Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-12
IN The SENATE.
Discussing Mr.. Hoar's Resolution
and the Elections Bill.
PRIVATE BILLS IN THE HOUSE.
SENATE.

House bills for public buildings at Reedsville,
NC, Charleston, sc. and Camden, Ark. were
reported back favorably and without amend
ment, and were placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Reagan offered resolution (Which went
over calling on the Postmaster General for in
formation as to the conditions under which
ssies are now beng procured for the service OF
the Post Office Department.
NO EVENING SESSIONS.
Mr.. Plumbs resolution for daily meetings at
10 and for evening sessions was taken up.
Mr.. Hoar moved to amend the resolution by
striking out the clause for evening sessions.
and making it take effect after tomorrow. SO as
to have the resolution provide only for the
earlier daily meeting.
The amendment WAS agreed TO and then the
resolution was agreed to without debate.
THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
The resolution offered Yesterday by Mr..
Dolph instructing the committee on privileges
and elections to inquire and report whether the
right to vote at any election for presidential
electors. members of Congress or state legis-
lators officers is denied to any male citizens
OF any state or is abridged. except for partici-
patton in the rebellion or other crime. was
taken up. and Mr.. Dolrh stated the reasons
which had induced him to offer Ii.
As the census OF the United States had Just
been taken and the number of inhabitants
ascertained it became the duty Of Congress to
states. Some of the Senators on his side of
the chamber and some of the leading news
papers of the country had suggested that an
inquiry ought to be made whether or not the
right of representation based on population
ought not to be decreased by reason of the denial
or abridgment of suffrage to the citizens of
the United States over twenty-one years.
SECTION TWO OF THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT.
What he desired the committee on privileges
and elections to give special attention to was
whether some states had not provided in their
constitutions or laws such voting qualifications
as were not permitted by section of the four
teenth amendment TO the Constitution without
that the constitution recently adopted in
Mississippi did impose such qualifications
and that therefore the representation of that
state should be abridged. He had some of the
sections Of the constitution of Mississippi read
at the clerks desk. showing that payment of
all taxes with a uniform poll tax of go and ar
ability to read and explain the state constitution
are requisites for the exercise of the elective
franchise.
DIMINISHED VOTING LIST; DIMINISHED REPRE-
sENTATIoN.
He did not deny the power of state to make
such provisions and to require such qualifica-
tions, but he asserted that if they were made
and if by them citizens of the United States
had their right of suffrage denied or abridged
minished in like proportion. The state of Missis-
sippi, he said. was not the only state that i'm
posed restrictions on the right of suffrage. The
state of Wyoming disfranchised persons going
into that state who are unable to read the Con-
stitution of the United States.
The states of Massachusetts and Connecticut
he understood, imposed like conditions. II it
were true he said, that the abridgment of the
right to vote was not permitted by the Consti-
tuition of the United States without a reduction
fotfn ix,E h.
duty of the Senate to ascertain what states re-
quired qualifications other than those per-
mitted by the Constitution.
GOV. TILLMAN's INAUGURAL.
He sent to the clerks desk and had read the
recent inaugural message of Gov. Tillman of
South Carolina, which, he said. was an official
declaration that the great mass of the colored
men of the south were not fit to exercise the
elective franchise and that the white people Of
the south were in control of the state gov
ernments and proposed to main
tain the control at all hazards
These two propositions. taken together showed
clearly. he said. that the colored people Of the
as they voted the republican ticket or where
their voting would secure republican control.
THE RIGHT TO WORK.
Mr.. Vest moved an amendment instructing
the committee to inquire further whether. by
any state legislation. any citizens of the United
States were denied the right to work on any
public Improvements by reason Of their color.
THE RIGHT TO LABOR.
There was, he said, q right antecedent to and
superior to the right Of suffrage. That was the
privilege of every human being to obey the
Divine injunction: SIN the sweat of thy face
thou shalt cat bread" 1t was the right of self
sustenance, Of self-prescrvation. While the
Senator from Oregon expended his logic and
q "
people of the sonth he Odr. Vest)
simple desired with equal-handed JUSTICE to
commend to him the legislation of the repubi-
can legislators of Oregon, which deprived the
negro citizens of that state of the right to labor
on works OF public improvement.
Mr.. Vest read clause from a recent statute
of the Oregon legislature authorizing the build
ing of bridge and providing that none but
1t might be said, Mr.. Vest remarked, that the
goian, the Indian and the negro. Not one of
the Is 900 negro soldiers who fought in the
Union army could draw q dollar for his labor
on a bridge authorized by the Legislative as
sembly of Oregon.
The discussion on Mr. Dolph's resolution
continued till O'Clock, when the resolution
went over without action.
AGAINST THE ELECTIONS BILL.
The elections bill was then taken up, and Mr..
Blodgett addressed the Senate in opposition
to it.
HOUSE.
After the reading of the tournai the House