Evening journal., 1890-12-12
A BATTLEtIN THE SENATE
Democrats Resist the Attempt
-r.a to Limit Debate.
FIGHTING TIE ELECTIONS BILL.


WASHINGTON, Dec. lathe senate pass.
ed the bill appropriating $4,000 for a YES.
sci for boarding purposes at Chicago. A
resolution was passed instruoting the post
Office committee to investigate the subject
Of postal savings banks. Mr. Plumb's
resolution providing for early meetings
and night sessions was debated until 2
o'clock, when the elections bill WAS taken
up, and Mr.. Wilson Na.) and Mr.. FRYE
made speeches on il MIR. Reagan charged
that the object OF tho Plumb resolution
was TO choke of debate on the elections
bill and 70 prevent its full, free and fair
consideration. Hethen proceeded at length
70 point out what he termed the revolu-
tionary character OF the elections hill, and
earnestly protested against the passage OF
the resolution as unjust TO the American
people.
Mr.. Morgan, In arguing aga inst the pas
sage Of the resolution, entered into dis
eussion Of the merits of the elections bill,
which, he claimed, above all other meas.
ures, required free and full discussion.
The Democrats were fully prepared to en-
ter into such discussion; they were all op-
posed to the elections bill, not because Il
was purely partisan proposition, but be-
cause they foTesaw that IL would invade
the constitution of the United States. II
the resolution should pass his friends must
expect TO carry il out Senators must not
desert their post and leave a corporal,s
guard on picket duty.
MIR. Blair humorously retorted that IL
the gentlemen ON the Democratic side OF
the chamber desired audiences they should
apply their intellectual rather than their
physical force
Morgan Attacks Blair.
MIR. Blair said, alluding to the defeat Of
the educational bill some months ago,
that he had had bitter experience then,
but he never saw the time when he was
redueed to the ridiculous number of only
two senators for an audience. The reason
he had audiences then was that he was en-
tertaining. uaughter). All that Demo
cratic senators had to do was to summon
their intellectual faculties, IL they had
any-Qaughter)-and then they could get
audiences. The difficulty now was that
senators could better spend their time in
sleeping than in listening to debate.
Mr. Morgan replying TO Mr.. Blair said
that II there was weakness on the Demo
cratic side Of the chamber It was because
the senator from New Hampshire had his
seat on that side of the chamber and
watered the stock. Democrats could at
tract an audience, he said II they had 4
charlatan to perform continually on ahigh
trapeze. But unfortunately they could
not put forward IA man with the genius of
talking six weeks at a time on such dead
aud damned 1ubiect rs the educational bill
If that six weeks had been devoted 20 the
discussion OF the elections bill OF any other
measure it would have been precious time
saved.
A Threat TO Clear the Galleries.
Mr.. Harris spoke in opposition to the
resolution, which he claimed would re-
tard rather than facilitate business He
predicted that there would be no quorum
present after the Inauguration Of the ex-
pertinent, ard without a quorum 10 was a
question whether or not business could be
transacted. Mr. Hoar asked the senator
from Tennessee If he was willing TO agree
upon time for closing debate on the cleo
tions bill.
Mr. Harris-Not until every senator on
this side OF the chamber shall have had an
opportunity to discuss the measure fully
and fairly applause in the galleries).
Mr.. Hoar charged that debate had been
accompanied by Objectionable applause
from the galleries, aud he wished to give
notice that If II should be continued he
would exercise his right g have the gal.
leries cleared.
A Tilt with the Vice President
The vice president gave notice that a
continuance Of demonstration OF approval
or disapproval in the galleries would be
met by an order 10 clear them, and IL
might as well be understood first as last.
Mr.. Vest maintained that persons in the
galleries had been permitted TO applaud
during discussions which took place dur
ing the last session, 30 which remarks the
vice president took exception, saying that
applause had never been permitted while
he occupied the chair. Mr. Vest continued
his remarks in opposition to the resolution
until consideration Of the elections bill
was resumed, and Mr.. Wilson Qa.) ad-
dressed the senate in advocacy Of the
measure.
A Bayonet for Every Ballot.
Mr. Frye made a reply to the allusion
made in Mr.. Daniels recent speech 10 N.Y.
Lynde report on Chief Supervisor Daven.
port. He had tried 70 obtain a report
from the committee appointed to investi-
gate Mr. Davenport, but had failed. Il
had never been laid before the judiciary
committee. He then reviewed the history
Of the attempt to repeal the laws for the
protection of the ballot box, saying that
Tammany had united with the Confed-
eracy Of the south 10 open up the ballot
box TO every fraud and outrage Of every
character.
The investigation of John l Davenport
had been ordered by the house on a petit
tion Of sixty-three citizens Of New York,
who claimed that they had been arrested
on election day without cause The com
mittee had been showed under by the |
facts. Every other committee appointed |
to investigate Davenport had met the same |
fate. Five times he had been brought into
court and five times acquitted Mr.. FRYE |
said he did not think the law one-tenth |
wide enough or one-tenth elastic enough. |
II it were necessary TO put a bayonet be- |
hind every ballot, he would be In favor of |
putting a bayonet behind every ballot |
(Appiause and misses in the gallery) Mr.. |
Frye then eulogized Mr. Davenport aud |
denounced Judges Mccain and Barnard, /
who in seventy days had naturalized 81, 200 /
persons.
Not Due to Davenport, He Said.
Mr. Daniel commented upon Mr.. Fry's
declaration as TO associating bayonet
with every ballot. and that suhrages
should be deposited at the muzzle Of guns.
That, he said, was Mr.. Frye's conception
of republic-a bayonet and ballot side
by side. But that was not the conception
of republic which its founders had, and
was not the conception of a republic which
.he American people had today He atl-
nitted that elections in New York city had
been purified; but claimed that that result