Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-18
THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.
DunneiI's Apportionment Bill Passed by
the Uouse--The Force BIZ.
tBy telegraph 10 the Dispatch.l

tBy telegraph to the Dispntch.l
WASHINGTON, d. c., December II, 1890.
senate.
Mr.. Hoar asked unanimous consent that
Friday next at p. Nj. the debate on tho
elections bill should be considered closed.
This was met with chorus of objections
from the Democrats.
Mr.. Hoar: Il would like to inquire what
senator objected"
Mr.. Cockrell: II dld for one"
Mr. Hoar: will the Senator agree upon
timer
Mr.. Cockrell: Not now"
DoLPH FOR THE ELL.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
elections bill, Mir. Dolph continuing his
speech of Yesterday. None OF the pro-
visions OF the bill, be said. were objection
able To him as TRANSFORMING the power OF
Congress. Some of its provisions, he
thought. might be improved, but he had
not felt justified IN offering amendments.
His principal criticism of it was that under
section tho law was only TO be put into
operation on the presentation OF petitions
signed by persons claiming to be citizens
OF the United States.
All THERE, Mr.. DoLPHr
Judging from what occurred at the
South-the killing, beating, or driving away
from the country of both white and BLACK
Repubiicans-that provision would be N
operative, because the petitioners would
be IN such imminent peril as To prevent
colored men signing such petitions.
oRRaos's DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NEGROES.
MIR. Morgan took the floor and quoted a
clause from the Constitution of Oregon re-
stncting the suffrage TO white citizens and
O section from the statutes OF that state
prohibiting the intermarrlage OF whites
and negroes, Indians or Chinese, and he
closed with an exclamation against hypoc-
risy.
MIR. Gibson gave notice of an amend
ment that nothing in the bill should au-
thorize interference with the elections OF
State officers, legislative, executive, or Ju-
dIcial.
KENNA DESouNCEs DAVENPORT.
Mr. Kenna then took the floor and re-
sumed his argument against the elections
bill. He denounced John L. Davenport as
man who haunted the Capitol for weeks
and months by day and by night, and
whose presence had poisoned tho atmos-
phere which surrounded the Senate. And
yet. he said. the declared aud ocknow-
lodged policy of the bill was TO bestow
life Office ON man who BY the stroke OF
his pen could arrest ten thousand treemen
ON a man who by his single will could turn
half the city of New York into hastiles.
He said he would offer an amendment
placing the appointment of election OH
GERS under the ciNil-Servlco rules
REAGAN AoAISsT THE BILL.
Mr.. Reagan next addressed the Senate in
opposition to the bill. He said that he
had already given notice of twenty-seyer
amendments which he proposed TO offer
when the bill came up for consideration
by sections He argued that the vast ma
chinery of partisan mercenaries provided
by the bill would do more TO debaucl
voters, corrupt the ballot and defeat the
will of the people than had ever been done
at elections held by State officers under
State laws. The great calsmities that
would follow its enactment would b,
understood and appreciated by all who hac
experienced the horrors Of reconstruc
ton.
BuTLER AGAINST tue OUTRAGE.
Mr. Butler was the next senator to speal
against the bill. IL was framed. he said
on distrust of the people. II was slap il
the face Of every State OF the Union
No other construction or Interpretation
could be put on its provisions. Every line
and syllable of il was founded on the the.
ory and assumption that the people wert
unfit TO send their representatives TO Con
gress under election laws of their Owl
making. No advocate Of the bill could
find any other just or reasonable ground
on which 10 stand
pIsAPphoyED EvES by REPUBLICANS
He believed that two thirds of the sena.
tors on the Republican side and all on the
Democratic side disapproved OF such legis
iation and looked upon il as unnecessar,
aud mischievous; and he trusted that, ii
the proper time. they would put the sea
OF their condemnation upon it, He appre
ciated the force Of the suggestion thai
some remedy should be found for the diff
euities and troubles Ut elections; and hi
-smedy Was to allow the people 10 correct
sm. They were correcting them.
THE PEOPLES BALIoI-RnYoRn.
Ballot-reform was being agi,ated in ever,
htate Of the Union. The people were be
coming alive 10 IT everywhere and in the
own good time they would carry thel
point without the aid OF Congress.
rRrx's TRADE.
Referring TO Mr.. fryes speech last week
which he called trade be notified In
Senator from Maine that fhe game OF bayo
nets. in which that senator had taken n,
part while IL was going on. Ia,
ceased long ago; and be asked bin
10 restrain his martial fury and ge
home 10 his own State of Main,
and help along ballot reform and moral re
form and social and religious reform. IL
talking Of bayonets In connection with the
pprlty of elections, the Senator from Maine