Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-17
A FEDERAL ELECTION BILL.
The House Republican Caucus Adopts
the Lodge Bill In Modified Form.

The House Republican Caucus Adopts
the Lodge Bill In Modified Form.
The republican caucus last night adopted the
modified federal election bill known as the
Lodge bill, but comprising more of the features
Of the ROwell bill. This Endorsement was not
secured, however, without hard fight The
southern republicans generally opposed the
measure, and they were joined in their opposi-
ton by number Of northern men, The at
tack on the bill was led by Messrs Ewart and
Frank. Dir. Ewart made a ringing speech in
opposition to any force measure"
Mr.. EwART's PROTEST.
He said that a measure of relief to the re-
Publlcans of the south it was not worth the
paper it was written upon. 1t would only in
tsnsify race prejudices and engender sectional
hostility. Mr.. Ewart stated that in North Caro-
lima, except IN what is known the black dis
trict, the elections were fair In any state
IN the Union, and no election law like the
Lodge bill was needed there. The law would
only be applied in the black district, where the
inevitable result would be riots and bloOdshed
If gentlemen of the north desired to show
their sympathy for the unfortunate negro and
sO-calied dOwn-trOlden republicans of the
south let them exhibit that sympathy in prac-
teal manner by running their hands down in
their pockets and passing an educational bill
which would fit the negro for citizenship and
enable him to protect his rights at the ballot
box lie predicted that the passage of the
bill. instead of increasin 6, would decrease the
republican majority IN the Elfty-second Con-
gress. With all the talk of frauds IN eastern
North Carolina, and especially in the black
district in that state, not single indictment
had yet been found, though both the judge
and district attorney were republicans
The negro question would settle itself after
awhile. he said. Force bills and election bills,
modelled on the Lodge plan, would prove
abortive and make republican success i'll that
section absolutely impossible.
PROVISIONS OF TIE BILL.
The bill as adopted makes the following pro-
visions:
Chief supervisors Of elections in judicial dis
tricts are charged with the execution of the
law. which is to apply to federal elections in
cities of 10000 inhabitants. or upward. and in
entire congressional districts exclusive of such
cities, upon application to the supervisor of 100
voters. or in counties or parishes forming q
part of a congressional district upon applica-
ton from fifty voters. The supervisors are to
guard. scrutlnlZe and supervise registration
and every act or incident connected with regis
stratlOn and plans for ascertalnlng who are legal
voters. Upon notice from the chief supervisor,
the United States circuit courts are required to
open for the purpose of transactIng registra-
ton and election matters.
The supervisors are to- be appointed by the
circuit courts. three IN each election district or
voting precincts. but two of whom are to be of
the same political party. The supervisors are
TO attend all registrations in their districts,
challenge persons. personally inspect and copy
the original registration books and papers, at
tend elections and detect and expose the i'm
proper or wrongful manipulation of the lists.
In the case OF failure OF local election officers
to put the statutory oath to a challenged voter
and TO pass at once upon his qualifications then
the supervisors are TO apply the test and re-
rr4HH xrf.t.a oil
such challenges. They are also to personally
inspect ballot boxes before elections, keep in
dependent ballot lists and inclose rejected votes
endorsed with the name OF the voter in
yelOpes.
In addition to these duties the supervisors are
required TO make in towns of 20. 600 people and
upwards. = thorough hOuse-tO-hOuse canvass
before election. TO inform voters upon inquiry
where and III what box to deposit their ballots
and to scTutlnIZe naturalization. In canvass
ing the votes the state laws are to govern. ex-
Cept that all ballots are to be counted by tens,
nrst by an inspector of election and second by
a supervisor. the local election officers and the
supervisor keeping separate tally sheets, which
are to be compared and the result publicly an
nounced. Ballots deposited in the wrong box
are TO be counted
Returns TO be made by the supervisors in
duplicate to the clerks of the United States cir
cult courts and to the chief supervisor who is
10 tabuIate and refer them to the United States
board CT canvassers of the congressional vote
which Is to be appointed by the United States
circuit court. and consisting of three citizens of
the state and persons of good repute. not more
than two OF whom are to be of the same politi-
cal party. The board Is to convene on No
Nember 10 each even year. and Is to declare
and certify the result of the election, and send
one return to the clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes. enc to the governor OF the state and
ole To the proper chief supervisor OF elections.
The clerk OF the House is to place upon the
roll of members-elect the names of the persons
declared elected by the United States canvass
ers IN case there Is difference in the result
reached by them and the state election officers
penalty OK between $1,000 and $1,000 is pro-
vIded IN case the clerk neSlccts this duty. All
boxes are 10 be clearly described with its ma
ture, and boxes are TO be kept in plain sight
and open 70 inspection. Bribery or attempted
bribery of voters or election officers is made
punishable by fine of not more than So 900 or
Imprisonment for not more than five years or
both.
Like severe penalties are provided for false
registration and voting. repeating, coercion of
supervisors or voters, improper conduct of
election officers, false canyassing, ballot box
stufing. fraudulent ballot distribution, resist
ancc to a supervisors lawful commands breach
OF the peace at registration or election, intimi-
dation and almost every known kind of election
fraud.
The McCOmas bill was defeated by a vote Of
% to %
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