Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
MsssHs. COKE AND BATE AGAINST
The FORCE BILL.
Mr.. Cullen for tho Jnlquitv--The Demo
Gratis in tho Lower House on tho
Defensive.
rnr ,.ltsr.pn to The pl.pasen.l

but few moments. IN itS reguiai pi"ci
bin came up 70 terminate reduction in
the numbers Of tho engineer corps of the
navy. Passed.
Mr.. Sherman. from the Committee on
Finance. reported bill providing against
contraction of the currency. Printed and
recommitted.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill providing
that the tariff act shall not be held TO I'M
pedc or impair the force OF treaties be
tween the United States and other coun-
tries.
Mr.. German said he would object to
consideration of the measure for the pres
ent. The tariff bill had been passed hasti-
ly, and this proposition 10 continue It's
provisions should be fully discussed.
INJUSTICE TO HAWAII.
Mr.. Morgan regretted that the gentle
man should make any objection. The
United States by hasty passage OF the tarlf
bill was inhicting injustice on Hawai- anc
doing itself injustice by n formal breach or
the treaty. lie desired 10 encourage stlll
more intimate arrangements with Hawaii
and he thought that the bill wouid be passed
without delay.
MIR. Harris was unwilling that the matter
should proceed in the absence Of Mr.. Black
burn. who. as one of tho conferTees on the
tariff bill. had called special attention 20
the fact that II would abrogatc the Ha-
waIian treaty.
MIR. sherman said that while nc felt sure
that Mr.. Blackburn would favor the bill
he would not press IL IN his absence:
The bill therefore went 70 tho calendar.
COKE AGAINST TIE FORCE BILL.
The elections bill was then taken up and
Mr.. Coke addressed the Senate IN oppo5i-
ton TO it, 1t proposed, be said, 10 thrust
rudely aside the State authorities which
had for q century controlled elections ana
10 substitute for them an army OF partisan
superyjsors and deputy marshals. who are
to direct and control the registration and
polling of votes and partisan returning
boards 10 do the counting and certifying OF
the result.
THE PEOPLE HELD UNFIT.
OF course the bill involved the conclu-
sion that the people of the several States
were for some reason unit TO be trusted 10
hold in their own way the elections Tor
their representatives in Congress. as thew
had always heretofore been doing. Against
the bill. as a whole and IN oil its details,
ana especially against its hbelous renec-
fion on the capacity of the people OF the
States for self Government. and It's auda-
cious assumption that all the honesty, VIZ
the. and intelligence found IN the country
WAS possessed by Federal officials, he en-
tered his most earnest protest.
cUIIoM THINKS THE BILL TOO LONG.
Mr.. Cullom addressed the Senate He
confessed some disappointment that the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
had deemed IL necessary 70 report o bill OF
such great length. He bad hoped that the
present superyisOry-lawm might be AMENDED
without great difficulty and without add
49,, yor,. MANY pauy cacfsOua IN If But as
the committee had given the subject long
and patient study be accepted the bill as
the best that could be framed 10 meet the
evils complained Of, with the understand
ING that he should favor such amendments
as might be offered and might meet his APP
probation.
IRE ELL CONSTITUTIONAL.
There was no virtue, he argued, IN tho
argument of Democratic senator's that the
General Government had no right under
the Constitution to control and manage
the election Of representatives TO Congress
IN the States. Common sense and the
Constitution Of the United States both de-
clared that the General Government had
that right and the duty was imposed upon
il by the Constitution and by the results
NJ the war 10 protect the negro OF the
South in his right TO cast free ballot ana
to have a fair count; in his right 10 exer-
TERED by threats of any kind al the poiit-
icai rights of American citizens.
TINE ron FEDERAL CONFUSION.
The freedman's republicarism was, Mr..
Cnllom said the reason why, IN The
thought of southern Democrats, he should
lose his suffrage. The time was at hand
when the authority Of the Government
must be interposcd in behelf of the ne
rroes at the South. The State authorities
would have TO be compelled TO respect the
rights OF negro voters. That cOmpulslon
would have TO be applied under legal au-
thority. Congress would have TO enact
laws under which all elections for repre-
sentatives in Congress should be conduct
ed. The Government would nave 70 as,
sumo control in the management or all
such elections aud to provide means for
the protection of lts election officers whlle
in the discharge of their duties.
DEMOCRATIC ARGUMENT PooH-PooHED.
All the talk which the Senate had heard
about the character of supervisors and
deputy .marshals had no bearing on the
question. II was tho duty of the Govern
lnent to see 10 il that honest men were az,
pointed 10 those positions. He knew f1l
we'll that the passage of the bill would gave
to the lawiess element ut the South al
excuse for mob-violence and renelhoi
against the national authority, but he wa
sure that such results. limited nj rathe
than expressed. would not prevent tho bli
being enacted into law and being approved
BATE AGAINST THE MEASURE.
Mr.. Bate. as n lover of individual liberty
opposed the bill. lie opposed IT becaus
ne believed il 10 strike at the freedom
the ballot, and tend to disturbance and {
destroy the peace and quiet OF society. l
was n usurpation of the rights of the state
and of men. IL was promoter OF centra
power in the Federal Government at IN
expense of the rights of tEeStates II not {
their autonomy. 1t was sectional, an
struck at the South.
POINTING TO EMPIRE.
He believed it to be the most promineI
of the many finger-boards on the politics
highway that pointed to empire. sue
legislation in republican government WI
nj all times dangerous aud vicious, an
was especially so at the present time.
he might employ the language OF The ID
claration OF Independence against IN
British King, be would say OF the bill TIN
i, proposed 10 erect multitude OF ne
Offices and send a swarm of officers
harass the people" Its enactment wou
establish system Of espionage again
which the sanctity of home would amor
no protection.
THE BILL LAID ASIDE.
At 40, at the suggestion of MIR. Gorm'
that Mr.. Bate would prefer not to inns
he speech this afternoon. the electlo
bill was laid aside informally. and sever
bills were taken up aud passed. Amor
them were the House bills for publ
buildings at Rome, GA. (S5O,OOO), al
Keidsville. N. G. (S25. 000)
After short executive session the Sena
adjourned.
House of Representatives
In the morning hour the pending me
sure was the Senate bill amending the
terstate- commerce act by providing for I
taking of dispositions by notaries public
Passed--yeas, ais; nays, 8.
The bill was passed for the constru
ton Of bridge across the Duck river
the county of Humphrey, Tenn.
FOR THE AMERICAN MARINE.
The morning hour expired, and j
Farquhar, of New York, as chairman
the Committee on Merchant Marine a
Fisheries, moved that the HOUSE. go Il
Committee Of the Whole for conslderati
of the Senate bill 10 place the Amerie
marine engaged in foreign trade on
equality with that Of other nations W
the House substitute therefor.