Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
A sAYoNeT BEHIND EVERY BALLOT,
SAYS Mr.. FRYE.
A scorohing for Frye from Daniel Of vir-
ginia-The Virtue in an "f"-
Housc Proceedings.
ny telegraph 70 tho Dispstcal

senate.
Mr.. Mitchell offered q resolution. which
was agreed TO. instructing the Post-Ofiice
Committee TO inquire into the feasibility
and adyisabiliiy Of law for postal savings
banks in connection with sill or certain
classes of post-oifices throughout the coun-
try.
SESSIONS or THE SENATE.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Plumb for daily meetings of the Senate At
10 A. NJ. and for a recess from $50 10 SIP.
NJ, was taken up.
MIR. Cockrcll suggested that il IL 4. VI.
were fixed for the hour of meeting there
would be opportunity 10 attend 10 some
committee work. whereas II the Senate met
at 10 O'CLOCK no committee work could be
done.
SADyTssBTrTTY or NIGHT SESSIONS.
He also questioned the advisability of
night sessions and the probability Of an at
tendance Of a quorum. He reminded the
Senate that during the last session, when
the tariff bill was under consideration and
when the hour for meeting was 10 A. NJ,
there were no night sessions. and yet bust
ness was done in the pleasantest and most
satisfactory manner.
Mr. Plumb recognized the force of the
suggestion, but favored trying tho expert
ment
REAGAN TO THE FONT or IHR MATTER.
Mr.. Reagan thought that senators might
lust as well be frank with one another
They all understood. on both sides, that
the object 81 the proposition was 70 choke
of debate on the elections bill, and 10 pre-
vent It's full. free. and deliberate conside-
ration. If that were the purpose OF the
majority il had the power TO carry 1t OUT
FIRST STEP TOWARD REVOLUTION.
The resolution was the first step IN that
direction and would be in harmony with
the purpose Of tho bill in revolutionizing
the Government and in taking away from
the States the exercise OF powers and the
performance of duties which had belonged
10 them since the foundation of the Gov
eminent The bill proposed TO change the
form of government from one OF seif-goy-
eminent to one of
FORCE AND COERCION.
Such achange ought not TO be made with
out the most careful deliberation. The
discussion and exploitation of the bill
ought not 20 be strangled by proposition
intended 10 wear out senators and prevent
fair consideration Of the bill. He pro-
tested against the adoption Of the resolu-
tion as unjust TO the Senate ana UNJUST 10
the American people.
MORGAN ALSO AGAINST THE RESOLUTION.
MIR. Morgan also argued against the re-
FIVE senators on the Republican side who
could tell the provisions of the senate
substitute. and he believed that there
were many senators on that side who had !
never road either the HSlse bill or the |
substitute.
a wEIGHTY AND SOLEMN DIFFERENCE"
II was very evident that the members Of |
the Committee on Privileges and Elections |
had not themselves read it, for there had |
md md cg1arpu a II |
ference Of opinion (Which was not yet |
cured) among them as 10 what the substl- |
tute actually contained. He warned sona- /
tors that they had better give time for it's /
discussion. They had better try 10 con-
vince the country that they were right and |
that the Democratic senators were wrong, |
or else there would he some day an ap-
plication Of the principles OF the bill TO tho
Senate itself.
TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROCESSION"
For himself. no matter how much his
physical powers might be taxed by the
long hours proposed, he would try TO
keep along with the procession But he
should insist on having the company of !
his friends on the other side. They could |
not expect 10 90 to then cOmmittee-rooms
or their houses and smoke their cigars IN
peace and comfort while the Democratic
senator's were at their post OF duty-on the
picket line.
SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE sc.
They would have 10 have company. and
IL the Republican senators adopted the
resolution they would have to expect to
carry it ont. And so he gave notice now
that whenever he believed that quorum |
was absent from the Senate chamber he
should make that point and have the alb
sent senators called back from their places
of delightful retirement, so that they
should be az the pains OF listening 10 the
arguments which It cost Democratic sena-
tors 80 much pains TO make. That was
fair and right. and he had merely risen for
the purpose of serving that notice.
SOME EXCITEMENT on THE FLOOR.
The discussion on Mr.. Plumb's resolu-
ton was kept mp (amid considerable ex-
citement on the floor and IN the galleries)
until 2 o'clock, when it went over without
action. The election bill was then taken
ND. and Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, addressed the
Senate in its advocacy.
WILSON, or IOWA. ToB THE FORCE BILL.
When the people had gwen their endorse
ment to the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution, he said, which declared that
all men were created equal. they had pro
Vided for the observance and enforcement
OF the amendment by giving Congress
power TO enforce it's provisions. Was the
question now presented race question:
No. What was II which forced itself upon
the attention of Congress? The answer
would come with directncsS and force IN
one word-duty.
WHY DUTY?
Because the Constitution had eliminated
from the case all of the elements of race,
color. or previous condition of servitude. |
If the rights Of United States citizen,
guaranteed 10 him by the Constitution,
were abridged by foreign nation. the
power of negotiation. or, If necessary, of |
1 4. ..I "a
within our own jurisdiction then duty and
legislative oaths demanded legislation ON
the subject.
THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE ABRIDGED.
In several OF the States the right of suf- |
frage had been abridged, and thus not only |
the right Of the individual citizen had |
been Outraged but the equality of the |
States in the matter Of representation had |
been invaded, and in fact denied. Missis- |
sippi and South Carolina. with vote Of /
iYi 1923, sent fourteen members TO the House |
of Representatives. while Iowa, with |
voting population of 293, 255, sent but |
ehxen members. " the name not only Of |
the State of low ut of its individual |
citizens he hopec ,nat an earnest effort |
would DO made TO remedy that
PLAoRAST INJUSTICE
The people of the country would not be. !
iievo that the people of Mississippi and |
South Carolina were as free TO use the bal |
lot as were the people of Iowa. Nor |
would the people be content until abso- |
lutte safety was assured 10 the citizen in |
his use Of the ballot and until fairness and
good faith were shown in the counting of
the same in every State IN the Union. |
When this end should have been reached
then the country would have q free ballot
and q fair count, and not till then. The
interest of parties and the fortunes of po-
htical leaders sank into utter insignificance
in the presence of such an issue. No more
important subject now commanded the at
tsntion of the people of the republic.
Row WOULD CONGRESS DEAL WITH THE SUB
JECT2
Would partisan passion aid in its solu-
tionY He thought not. little conserya-
tive consideration would disclose that the
perplexities which surrounded the subject