Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-03

suitable reciprocal benefits. This latter
method, think, possesses great advan-
tages. It expresses in advance the consent
of Congress to reciprocity arrangements
affecting these products, which must other
wise have been delayed and unascertained
until each treaty was ratified by the Senate
and the necessary legislation enacted by
Congress.
Experience has shown that some treaties
looking to reciprocal trade have failed to
secure two thirds vote in the Senate for
ratification, and others, having passed that
stage, have for years awaited the concur
renee of the House and Senate in such
notifications of our revenue laws as were
necessary to give effect to their provisions.
We now have the concurrence of both
Houses in advance in distinct and definite.
offer of free entry to our ports of specific
articles.
The Executive is not required to deal in
conjecture as to what Congress will accept.
Indeed this reciprocity provision is more
than an offer. Our part of the bargain is
complete. Delivery has been made and
when the countries from which we receive
sugar, coffee, tea and hides have placed on
their free lists such of our products as shall
be agreed upon, as an equivalent for our
concessions, proclamation of that fact
completes the transaction, and in the mean
time our own people have free sugar, tea,
coffee ard hides.
The indications thus far given are very
hopeful of early and favorable action by
the countries from which we receive our
large imports of coffee and sugar, and it is
believed that If steam communication with
these countries can be promptly improved
and enlarged the next year will show a
most gratifying increase in our exports of
breadstuffs and provisions, as we'll as of
some important lines Of manufactured
goods.
In addition to the important bills that
became laws before the adjournment of the
last session, some other bills of the highest
importance we're we'll advanced toward q
final vote, and now stand upon the calen-
dars of the two houses in favored positions.
The present session has fixed limit, and.
If these measures are not now brought to
final vote, all the work that has been done
upou them by this Congress is lost.
The proper consideration of these, of an
apportionment bill, and of the annual Ap
preparation bill will require not only that
no working day of the session shall be lost,
but that measures of minor and local inter
est shall not be allowed to interrupt or re-
tard the progress of those that are of uni
versal interest.
He urges tho enactment of q national
bankrupt law, also an international copy
right law.
The use of the telegraph by the Post
office Department as means for the rapid
| transmission of written communications is,
believe, upon proper terms quite desira-
BILE. The Government does not owa or
operate the railroads, and 1t should not,
| think, own or operate the telegraph lines.
1t does, however, seem to be quite practi-
cable for the Government to contract with
| the telegraph companies as it does with the
railroad companies to carry at specified
rates such communications as the ssnders
| may designate for this method of trans
mission.
recommend that such legislation may
be enacted as will enable the Postofice De-
partmeut fairly to test by experiment the
advantage of ouch use of the telegraph.
If any intelligent and loyal company Of
| American citizens were required to cata-
| logue the essential human conditions of ma
tional life, do not doubt that with abso-
lutte unanimity they would begin with free
and honest elections, aad it is gratifying to
know that generally there is growing
| and non partisan demand for better cleo
tinn laws; but against this sign of hope and
progress must be set the depressing and
undeniable fact that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunningly contriv-
ed 10 secure minority control, while vio-
iencs completes the shortcomings of frauds.
In my last annual message 1 suggested
shat the development of the existing law
providing a Federal supervision of congress
sional elections offered sn effective method
Of reforming these abuses. The need of
such law has manifested itself in many
parts of the country, and its wholesome re-
| straints and penalties will be useful in all.
The constitutionality of such legislation has
been affirmed by the Supreme Court. lis
probable effectiveness is evidenced by the
character of the opposition that is made to
it. II has been denounced as if it were a
new exercise of Federal power and an inva-
sion of the rights of the States. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress
has already fixed the time for the election
of members of Congress-; it has declared
that votes for members of Congress must
be by written or printed ballot. 1t has
provided for the appointment by the Circuit
Courts In certain cases, and upon the petit
ton of certain number Of citizens, of cleo
ton supervisors, and made it their duty to
supervise the registration of voters conduct
ed by the State officers, to challenge per
sons Offering to register, to personally in
spect and scrutinize the registry lists, and
to affix their names to the lists for the pur-
pose of Identification and the prevention of
frauds, to attend at elections and remain
with the boxes till the votes are all cast and
counted; to attach to the registry lists and
election returns any statement touching the
Co. of
election, and to take and transmit to the
Clerk of tina House of Representatives any
evidence of fraudulent process which may
vides for the appointment of deputy United
States marshals to attend at the polls, sup
port the supervisors in the discharge of
their duties, and to arrest persons violating
the election laws. The provisions of this
familiar title of the revised statutes have
been put into exercise by the great politi-
cal parties, and in the North as we'll as 10
the South by the filing with the court of
the petition required by the Law: It is not,
therefore, question whether We shall have
Federal Election law, for we now have
one, and have had for nearly twenty years.
but whether we shall have an effective law
The present law stops just short of effective
ness, for it surrenders to the local authori-
ties all control over the certifcation which
establishes the prinao ffacie right to seat
in the House of Representatives. This de-
feet should % cured. Equality of represen-
tation and the parity of the electors must
be maintained, or everything that is valua-
BILE in our system of government is lost.
The qualifications of an elector must be
sought in the law, not in the opinions, pref.
udices or fears of any class, however pow
erful. The path of the elector to the bal
lot box must be free from the ambush of
fear and the enticements of fraud, the
count so true and open that none shall gain
say it. Such law should be absolutely
non partisan aud impartial. 1t should give
the advantage to honesty and the control
to the majorities. Surely there is nothing
sectional about this creed, and if it shall
happen that the penalties of laws intended
to enforce these rights fall here and not
there, it is not because the law is sectional,
but because happily crime is local and not
universal, nor should it be forgotten that
every law, whether relating to elections or
TO any other subject, whether enacted by