Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-23
EX-spEAKER CARLISLE
Interviewed on Important Measures 10"
rBy telegraph 70 the pispaten

rBy telegraph TO the DispatenI
WASHINGTON. March 22.--The Snnady
CARTE of this CITY will tomorrow publish
an interview with ex-Speaker CaIIlsio
upon the attitude of the Democla..o
representatives towards several ILL.,
tant measures pending before oongltl.d;
In the interview Mr. Carlisle first at!ton ~
the Lodge bill providing for fedeIa. t;,,es
lation of elections for representatlses.
He said: 1.-THE Democrats in the House mr.
n unit in opposition 10 tho first clause, WIZ .n.,
in practice would make the bill ope.aso
only in certain sections of the country:
ii we are 10 have such a Ia"
should operate everywhere ailhe, W.
not be left rs the Lodge bill leaves. ~.
to operate here ana there a. may De
requested by given number OF voters IN ~
this or that congressional district. t ~
intention is, in other words. to controI tho
machinery Of the elections for representa-
tives in Congress from the southern cVh-
gressiOnal districts and from few morrill, :,
ern districts only. This We shall Oppose.
Continuing. Mr. Carlisle next estiliiai IN
that to carry out the provisions OF the ne p ona
would require the employment OF $4,000
officers Of elections at an expense OF run
$40. 000, eco 10 5.Oc0, 900 every two yeal
which would have TO be- met by the inter
States Treasury. This estimate is oaseu VI,
the present number OF polling-places' Du'
he holds that the system (Australian) pro
posed would prove so slow and cumberous
as to necessitate a vast increase IN tue
number of polls. Then. too, he ARGUES,
the bill is 50 complex that its requirements
could not be made clear TO illiterate voters
or 10 ignorant Republican election-oi,lc,1,rs
in the South. and legal elections wOuiu, W
impOssible. Said he: THE bill - run OK
requirements difficult Of execution by , the
officials and not easily to be UNDERSTOOD Dy
the voters. II would be aproliilc souTce, oi
innumerable contests, and, contihueI ~
Carlisle, speaking with great empnIa,sl SIS.
that is lust what they want. lney
could take advantage of every l1reg1laIity
that might and would arise under TINS
mult.farious law. and the addlonal ma
chinerv of the law provides how TINS may
he done He contended that the bill olu
not come within the meaning OF tne
clause of the Constitution conteH,hS
upon Congress the right to prescribe inc
manner of elections. 1t deprived the gov
ernors Of the right to issue certificates OF
elections-in fact, took away all control Oh
the election.
Mr.. Carlisle further said the McOonias
bill providing for elections for represents
tlves in the next Congress shall be held IN
the districts a. they were constituted ~
the last election was open To the same oD-
lection. Said he: IF the bill be not un-
constitutional at least it is certainly
unwise. 1t puts too much power IN
the hands of the canyassing boards
in Congress with the Clerk Of thu, House.
always partisan, and would provoke con
tests and tend to innumerable frauds. In
conclusion, Mr.. Carlisle said while the eA-
travagant expenditures of the party IN
power and its proposed partisan laws were
imnortant questions, they would not be
the overlapping issues of the fall cam;
paign. but that the great question would
continue TO be the relief of the people
from unnecessary taxation by tarlf-laws.