The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-02
YESTERDAYS DEBATE.
Some of the Speeches Made on the
Amendments.

WASHINGTON, July 1.-The House today
resumed consideration of the federal elec.
tion bill and Mr.. Hemphill of South Carolina,
offered an amendment eliminating from
the bill the provision for United States
boards of canvassers, providing that from
the returns of the supervisors, the chief
supervisor shall tabulate and forward to the
Speaker of the House, to be submitted to
the House, the results as they appear there
from in each congressie district under his
Jurisdiction.
M. Lodge offered an amendment prelid-
ing that as. soon as the certificate of the
board is made public, any candidate for cleo
tion may, by motion before the United
States Circuit Court, having jurisdiction in
the district, contest the correctness of the
sfrsf al Ss u RX teS and qs~aR9
turns. The Circuit Court shall thereupon
determine and certify the person shown to
be entitled to the certificate. Mr.. Lodge also
offered an amendment providing that If
there shall be an appeal from the decision of
the United States board of canvassers to the
Circuit Court, the clerk of the House shall
place on the rolls as representative elect the
name of the person certified by said court as
entitled to the seat. Mr.. Lodge proposed
these amendments and they were voted upon
before the vote on Mr.. Hemphilrs amend
ment. The Democrats objected to this as
unfair and contrary to their understanding
of what Mr.. Lodge said yesterday.
order to move to correct the till at any time
Mr.. Buckalew of Pennsylvania attacked
the amendments as clearly turning over to
the judiciary the power Of judging of the
qualifications Of representatives, which, un-
der the constitution, was vested in the
House itself.
Mr.. Rowell supported the amendments Of
fered by Mr.. Lodge, and they were adopted
without division.
Mr.. Hemphills amendment to strike out
lOSf--Vnae 1877. 140. MnSsrc
Lehlbach of New Jersey and Cheadle of In
diana being the only Republicans voting
with the Democrats.
Mr.. Buckalew of Pennsylvania moved to
strike out section 3S, which changes the law
so as to place the selection Of jurors in the
hands of the clerks of courts.
Mr. Culbertson of Texas said this section
disclosed clearly the partisan character of
the measure. Perhaps he ought not to say
the effect of this section was to place the
machinery of the court entirely in the con-
troll of the Republican party, but he ought
to say that its effect would be to place the
jurors to serve in the United States courts
under the absolute domination of the clerk
of courts. When it was remembered there
was scarcely Democratic clerk of an Unit
ed States court in the country, the strange
ness could be appreciated Of giving power to
Republican partg had. Those on the other
side could not imasiue the horror with which
Ithe Democrats OF Tn. South contemplated
| suo~~a PROVISION DIS tASS, Thew had been
tort9ifs,@s enough not toSsaye seen their
courts courts PSSliiH,sd pol BY partisan pocs, and dis
mated by partisanship and corruption, U0i'ii-
| Mr.. Waddell of Virginia said this seLsor
was, in many respects, the most importahl,
| provision in the bill. He did not believe
! there should be politics in the jury box, and
there never had been until the law of 1879
provided for Democratic and Republican ju-
| ry commissioners. He asserted that since
| the passage of that law it was practically
| impossible to convict a person of political
| offence in any part of the country. He
| knew of Democrats who could convict DEM
ocrats of violating the election laws.
| Mr.. Outhwaite-'Why do you want to re-
| peal the law then? ?"
Mr. Waddell-"Beca they never get on
| the jury list. The Democratic jury commits
sioner excludes them" For every man con-
victed of political offence since 1879 he
could name 100 who laughed at and defied
| conviction.
Mr.. Outhwaite denounced the section as
| the most Infamous and outrageous feature of
| the bill.
MIR. Buckalew's amendment was adopted,
Messrs. Frank, Harner, .Lehlbach and Lind
voted with the Democrats in the affirmative.