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

The Smalls-Elliott Contest Ends in the
 Defeat of smalls and Row in the
 House-Last Formal Act of the Election.
 Our Loose Naturalization Laws.
 WASHINGTON, Feb 14-The house in the Smalls Elliott contested election case decided to seat Elliott by vote of: Yeas, 143; nays, 136.
 The debate was the hottest and most vio- lent that has occurred during the session. In defending southern election methods Mir. Crisp said that representatives of state which had to resort to ''blocks of five" 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
 MT. Crisp declined to permit Interruptions, and ill the midst of the uproar his time ex- pired. Then scene of intense tumult and confusion ensued. During the delivery of MT. Crisp's speech the main aisle of the house lad 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 the 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 it was many minutes before the presiding officer could bring the body to a state of compara- tive quiet. Then Mir. Crisp asked leave to extend his remarks in the Record; but Mr. Johnston und) objected unless he could be given the same permission ill answer, he said, to the fling made against his state by Mr. Crisp. At MT. Rowells suggestion, however, leave was granted to MT. Crisp to print, and MT. Johnston again came forward with his request, but Mr. OFerran (Va) objected
 The speaker laid before the house three messages from the president, announcing his disapproval of private pension bills. Re feIred to the committee on invalid pensions
 MT. Oates (Ala.), from the committee on judiciary, reported a bill to amend the natur- alization laws.
 At o'clock the joint session to count the electoral vote was begun. It lasted until 20
 At 12:55 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, and 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 the 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 Of electors for president the senate and house of representatives have met together pursuant to the constitution and the laws of the United States If there be no objection to the electoral vote of the state of Alabama the certificate will be read by the telers, who will make list of the votes thereof
 The presiding officer then broke the seal of the certificate from Alabama and handed it to 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 tellers merely told how the votes were cast and mentioned any peculiar circumstance. The list of states>ssas gone through alpha betically. The count was completed in due order, and Harrison and Morton were declared president and vice president.
 OUR LOOSE NATURALIZATION LAWS
 Mir. Oates, in reporting the Oates naturali- sation bill to the house, accompanied it with 8 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, to declare his in- tention to become citizen of the United States and to renounce allegiance to any for eign power, and particularly to the one to which he then owes allegiance No proof whatever-not even his oath-is required to show that he is a fit or proper person to be- come citizen. He may be notorious thief, murderer, outlaw, anarchist, polygamist, a leper or hardened criminal and yet our law allows him, by making this affidavit before the clerk of the court tan obligation which such character would regard as a mere form and not binding), practically all the benefits of citizenship within the United States. In some instances aliens owing mili- tary service to their native country come to the United States and remain until natural lzed, then return to their native land, where they reside indefinitely, owing it no ale glance, but claiming protection of the United States while rendering them no service This and similar practices have involved this gov srnment ill complications abroad, which caused Presidents Arthur and Cleveland to recommend to congress the revision of our naturalization laws.
 News from China and Japan.
 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 1.-The steamship