Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-27
CONGRESSIONAL WORK.
NO CHANCE FOR LOCAL BILLS DURING
THE SHORT SESSION.
Something About the So-CaIled ssForce
Bill" and Why 1t is Needed in the
Southern states-Notes.

something About the So-CaIled ssForcs
BILL" and Why 1t is Needed in the
Southern states-Notes.
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD. UNION.
WASHINGTON, December IA, 1890.
since arriving here my attention has
been called to the numerous letters received
by the representatives of the Pacific Coast,
asking Congressional action or relief.
1t may not be amiss to inform the people
of the far West that thisis theshort session
of the Fifty.first Congress. 1t expires by
Limitation on the 4th of next March. Some
legislation of apublic character not reached
at the fist, or long session, may be enacted;
likewise. few private bills, located well in
advance on the calendar of either House.
and which has some Member or Senator
actively interested in its passage, may be
called up during the morning hour in the
House, upon first arranging with the
Speaker tor recognition, or it may be called
up on Suspension Day, which occurs twice
each month; or it may be called up on
Unanimous Consent Day.
The committees do not meet and work
at this session because iii fruitless labor,
the numerous appropriation bills absorb.
ing nearly If not quite the entire time of
the short session.
Amy member or Senator who introduces
bill at this session, or even late in the
long session, Intentionally handicaps the
claimant, and enGsts him by proxy into
that grand reserve corps of unsuccessful
applicants who have gone before. That
morbid appetite to see their names pub
ilshed, which tends to create the false i'm
preston at home of untiring industry, is
simply an sct of bad faith. A simply
worded explanatory letter setting forth
these facts would convince the most
Opaque intellect that the short session of
any Congress is very inopportune mo-
ment for new legislation. That inordinate
desire for publicity, however, even when
obtained under false pretspses, is too much
for the average Congressional statesman to
withstand.
Il may not be amiss to further add that
the first session of the Fifty-second Con-
gress convenes on the first Monday of De-
cemoer, 1891. That is also long session,
but being Immediately preceding the next
Presidential campaign, very large portion
OF the time is engrossed forging raw mate
rial into speeches to be used in the coming
campaign. This and the regular appropri-
alton bills almost deprives the country of
needed Congressional service. 1t will thus
be seen that the long or first session of
Congress next following a Presidential
election is really all the time which can
properly be called a legislative session, and
it occurs once in four years only. Ihave
alluded to this matter quite pointedly be-
cause our people do not seem to under.
stand the real facts.
THE FORCE BILL.
still wrestling with this political problem,
with VARYING results. Every true Amer
lean naturally feels as though something
ought to be done about Southern elections
1t doubtless exhibits to the world degree
of national impotence of the most virulent
type, for great people like US to go into
Presidential election with 153 votes already
stuffed in the electoral urn, and no kick
coming to anybody. 1t too closely re.
semoles the palmy days of Higgins and
Buckley in a State Convention in Califor-
mia. As small sphere as they operated in,
it seemed to require Omnipotent interven-
of the unterrifed in the latter case, to bring
about wholesome political results in our
State.
The force bill (so-called) simply attempts
to regulate Congressional elections in the
South, with view of obtaining full vote
and fair count. II does not interfere with
their State or municipal affairs at all. They
are left free TO swindle and fight among
themselves in the most sanguinary and
bloodthirsty manner over their local offices.
Our next Presidential election occurring in
most of the States at the same time, if it
should pass Congress and become law, it
is believed that the aforesaid stuffing could
be largely prevented. That is all which is
claimed for it, and really that is all there is
in it. No respectable American citizen
could rightfully object to its most offensive
provisions.
In conversation with Senator Stewart of
Nevada this morning, he intimated that,
while he favored its intentions, he doubted
its efficacy if passed.
CONGRESSIONAL ENAcTMENTs,
In cases of this kind, don't seem to reach
the case. As in California, reform of
. that magnitude locally united and i'm
pregnable as the South is, to be successful
must first be started by the Infinite; with
this manifest encouragement, the fuites
and Farmers Alliance could be depended
upon to stand in for results. No one
doubts the fact that politics down South
are conducted no better than a primary in
San Francisco, but they find full justihca-
ton for it in that wearisome old chestnut,
negro supremacy"
Governor Tillman of South Carolina hss
Just defeated the back-numbers of the
Democratic party in his State through aid
furnished by the Alliance. There is a
rich fungus growth noticeable in his inaug-
ural that will bear endless repetition. He
says: I'VE whites have absolute control of
the State Government and intend to retain
it,
1t may not be amiss to state in this con-
nection that, according to the census of
1880, there were 3Sl, los whites and 604, 1872
colored population in that State. Under
the present census her population has in
creased to ], Isl ,149, with about the same
ratio Of white and black. 1t is very evil
dent that fair count in that State would
be a trifie prohibiting to four or five of her
present Congressional representation, and
possibly the whole State and municipal
governments would change politics.
1t is painfully apparent that the force II
would be unjust, oppressive and un-
American in that State, if by its operation
an honest vote and count could be OBJ
tanned. The Governor goes on further to
state: THE intelligent exercise of the
right of suffrage, at once the highest privi-
as yet beyond the capacity of the vast ma.
jority of the colored men. We deny that
all men are created equal 1t is not true
now. 1t was not true when Jefferson wrote
it,
The Governor goes on further in his
great mission of reform, and says: AL
the State, county and municipal offices are
filled by Democrats, therefore, the further
operation of lynch law is reprehensible
and calculated to bring our institutions
into disrepute. All offenders should be
tried by the civil authorities"
The defeat of Senator Wade Hampton,
late Rrioadier- Genaral T. g FIR rs,
election has created q temporary feeling OIL
natrintic indipnafion The Charlestnn