Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-16
APPORTIONMENT BILL
in the House by the Census
Committee.
PREVIOUS QUESTION ORDERED ArsP.M.
The Debate on the Elections Bill
Goes on in the Senate.
j. 1. DAVENPORT CRITICIZED.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The presiding officer laid before the Senate
the Morgan resolution, calling on the Secretary
Of the Treasury for information relative to the
payment of the claims of John |. Davenport as
supervisor of elections and as circuit court
commissioner.
DAVENPORT WILLING To TESTIFY.
In this connection Mr.. Hoar laid before the
senate communication which he. as chairman
of the committee on privileges and elections.
had received from John 1. Davenport. calling
attention to certain charges made against him
In the Senate and offering himself az a witness
under oath to any committee desiring to ex-
anime him.
Nj. German trusted that the Senator from
Massachusetts, would offer resolution to in
vestigate the conduct of Davenport as re-
quested by that gentleman. 1t should be ac-
corded him in the interest of the country as
well as In justification of himself if he had any
defense.
MIR. CARLIsLEs VIEWS.
Mr.. Carlisle thought that the Senator from
Maryland had mistaken the terms of the letter.
Mr.. Davenport did not request that his con-
duct be investigated. but simply expressed his
Willingness to go himself before a COM
mittee and make a statement. That, he
suggested. would not be satisfactory to the Sem
ate or the country. II Davenport's official con-
duct was to be investigated it should be inyes-
tlgated in the usual way.
Mr.. Hoar thought that when any person hay-
ing charges made against him offered TO put
himself under oath he understood that any
other testimony bearing on the case would be
admitted.
Mr.. Carlisle said that his remarks were based
upon the words of the communication. namely:
committee without any indication that any
other person should lie heard.
THE RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
The communication was referred and the
resolution was adopted
MIR. Morgan presented the credentials of
election of his colleague, Mr.. Pugh, and they
were laid upon the table.
DIsFRANCHIsED VOTERS
The pending business was stated to be the
consideration of the Dolph resolution, proyid-
ing for an investigation as to whether the right
to vote was denied or abridged i'm any state,
with the Vest amendment extending the inves-
tigatlon to an inquiry as 10 whether by state
legislation any man had been denied the right
to work on public works by reason of his color.
AGAINST THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Morgan in opposing the resolution
called attention to the fifteenth amendment to
the Constitution. criticising it and contending
that the condition of the country would he
much better had the government been content
with the fourteenth amendment If il had been
left to the states of the Union to determine
who should vote, losing their representa-
tion as far as they DISTINGUISHED black
men or Indians, there would be found
today every state actively engaged in
naturslizing and preparing the recently eman-
cipated negroes for the duties and powers and
privileges and obligations of citizenship. The
political parties would have found il necessary
to have taken up the more enlightened portion
of the negro race and bring il tc the full right
Of citizenship. Then the balance. seeing that
good conduct was a recommendation, would
have been stimulated to action. But the ne
groes had been taken up EN- masse, without dis
elimination. and dumped into the political
powers OF the country. for the purpose of Civ
ing to politicians the advantage of their
slavery of spirit, the politicians knowing that
they could control the negroes at their vii, and
pleasure.
Mr.. MORGAN CONTINUES HIS SPEECH AGAINST
THE ELECTION BILL.
Pending further debate the morning hour
expired and the Senate proceeded to the fur
ther consideration of the election bill
Mr. Morgan took the floor in continuation of
his speech against the measure. His first
point of attack against the bill was the pro-
vision for the appointment of chief SUPER
yisors. He contended that under the language
OF the provision the position Of chief super
visor was a life position.
Mr.. Morgan spoke at considerable length.
criticising John L. Davenport and his meth
ods.
DEPUTY MARsHALs
At the close of Mr.. Morgan's remarks Mr..
Pugh gave notice of an amendment recurring
that applicants for the position of deputy mar
shals. &c. shall be able to read and write and
shall be of good moral character.
WHAT LABOR ORGANIZATIONS WANT.
The discussion was temporarily suspended
and Mr.. Blair presented petitions from labor
organizations praying Congress to set aside the
consideration of the election bill in order 10
have labor legislation acted on and asked for
their reading.
MIR. Hoar objected to their being read as
there was another matter before the Senate.
MR.. KENNA AGAINST THE ELECTION BILL
Mr.. Kenna addressed the Senate in opposi-
ton to the election bill. beginning his speech
by saving that the country was about TO wit
ness the final act in the great political drama
In which the republican party had been play
ing the role of star for a quarter Of q century
HOUSE.
Mr.. Mills OF Texas privileged question
offered a concurrent resolution providing for a
holiday recess from December q, 1890, 70 JAM
nary 5, 1891.
Mr.. Dingley Of Maine moved its reference to
the committee on ways and means. On stand
ing vote (Which was strictly partisan) the re-
suit was 60 to So, and the Speaker cast his yoxe
in the affirmative; whereupon the yeas end
nays were ordered.
Mr., Dingley's motion to refer was agreed To-
yeas, l26; nays, lis.
THE APPORrIONMENT BILL.
Mr.. Dunnell (Minn.) then called up a. q priv
ileged question the apportionment bill and
briefly explained its provisions. The bill
appeared, he said, in response to the require
ments OF the Constitution and was based upon
the eleventh census, which showed q gratifying
increase in the population Of the United States.
There was q diversity Of opinion among mem-
bers Of the House as to whether the present
representation should stand or whether il
should be increased.
Some difference Of opinion had also been
shown in committee, but il had finally been de-
termined to accept S56 Is the proper number
This number had been selected because ID had
been found to be the number first reached be-
tween SS2 and S75 that would secure to every
state ut least its present representation. With
SIS members the ratio Of population would be
It's, sol. IL the present representation were re-
tained many states would lose one or more
members.
THE PREVIOUS QUESTION rHIs AFTERNOON.
After an Intellectual effort TO secure an agree |
ment ~ TO the limitation Of debate, Nr. Dun |
nell gave notice that he would call the previous |