The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-19
A GRAB AT THE BALLOTS.
THE CAUCUS ELECTION BILL TO
BE REPORTED.


Representative Lodge to Prepare the
Report and Will Probably Get It
Into the House To .day-The Test
Oath Clause Stricken Out-Crisp
Again Criticises the Measure.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The House COM
mittee on the election of President and Vice
President and representatives in congress
to-day formally decided by a party vote to
report to the House, with amendments, the
federal election bill agreed upon in the re-
publican caucus Monday night. Represen-
tatlve Lodge will prepare the report and
expects to get it into the House some time
tomorrow. The minority members Of the
committee will also prepare a report.
THE TEST OATH ELIMINATED.
The only amendment of importance
adopted was TO strike out from the bill the
test oath that disqualifies persons from
voting who have taken up arms against the
government, which by inadvertence it was
proposed to re-enact. The rest of the
amendments adopted were of a verbal
character, so as to get rid of ambiguity
that had crept into some parts Of the bill In
its hasty construction, and to relieve il Of
oyerplusage. The democratic leaders in the
House have been informally notified that
the bill will be called up on Tuesday next.
CRISP DENoUNCEs IT.
Congressman Crisp studied the election
bill carefully to-day, looking up the sec
lions of the Revised Statutes to which IL
referred. He condemns it more en-
phatically than ON his first reading,
although meantime the election committee
discovered and struck out one of the worst
provisions Of the bill, which practically re-
enacted the statute requiring test oath of
loyalty during the war from election
officers, which the supreme court pronounced
unconstitutional. One of the most objec-
tionable provisions of the bill unearthed by
MIR. Crisp's careful study was that authoriz-
ing the President to use troops at the polls.
In formal statement of his views. Mr..
Crisp says: ut remains to be seen whether
the good people of the north will sustain
their representatives here in the support of
measure which Is intended by its authors
to enable them, by fair means or foul, to
organize the next House. The desperate
men who are now in control of the majority
in the House are not mindful of the peace
and prosperity of the south. They want to
perpetuate themselves in power, aud care
nothing for the methods by which they
do SO.
TRYING TO STIR UP STRIFE.
"fhey have sought in every way to excite
passion and prejudice against the south,
and hope now that the people of the north
will justify them in their revolutionary
course. This bill, If passed, will put the
country, and especially the south, back
twenty years. Our labor will be disor-
gained, our prosperity will be retarded.
Elections supervised by such chief super
visors as may be appointed will be farce
and a fraud in IA time of profound peace
and order. United States soldiers may he
sent into q state to enforce the law, and the
all aft1,s, Inc hoo I'd
elected men who have been repudiated by
the people at the poles, and all this is done
i'll the name of "a free ballot and fair
count
A BITTER EXPERIENCE.
"This country has had some experience In
respect to the kind of free ballot aud fair
count we have under the supervision Of
federal officers and the assistance of the
United States army. They have had some
experience with returning boards in Lou
isia and Florida In 1876. Returning boards
certified to a lie in favor of the Republican
party. ard that party of high moral ideas,
after accepting the presidency thus fraud
ulently obtained, rewarded with lucrative
offices nearly every one of the villains by
whose aid they cheated and defrauded the
people. With the power to appoint
subsequent boards and the patronage
of the government to reward
oueiT boolS bney uope anu eADecb 10 reIhln
power, despite the will of the people. or
course we will do all we can to defeat the
bill. We can't do much in the House :;
Speaker Reed dominates mis- party there,
and it would afford him infinite pleasure,
think, to do anything he could to afflict the
people of the south. l feel sure that no
fear of injustice to the white people or in
jury to the white people of the south would
deter him for one moment from course
which might enable him and his party
friends to retain place"
Owing to the tendency of the Indian APP
preparation bill Speaker Reed has post
poned taking up of the election bill until
next Tuesday, and the final vote upon it
until Saturday Of next week, when he pro-
poses to put 1t through the House.