The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-02

II .rritorles, or 10 individuals or associs.
tions, upon the condition that the necessary
work should be constructed and tue water
furnished at fair rates without discrimina-
lion, the rates to be subject 70 supervision
by tie Legislatures or by bosrt Vt water
commissioners duly constituted. The es.
sential thing TO he served 10 the common
ard equal use at fair rates OF the accumu-
lated water suppIy. IL was almost beefer
that these lands should remain arid than
that those who occupy them should become
the slave Of unrestrained monovolies, con.
trolling the one essential element OF land
values and crop results.
POSTAL rHLE0RAPHY.
The use OF the telegraph by the Pos!ofics
| Department as y means tor the rapid trans
mission OF written communications 10, !
| believe, upon proper terms. quite desirabie.
The Government does not owa or operate
| railroads, aud IL should not, think, own or
operate the telegraph lines. II does.
however, seem to be quite practicable fortbe
Government to contract with the telegraph
companies a. il does With the railroad CON-
panies 10 carry at specified rates such COM
| munications az the senders may designate
for this method Of transmission. j recom-
mend that such legislation may be enacted
as will enable the P0stofice Department
| i..iTlN 10 lest ny tAl'tIfthtut tut
fsuch use OF the telegraph.
Tux FORCE BILL.
III any intelligent and loyal company IL
American citizens were required 10 cats-
| logue the essential human conditions OF ma
tional life, do not doubt that with abso-
| lutte unanimity they would begin with
| free. honest elections, and IL Is gratifying
| 10 know that generally there IL a growing
| and non-pai tisan demand for better election
laws; but against this sixn Of hope and 70
| gress must be set the depressing and unde-
nisble tact. that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunninlly con-
| lriyed 10 secure minority control, while vIo-
lence completes the shortcomings " frauds.
| In nv last annual message suggested that
| the development OF the existing law pro-
viding a Federal supervision OF Congres-
] sional elections offered an effective method
of reforming these abuses. The need OF
such a law has manifested itself in many
parts OF the country, and lie wholesome re-
| straints and penalties VIII be useful IN all.
The cOnstitutionalits OF such Legislation has
been affirmed by the supreme Court. Ito
| probable effectiveness ~ evidenced by tho
character OF the opposition that is made to
| it, IL mas been denounced rs II
IL were new exercise OF Federal
p,wer aud an invasion OF the
rights of the States. No hing could he mr-
| { er from the truth. Congress has already
liked the time for the election ot members OF
Congress. IL has declared that voice for
IN. IN hers OF Congress must BE- by written or
prlnt,d ballot. Ii has provided for the ap-
pO,ntm ent by the Circuit 0urts In ftaln
cases, and upon the petition OF a certain
number OF citizens. Of election supervisors,
aud made II their duty To supervise the
registration Of voters conducted by the state
ufiictrs: 10 challenge persons Offering To
| IA. 49, .tI MI
" the registry lists, and sfiix their naIneste
,ue lists for the purpose oi identification
and the prevention of Frauds; 10 attend 1t
! IL ctiOns and remain with the boxes I'LL the
| votes are all cast and counted; 10 attach to
tue registry lists and q ecton returns any
statement touching the accuracy anu fair-
ness Of the registry and election. anu I'd
take and transmit Ia the clerk OF the House
| of Representatives any ,Nidtnc, OF iraudu-
lent process which may be- presented TO
them The same law provides Tor the ap-
pOintment Of deputy United States mar
shals 10 attend at the polls, supp n the
supervisors IN the discharge OF their duties, /
and To arrest persons violating the election
laws. Tue provisions of THIS famillar utle OF +
the Revised Statutes have been put Into ex-
| erci-e by both the great political pattitss
aud in the North A. wei a. IN the south by
the hling with the court Of the petition fet
| auired by the law. IL Ia not, therefore,
| uuestion whether we shall have a Federal
election law, for Ne now have one, and
have had for nearly twenty years, but
whether we shall have an effective law.
The resent law steps just short OF elective
ness. for il surrend,rs TO the local authori-
Ties all control over the cerlidcaton which
establishes the prima facie right 10 seat I'D
the House Of Representatives. This de.
feet should be cured. Equality OF
repr. sentati0n aud the purity OF
tho electors must he maintained, or every
tning that il valuable IN our system OF gov
eminent il lost. The qualifications OF an
elector must be sought In the law, not IN the
opinions. preJudices, or Tears OF any cihsss
n ,weyer powerful The path OF the eIcctor
TO the baot-boI must be free from the SUI
bush Of fear aud the ebticements OF fraud,
the count 80 true and open that none shall
gainsay IT, Such a law should he abso-
lutely nOn-partisan and impartial. III shouio
give the advantage 10 honesty and the con-
troll TO the majOrties. Surely there IL moth
ing sectional about this creed, and II IL
shall happen that the penalties OF lewe
intended 10 enforce these rignts ~"
here and not there IL 10 not be-
cause the law 10 sectional, but because
tappily crime is local. and not UNIVERSAL.
Nor should IL be forgotten that every law,
whether relating 10 elections or ~ any 0tbor
, subject, whether enacted by the state or bv
the nation, has force behind II. The courts
the marshal or constable, the posse comi.
tatus, the prison, are all and always DeninQ
the law. One cannot be justly charged
with unirIendiness to any section or class
who seeks only 10 restrain Violation OF law
and of personal right. Ne community VIII
. find lawlessness profitable. No community
can afford TO have IL known that the ofncerf
who are charged with the preservation
, the public peace and the restraint OF the
, criminal classes are themselves the product
, of fraud or violence. The magistrate 10 then
without RESPECT. and the law without sane
ton.
, The foods OF lawlessness cabnot De
, leyeed and made 10 run In one chanuel.
, rbe killing OF United states marehal
carving writ OF arrest for IN election OLE
Tense l. full OF prompting and suggestion -
, men who are pursued by city marshal tr Q
, crime against life or property. but u -
, said that this legislation viii revive nr>>
mOslties, and some have even suggest
that when the peaceful methods Of III
are made impossible, they may be suppls
ed by intimidation aud violence. III
I proposed law gives 10 any qualined elet
= by hairs weight more than
= equal influence, or detracis by 80 NJ
: from any other qualified elector. II 10 ist
{ impeached. But II the Jaw 10 equal,
the luminosity It IL TO evoke grow
| the fdct IN Al ebult titttpts hs'e ~
: oustomed flo exercise tie franchh
D others, as well as for themselves, then
ought not TO he confessed without
= and cannot be giyen any weight Ia
A Gus sion without dishon0r. No cholnia
TO me bat to enforce with ,isoDi0l,-
intended 10 secure to the cltixe'ease.
sttutional rights. and 10 recon isW;
, the inadequsteuess OF such laws
ly remedied 10 promote wi week
4 r.ads interest every project for yfsb
a ment Of il, material intere, siStoii, -.
h ,rbors, mines and factoree. nL sxc
ligencs. peace. and securit, --FF ~
~ It's communities and itshomes. 10 not -
5 cepted as sufficient evidence Of friendllneec
a % any state or section, cannot add CO..
: niyance At election practices that NOT os1I
. disturb local results. but rob the electors
: other states and sections OF their ne
e priceless political right.
!, GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILLS. ~