Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-06

well as thecharacter, of the people, Of each
state of the Union equal al least or super
ior 10 that possessed by the Legislature Of
each as 20 their own State. The practical
operation Of such a law would result in a
system of corruption, abuse OF power, a
disregard Of the rights and wishes OF the
people before which the iniquities of poll
teal bosses and the power Of machine poll
tics would pale I'm insignihcance-
AT every meeting Of a new Congress the
dominant party. flushed with victory and
ambitious for continued power, would be
tempted 20 summon 10 their party councils
the local partisan leaders i'm each State 70
whom could be safely intrusted the task Of
suggesting suitable . and effective gerry
Wandering legislation by Congress for the
preservation and increase Of their newly
acquired power No State would be eX-
cmpt from their Vaccinations The re
hottest corners OF the country would be bi-
ennially secured as with some powerful
telescope from the dome Of the Capitol in
au effort % determine where large MAORI
ties could be safely divided among weaker
ueighbors and where the weak might be
made strong In the faith.
Instead of legitimate Congressional leg
islatiOn for the benefit Of the whole people.
uleritimate cOnspiracies against the rights
and the win of the people might be conf
IDENTIFY expected. Statesmen would give
place ID political cOnspiratOrs and state
craft 90 political iugglery, and the whole
Federal Government would become the
lust object OF contempt The bin blows hot
and cold In one section Congress cOnhdes
10 the STATE the formation Of districts az
ter the next census, and in the next section
votes a lack OF confidence IN the states Oy
DENYING them the right 10 select the dis
trlcts for the next census. Does not this
show that under the form Of general law,
the chief. II not the sole, purpose OF the
bin is Do uullifv the action Of the States Of
Ohio and Maryland ia their recent legisla-
ton In redistricting their States.
"Not the least Objectionable feature Of
the bin is that charging the powers OF the
Clerk Of the House. The Clerk IS usual
lv "a strong partisan, naturally inclined 10
stretch the law and his conscience OF party
advantages. but more than all these is the
bold claim that. after Ohio and Maryland
have designated new districts Congress
can uOtOnly dictate To the States what
they shall DO In the future. but can actual
lv uulifv the laws OF the States already
passed and which 10 is not denied they had
"a right % pass. This clause i'm the bill is
fatal 90 the attainment OF stability OF the
laws and respect % the minds OF the people
p
meut OF a law impossible OF execution IS
uullity. No less a uullity should the law
be which is incapable OF intelligent en-
actment To act intelligeutly on this sub
iect would require degree OF knowledge
ON the part of Representatives Impossible
of attainment
After long constitutional argument
IN opposition to the bill, the minority
says
In this day the spirit Of reform is rest
i've. Ii cannot wait 10 would break down
presidents because they are old and sane
ton the suggestion Of radicaliSm because
they are new 10 would take from the states
the privilege of arranging their own Con-
aressiOual districts as each might think
best for It's own people and assign that right
% Congress, against reason, precedent ana
the Constitution itself IL would uproot
the laws of sovereign States without cause
and supplant them with the uncOnstitu-
tional enactmeuts of a partisan Congress.
1T would break down the representative
principle in our Government by placing
power in the hands OF the Representative,
for the proper exercise of which he IS not
responsible 10 the people whom 10 affects.
10 would strengthen apd enlarge the powers
of partisan officer Of the House Of Repre-
seutatives. and IN one breath 10 would have
Congress command the sovereign States OF
the Union % do its bidding. and in the next
breath prohibit their action. Tramplng
upon the local rights OF the people, 10 would
supp.ant them by national control, and,
GRADUALLY crushing ont the last vcstige of
individual manhood and personal liberty in
the people the last hulwark OF peoples
freedom, w0uld finally merge all govern
ment into one all-c0ntrolling national
power
Mr.. FRANK, Republican, Of Missouri,
signed neither the majority nor the mi
uority report. lie has framed a dis
scntmg report, ia which ne sets forth
his views. taking the ground that the
bin is very wide ina its scope. but very
narrow iu it's purpose. ltwas intended
To- cover political cXigeucy for the pur-
pose of pcrpotuatiug q party in power.
No constitutional provision. says he.
ought 90 Doe brought into requisition at
any time FOR such purpose, aud GER
taiuly not il the power had never before
been exercised for the general veal 1t
had never been designed by the COnSti-
tuition % take away the rights of the
State Legislature Co district the State,
and the exercise by the National LegiS-
Iamrc of that power Except iu the event
of States refusal toeNerci>e its conSti-
tutioual rights had not been coutem-
plated. Not that such am exercise by Il