounced Governor Simpson for granting pardon pending an appeal to the Supreme court. Governor Simpson had appointed him captain of militia "for mer- itorious service" The governor would hardly think that receiving bribe was "meritorious service" Reviewing the case he commented on the fact that though in South Carolina every judge was Democrat, every prosecu- tor was a Democrat, every constable was Democrat not man had been brought to court for all this bull dozing which had been charged. Let gentlemen on the other side examine the record, and if they came to the conclusion that he had not been honestly elected to this House let them be honest in their convictions and vote against him. He supposed he would have to go when the vote was taken tomorrow. He would go good naturedly, because he would be up again next year and see some of the Democrats go- ing out too. Oaughter.)
 Pending further debate several minor bills