Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-06
NATIONS CAPITAL.
Debatable Clause in The Fed.
eral Elections Bill.
Discussion In fha House 0YeR The Psn.
sion Bill.



substitute some remarks upon it.
The election bill at 20 was taken up
Gray addressed the Senate in the opposi-
ton, taking up the fourteenth section Of
the bill. which gives jurisdiction on cleo
ton matters to the United States Court
judges Gray argued that such extra
judicial duties could not be imposed by
Congress upon courts and judges and forii-
fed his argument by quotations from de-
cislons of the Supreme Court. II the
pswers described in this section were judi.
cial it is beyond the competence Of Con-
gress to confer them upon board of can
vasseYs. and II they are not judicial they
could no. be conferred upon . court.
Hosr asked Gray whether he held that
4 State Legislature could not authorize the
board of canvsssers to count the votes and
declare the title to Office, and whether it
could not provide, further. that it might be
appealed 10 as . judicial power to revise and
control the action of such board.
Gray replied that the correct answer to
this question would depend very largely on
the constitution of the particular State.
He referred to the improvement of affairs
in the Southern States since the reconstruc-
tion period, and asked why that aEleliora-
ton should now be interfered with. 1
come to the discussion of the
bill, not on lines of sectionalism, and
not with reference to the relations of the two
races in the Southern country, but as to
the great party proposition. to turn back
traditions of one hundred years orderly,
rational. peaceable government under the
constitution of the United States, and rev.
olutionize ideas and sentiments that warm
ed the breasts of American freemen through
three generations. Coming to the section
which provides that supervisor Of elections,
may make visitation from house to house to
inquire as to names, politics, nationality,
ETC., of the male inmates, Gray said:
I'm all the measures which provoked
and goaded our ancestors to resist the
tyranny of the British king. none ap-
preached the infamy of this provision, and
moderate as am in all my conceptions of
my duty as citizen and man, law-abid-
ing as / have always been and respectful
TO the powers that be, say now that when
this supervisor knocks at my door, l pray
God shall be at home"
Spooner. (member Of the committee on
privileges and elections), said that the
clause had been struck ou. by the commit
tee.
But" said Gray, it is in the bill as re-
ported"
Hoar explained that it was in by mis-
take either of the clerk or printer; but he
subsequently admitted that the mistake
might have been his own.
Grsy moved that the paragraph in ques-
ton be struck out of the substitute.
Evarts, a member of the committee, ex-
pressed his opinion that it ought to be
struck out, as it was in by mistake.
Edmunds expressed his opinion that it |
ought to stand. regarding 1t az very proper |
proper provision.
Daniel moved tina. the bill be recon-
mitted.
Teller, member of the committee, |
joined in the statement that the committee |
agreed to omit the domicliary clause, and |
said that Gray's denunciation was none too |
severe.
German renewed his motion to have the |
bill reprinted. No action was taken on
Germans motion and Gray retained the |
floor. The Senate at O'Clock adjourned. |
In the House.
Cutcheon called up the Senate joint res |
olution authorizing the Secretary of War
10 issue l 900 stands of arms to each of |
the States of North and South Dakota,
Wyoming and Nebraska.
On motion of Carter Of Montana. the
State of Montana was included and the
resolution was then passed.
The House went into committee of the |
whole on the pension appropriation bill.
Outhwaite of Ohio reproached the repub-
licsn House with the shirking of their duty, |
arguing that the pending bill would show
deficiency of at least s32 ,s34 600.
Cheadle Of Indiana contended that the |
amount appropriated was amply sufficient |
to supply the needs of the service.
Henderson of Iowa cited figures to show /!
that when the republicans controlled the |
legislation in the House the appropriations |
for pensions were generally in excess of |
the requirements of law. Deficiencies be- |
gun when the democrats came into control. |
and they cut the appropriations so short |
that during the last year there was de fl |
cheney of s25 900, 900, and in all probab!- |
ity the committee ef appropriations had in
this bill provided more than was absolutely |
necessary.
Dockery of Missouri argued tha. the !!
amount carried by the bill vas insufficient, |
and branchsd from this subject to a discus |
.ion Of the general financial condition of |
the country.
Breekinridge of Kentucky said the prob
abilities were that within seven years there |
would be million pensioners on the roll,
who would be paid sl70, 600, 600 annually. |
The first necessity was to meet the ques-
ton frankly BY adequate appropriations |
second, to raise committee to investigate |
the bureau thoroughly, TO have the list
revised and strike off unworthy pensioners;
third. to transfer the bureau TO the War |
Department. and take i, cut of ihe de- |
main of politics. This is not question as \
to whether the presen. commissioner had |
taken part in the election in Indiana 0, |
whether the former commissioner was
guilty of the charges against him. Here
were people staggering under burdens |
which so distressed them that they were |
seeking new alliances.
Peters of Kansas, charged the democrat |
ic party with hypocrisy in the treatment of
the soldier. The democratic party always
was flooded with tears in behalf Of the
soldier when it was on. of power bnt when
it was in power it was quite q different
thing. He hoped ths. the republican side
Of the House in the 52nd Congress would in
sist on democrats carrying out their profess
sion which they male in the Fifty First
Congress and compel them tol
pass a service pension bill. The
democratic party are endeavorisg to brace
the farmers alliance movement. He want
ed the 521 Congress to psss sub-tressury
till, Caughter) and q free coinsge bill,
[cries I'VE wilD, and service pensions
bill; unless his democratic friends would
DO all that, they would fud the wsve of
farmers alliance would sweep over them,
and wipe them from the face of the earth.
On motion Of Dockery, of Missouri. the
amendment vas redorted providing that go
agent or attorney shall demand. receive or
be allowed any compensation in any claim
for an incrss Of pension on account OF
increased disability. 1t is estimated by
Dcckery ard Chairman Morrill, of the inva-
lid pensions committee that this will save
s5, ,0o0, ,0C0 to pensioners within the next
three years.
Springer Of Illinois offered an amend
ment increasing to sl50, ,o00, 600 the sppro.
alton for the payment Of pensions. There
Was no excuse. he held, for . Republican
House to make inadequate appropriations,
and throw the deficiency on the Democratic
House.
o'FarreIl of Virginia urged the necessity
Of wedding out the pension roll and drawing
= distinction between the soldier disabled in
the performance Of his duty 70 his country
and soldier kicked BY mule when hang
ing around . commissary wagon or injured
in base ball game In his opinion, this
pension business is going too far and the
rank ald file of the true federal soldiers
are Of the same judgement.
Springsr's amendment was lost.
The committee rose. the bill vss passed
ard the House e ) O'Clock adi1urned.