The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-17
DESPOTS AT THE POLLS.
AN OUTLINE OF TIE FEDERAL
ELECTION LAW.

The Republican Caucus Agrees on the
Bill Framed by Lodge, Rowen and
Davenport at the Diotation of Gear
Reed-The Speakers Schedule for
Its Passage.
WASHINGTON, June 16.-The national
election bill as framed by the House repub-
lican caucus committee and introduced by
Representative Lodge of Massachusetts, has
lust been printed. 1t makes seventy-six
printed pages, and is asserted to be a COM
plete federal election code, which has
received the informal sanction Of a number
of republican senators. The title reads: "A
hill to amend and supplement the election
for more efficient enforcement of such laws,
and for other purposes.
REED KNEW WHAT WAS COMING.
Speaker Reed announced to his lieutenant
this morning, ten hours before the repub-
lican caucus met to consider the bill which
he had framed by Messrs. Lodge, Rowell
and Johnny Davenport, the latter doing
most of the work. that it would be taken up
on Friday next, debated until Wednesday,
aud then passed. He realizes to the full his
autocratic power, and, therefore, has no
leSlUaLlOu ludhluk euCa u At
the time he spoke no member of the House
but himself and those who framed the bill
had seen it, it having been whisked off to
the government printing Office by Mr..
Lodges order when he introduced ii on Sat-
urday and no printed copies being ready for
distribution until after o'clock this after
noon.
PLENTY OF WORDS.
The fifty-seven sections of the bill cover
nearly seventy-six printed pages, and refer
to a number Of different sections of the
Revised Statutes AS most of the members
did not get copies of the bill until late in
the afternoon, it was impossible for the
republicans to learn its contents thoroughly
before the caucus met. But they have
simply delivered their minds and hearts In
Speaker Reeds hand, aud so he could pre-
dict their support Of the unconsidered
measure both in caucus and in the House.
But al-powerful as he is in the House,
Speaker Reed is comparatively powerless in
the Senate, and he cannot predict that his
bill will pass the Senate, because he knows
that the chances are all against it,
WORK OF JOHNNY DAVENPORT.
Mr.. Crisp leader of the democrats on all
election questions, read the Lodge-Rowell-
Davenport bill through, and then said: (:
"This is evidently the work of Johnny Da-
south. The political party that tried to en-
force it in the north would thereby commit
suicide; and yet, inasmuch as 1t is written
with a view to the requirements of large
cities, the only kind Johnny Davenport has
an intimate acquaintance with. / do not
believe it would be administered In the
south, where there are so few great cities at
all. 1t would be about impossible to comply
with its requirements in country districts.
xuODlA ha Of 10 10 onuthino and
yet afraid not to do something.
CUMBERSOME AND INExPLIcABLE.
at is cumbersome, and in some sections
inexplicable, but it is perhaps for that
reason that it is intended to be operated as
great machine from Washington, each in
strument to find his instructions for his
particular part of the work laid down in the
act. 1t completely parallels the state election
system whenever the fifty or 100 citizens
las the case may bel ask to have
it applied, and then in all cases of difference
or doubt the action of the federal officers is
preferred.
AN ARMY OF OFFICIALS.
There is to be great army of these fed
eral officials, at an expense now incalcula-
bic, which is to be paid in preference to all
other government obligations out of the
regular permanent appropriations. These
supervisors need not las now be residents
OF the vicinity, and so restrained from
Wrong-doing by wholesome regard Of local
opinion. A man from my town of Ameri-
Gus, for example, could be made a super
visor in Laurens county, 100 miles across
my district, where he would be as much a
stranger as though he were sent to Massa-
chusetts.
ITS PENAL PROVISIONS.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing
--1.- IL T. Al.
nary penal provisions. More than a third
of the bill, l should say is devoted to minute
provisions for fines and imprisonments for
11tractlons of its extraordinary regulations.
You would be afraid to move if that became
law. For example, it is penal ofense
tor anybody to disobey the lawful
command OF q federal election officer,
or to advise voter not to vote, or to
oler vote which cannot for any
reason be received. Think of fining man
minimum of $3.50 and putting him in Jail
Ior minimum of thirty daysfor refusing
10 move on, Well say, when ordered to do so
Dy low, ignorant negro supervisor. can
nol peleVe that sucn an outrageous partisan
measure can become a law, or that it can
even pass the House of Representatives,
even in the present desperation of the re-
puollcans over next falls elections"
a SYNOPSIS OF THE MEASURE.
The principal features of the measure,
Gomprehensively stated, are as follows: The
cnlef supervisors cf elections in judicial
districts are charged with the execution of
TIE law, which is to apply to federal cleo
tlons IN cities of 10000 Inhabitants or up
ward, and in entire congressional districts,
exclusive of such cities, upon application to
supervisor by 100 voters, or in
counties or parishes forming part
u congressional district, upon
application from fifty voters. The super
vlsors are to guard, scrutinize and supervise
Ihe registration and every act incident CON
nected with the registration and plans for
aScertalning who are legal voters. Upon
GoUlce az from chief supervisors the United
states circuit courts are required to open
tor the purpose of transacting registration
ana election matters. The supervisors are
~ ~ Dc appointed by the circuit courts, three
~ each election district or voting precinct.
pue Two OF whom are to be Of the same
political party.
DUTIES OF THE SUPERVISORS.
q, Inc supervisors are to attend all registra-
.iohs In their districts, challenge
persons, personally inspect and copy
original registration books and papers,
attend elections and expose i'm
proper and wrongful manipulation of the
tlssS' s In case of the failure of local election
oLucers to put the statutory oath to chal-
onged voter and to pass at once upon his
quaiihcations, then the supervisors are to
apply the test and receive and deposit the