Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-19
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 10. 1890.
PINT Them 10 the Test.

Speaker REEDS rulings of Monday en-
phasized what we said yesterday as to the
programme which the Republicans nave
made out as their guide in the future.
The Democrats in the House of Represen-
tatives were evidently taken by surprise.
They seem 10 have acquiesced last week
In the adoption Of rule which this week
they fnd the Speaker can torture into
form which they did not suppose 1t was
capable Of assuming.
At present the Democrats Of the House
of Representatives are powerless. Ten
DAYS ago they had the right to absent
themselves from the House, and if they
had done so they could not have been COM
PEELED to attend: because the House had
not then adopted any rules under which
they could have been proceeded against.
Now the House has o full code OF rules,
md under these rules an absentee can be
arrested. brought to the bar of the House,
and fined for refusal TO perform his duty
The Republicans will be sure TO make the
fines large enough 10 insure the attend
snce of the absentees when their votes are
needed to make up quorum. We may DO
sure there will be no insuperable dimcuity
experienced hereafter ia securing quo
rum whenever the Republicans choose to
order o call Of the House.
We omitted Yesterday in stating the Re
publican programme to mention that the
Republican clerk of the national House OF
Representatives will under the law make
q. up the roll of the next House Of Represen-
tatives. and IL the House should be. ac-
cording to the reports in the papers, very
close, he might. if he were corrupt, AID the
Republican leaders in so making up the
roll as to give the Republicans control OF
the next House. However, we do not OK
pect any such conduct on the part OF Mr..
McPHERsox. If the Democrats elect
majority of the members he will make out
his roll accordingly.
The Democrats of the Ohio Legislature
ought to proceed at once to redistrict that
State for the election of congressman. IL
the States have no rights left, let the fact
be made known officially and authori-
tatively. Let the Republicans, if they
choose to do so, elect members of the
House of Representatives for the existing
districts. and the Democrats elect mem
bers for the districts as these will be
after the redstricting shall have
been accomplished. Let both sets ap-
ply for seats in the House. The House
of Representatives being sole judge of the
elections, qualifications, and returns OF its
own members. will have full power over
Ill x,ylf oh al
members it may decide to DO entitled to
membership in the House. There can be
no appeal. The decision of the House of
Representatives will be final.
1t is the duty of the Democrats OF the
Ohio Legislature to bring this question to
test. Let us have 1t decided by peacea-
BILE methods. 1t is not contended by the
Democratic party that Congress has no con-
troll over congressional elections. Such a
contention would be absurd in view of the
section of the Federal Constitution which
reads as follows:
1.-The times, places, and manner of hold
ing elections for Senators and Representa-
tiyes shall be prescribed in each State 10y
the Legislature thereof; but Congress may
AT any time by law make or alter such
regulations. except as TO the places OF
choosing senators"
The United States Statutes at Large contain
laws providing for the appointment of SUI
pervisors of congressional elections, and
of deputy marshals to aid the supervisors
In overseeing such elections. These laws
also contain provisions in regard TO regis
tration, intimidation, and what not. And
these laws have undergone judicial con-
sheraton and been pronounced constitu-
tIonal.
What. then. is the Democrats point
II is that the power to fix the times,
places, and manner" of holding elections
does not extend TO the districting of the
States. Congress has already fixed the
time-the Tuesday next succeeding the
first Monday in November. 1t has also
fxed the manner-by ballot. 1t has the
power to fix "tAe places" but it could do
this without touching the districts rs
these are made by the legislatures of the
several States. Ii is contended that the
power to fix "the times, places, and man.
ner" Of "hoLding elections" does not In
clude the power TO make congressional
districts.
We repeat what we said last week-that
we do not know why there should be any
doubt as TO the power of Congress to pass
a national election-law properly guarded
and intended only TO secure fair elections
for the House of Representatives; but we
submit that such law ought not 10 in
olude any feature providing for the dis
tricting Of the several States.
We would have the Ohio Legislature
press this question 10 a settlement.