New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-11

FOB 4 NATIONAL ELECTION LAW.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS INsTRUcTS
MEssRs. LODGE AND RowELL TO PRE-

THE HOUSE REPU UBLICAN CAUCUS INSTRCCIS
MEssRs. LODGE AND RowELL TO PRE-
PARE A COMPROMISE BILL.
Washington June 10 (speciaD.-some eight months ago
Tribune correspondent received letters from majority
Of the Republican Reprcsenativeselect 10 the List
Congress in response IN certain inquiries one of which
was Do you favor National control Of Congressional
elections ~ Most Of the replies Affirmative, and
less than hafdozen were negative. Today the
same correspondent obtained verbal expressions OF
opinion from large number Of Republican Representa-
tves on the subject, and found that the sentt-
favor of such legislation is even stronger now
than before Congress assembled-indced. If one
might judge from the results obtained from men OF
varying shades of opinion, that the party Is virtually
unanimous. There seemed to be absolutely no differ
enoe Of opinion in respect to the desirability
cessy OF sring gent law to insure free expression
and honest record Of the will Of the voters in the
election Of Representatives in Congress, whether from
Massachusetts, or New-Jersey, from Ncw-iork or In
DIANA from Mississippi South Carolina, or any other
state. North or south The only question in any
body's mind seemed 10 be, What kind Of law will
best accomplish the ObIect!'
Indications were not wanting thai in the caucus
which had been called for tonight a measure might
be substantially agreed to which would embody the
more mporant features of both the Lodge bill ard tho
Rowell bill. Friends of the former plan deemed IL
Important for example. thai in case the returns made
from Congress district by United states officers should
show the election Of one candidate, and the returns
made by state Returning Board should show the
election Of a different candidate, the name returned
by the officers Of the United states should be placed
upon the roll of In order 10 al
low him 70 part in the organization OF the House.
That point the who appeared to prefer the Ko"eH
bill readily conceded be well taken. so, Also as TO
tile question whether not tic law should DC SELL
operative In every Congress district, or whether IL
puly when invoked by The
petition of a specified number of voters III any
narticuIar district there seemed TO be no difhcuty
ahout reaching an agreement While II = true tlas
there are more radical differences between the plan
suggested by Mr.. Lodge and the bill offered by N.Y.
RowelI than are above indicated they mainly relate
10 methods after all, and do not vitaly ahect the
object which every Republican Representative has AT
heart in advocating such ogislation-fa fai and honest
elections and returns Of members of the House oi
Representatives. A., - .,,.
The attendance was small at the caucus tonight
and as Il was understood that vote was not 10 pe
taiscn befol, 10 o'clock to decide Is between the
lodge and Rowell bills, the first two hours were de-
vocd entirely to discussion wnlGh served 10 ac
for The Lodge plan The feature of the discussion was
speech IN favor OF that measure by Representative
Cbpatham the cOOrcd member from North Carolina
The result of the discussion that when speaker
Reed p0nted ont how the differences between me me
combination of the features or principles of each wnl,n
were unobjectcd TO- his proposition was unanimously
accepted and Mcssrs Rowell and Lodge were hS'roe~
TO formulate compromise bill. -. n.r
lis features will be an enlargement OF inc super, pi
visory sy stem, that the supervisors snail
in registration voting and canvassng 10 ca'is oae ~
fully the National idea, the supervisors returns ar ~ ~
be prind facie evidence of the rght Oh mgio % ~
his seat and tC prevail in making up inc rol ol .no
House. In cases of conflicting returns tle 'ert,aes ,
of the State can sse may be used 10 allow he iiouso
10 form its Judgment of the qualifications OF the con-
tcst,nt. As the proposition Is ieuueu " 40 10
expected that another S SaG%s nrove T or os its Speedy
consideration by the House