The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-03
The FORCE BILL.
Various Comments I'm This City on Its
Passage by the House.

Various Comments I'm This City on Its
Passage by the House.
The announcement from Washington by
telegram yesterday afternoon that the Force
Election bill had passed the House OF Rep
resentatives by vote Of 155 TO l4S, was re-
ceived with intense interest in Richmond.
The TINES bulletin announcing the fact
was read by hundreds, and many were the
expressions OF surprise, mingled win as
gust and anger. Though the people of the
city were prepared 10 hear almost any ac-
ton from the present Congress, comments
were freely made by those who read the an
nouncement, and even a few of the Repub-
licans expressed their utter disapproval oil
fbe action.
In order 10 get the views of some of the
leading citizens of the city cOndeming the
passage of the bill, and the effect it would
have upon the South should II become a
law, n reporter called 10 see a few of this
class, and obtained their brief opinions
which are given below. Some declined TO
express an opinion until the measure could
be considered in the Senate, while others
were absent from the city:
HON. GEORGE ID. WISE.
Congressman George ID. Wise said, :" |
think the Force bill the most radical mea-
sure that has ever been adopted by Con-
gress. 1t is worse than anything that was
attempted even in reconstruction days.
The purpose Of it is TO give the Republican
party control of the machinery of elections
in the South, and thus TO secure majority
in the House OF Representatives. III II
should become law the effect Will be to
produce very serious race troubles in the
South. IL the people OF the South were left
tomanage their own affairs IL is not likely
that any serious collisions would occur"
..xftll tfafs nd
think that bloodshed Is inevitable. | do not
think that the measure will pass the Senate.
That Is a deliberatiye body, while the House
Of Representatives 10 controlled by one
man, the Speaker. The bill is unconstitu-
tional, and il il should become a
law believe that it would be
30 declared by the Supreme Court,
IL In any form II should be submitted TO that
tribunal for decision. This radical mea.
sure has been so framed as TO be applied
solely in the Southern States, and 1 think
that those representatives from this section
who voted for il ought 70 be held in execra-
tion.v
"TM GLADIT HAS PASSED"
Colonel Frank G. Rufiin quickly replied
81 am glad the bill has passed. because
hone that the hatred which the North feels
for the south, thus manifested in such an
unmistakable and conspicuous manner,
will teach the South 10 feel and show some
spirit OF resentment"
COLONEL TAzEwELL ELICIT.
Colonel Tazewell Elicit said: 81 think
the measure unconstitutional, and that II
is as pernicious and centralizing In its ten.
denotes as any that was ever passed by Con
gress. trust that when IL reaches the Sen
ate the conservative element OF the Re
publican party there will appreciate this
..x.I az IL AHOul1 A flnQll1
pass, however, | think il will defeat the
very objects which the Republican party
have in view. for while IL will disgust the
more liberal Republicans in the North and
West, and thereby lose many districts in
those sections, l believe. that II will but
make the Southern whites more Demo.
cratic. viii arouse their Indignation, and
cause them 10 determine that despite Fed.
eral interference, the intelligence, thrift and
culture OF the land shall rule it,
JUDGE WEXFORD.
Judge Beverly X. Wexford, Of the City
Circuit Court, said 81 think the bill de
liberate attempt on the part of the Repub-
ljcans 10 seize the control Of the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES,. am confident, and have
been for some time, that the measure VIII
be defeated In the Senate. The Republicans
who compose that body consist OF men o.
more liberal views and act more In accord
anee with the popular wish Of the peo-
Die. IL IL passes the Senate, L believe
Il will be amended 70 such an extent that II
will not be so Objectionable. The object Of
the bill il 10 elect Republican representa-
tive from each Congressional district where
1 the census returns viii show that colored
majority exists. The bill provides that
, three commissioners shall pick the juries
I but does not require them to be equally di
vided between the two parties as IL Is al
present. This will throw the con
7 troll cf the trial Of the case into
( the hands Of the Republican party. In
1 some districts this win not be enforced, but
4 IA this and the Petersburg aud Norfolk dis
tricts II will very Likely be strictly enforced
as these districts are largely Republican
I do not know whether the measure could
be set aside by thu Supreme Court OF the
United States or not. While some OF the
features of the bin are decidedly unconsti'
tutional. they will be very hard 10 reach
Besides, the Federal courts are Republican,
and most likely VIII BIZ In SYMPATHY with
/ Al IA