The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-07-01
WHAT CONGRESS DID.
Profitless Debate on the Federal
Election Bill.
NO HURRY ABOUT IDAHO
Little Business TO BE Transacted During
Fourth Of July Week-The Appro-
priation Bills.

WAsHrKersH CrTY, June lin the House
Dickinson of Kensucky. successor to Car
Isle, was sworn in.
The debate on the federal election bill
was resumed, Herbert of Florida being ac-
corded the floor. He dwelt on the history
of the reconstruction period, and said that
at that time the negro had been taught to
distrust the Southern white man. The
negro was now learning that il was not for
his interest to array himself solidiy against
the white man. and the white man was do
ing everything in his power to teach the
negro this lesson. II the South was allowed
TO work out the problem for itself, the time
would soon come when the negro. being
educated as the white man was, would be
able to take care of himself, both as a tax
payer and as citizen.
Houk OF Tennessee said his advocacy OF
q national election law did not grow out OF
any supposed emergency or necessity.
Notwithstanding that there was variety
OF reasons why the power OF the govern
ment should be asserted, stranger listen
ing to this debate might think the object
of the measure was to arrest the whole
Democratic party. What harm would re-
suit from an honest election? Had the
Democrats from the South practiced dis
honest elections so long thatit would break
their hearts to have them stopped? TWAS
said the bill would cause race prejudice.
The objection was not that the colored
man was black, but that he voted the Re-
publican ticket
Coleman of Louisiana announced him.
self aRepublicad both from conviction and
principle; Southern man by birth, edu-
cation and association. He opposed the
enactment of federal election law at this
time. He would heartily support ma
tional election law if he thought its enact
ment would secure an honest ballot, but
superstition that time would have this effect
was based ON false impression and an
ignorance of the true state OF affairs in
some portions of the South. He did not
wish to stimulate any trouble. and he was
as certain that trouble and bloodshed
would follow the enactment of this bill and
that the law would fail in its purpose as he
was that he would vote against it in this
House. He wanted to see the back of the
South broken, and there would be more
signs of disintergration in the Democratic
party of the South. Pass the federal cleo
ton law and those now ready to separate
from the Democratic party would go back
into what they were told was white
mans party rather than risk negro SUI
premacy.
The debate was further continued by
Burrows and Chapman of Michigan, after
which some formal amendments were
agreed to.
The debate was interrupted and the joint
resolution extending the provisions of the
present appropriation acts until the pend
ing bill became law. was passed.
The election bill was resumed and Lehl-
bach of New Jersey offered an amendment
providing that the chief supervisor of cleo
ton for every judicial district shall take such
action as is requisite to secure such super
vision in each congressional district as is
provided by the laws of the United States.
II it was desirable to control congressional
elections by the national government, let
it be applied to every district in this
country alike.
Cheadle of Indiana favored the amend
ment. If he voted for this measure he
wanted it applicable to the district which he
represented.
Mills of Texas spoke briefly against the
bill. The House took recess.
At the evening session several addresses
were made for and against the bill, and an
adjournment was taken until tomorrow.