Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-27
BY TELEGRAPH.
TWO nnronrs
lGads BY Aiaosity on the Hauk nsso.
tuition.

WAsuixerox. Feb. 26.-The minority
members Of the common jadiciary prepared
two vigorous reports in opposition 70 the
Houk resolution which we're ordered favor
ably reported TO the Hause. directios the
judiciary committee to inquire Into il and
report to the House whether any state has.
by any canstitutiopsl or statutory provi-
sion, violated the second section Of the l4th
amendment. to the constitution; % the
proper superintendent Of representation
may be made by Congress.
0ae minority report was prepared BY
Oates Of Alabama. siRned BY Oates, Cul-
bertson of TsxAs, Henderson Of North
Carolina. Wilson Of West Virginia. Stewart
of Vermont. This report says the stases
are rot constitutionally prohibited from
disfrsp chisiog any Of their male citisens;
it only prescribed il ~ . penalty for such
disffauchisement or for any other cause
than participated in rebellion or other
crime or that representation in congress
from such state be reduced in proportion
Of which persons disffauchised,, bear to .
q whole number Of adult male citizens 10
such state.
The committee assume that some Of the
citizens Of Mississippi aud Massachusetts
are denied the right to vote BY the state
constitutions for some other reason than
crime. This may be true; but the minority
cannot shut its eyes TO the fact that the
constitution of Mississippi has not yet gone
into operation, and no Law 10 applicable to
that state, Massachusetts or any other state
by which . committee can legally and GER
tsinly ASCERTAIN the number disfranchised.
for congress never provided means by which
this may be done. Until congress enacts .
law providing for the enumeration OF .
number of persons disfrAnchised for crime,
and for number disfrAnchised for other
causes, it will be impossible to comply with
these resolutions.
Representative Rogers, in the individual
minority report, says the resolution pro-
ceeds on two false assumptions; first, il the
State restricts suffrage for any cause other
than rebellion or crime it violates the
second section of the fourteenth amend.
ment; second, it 10 necessary for some
State to violate this section, in order that y
proper apportionment Of Representatives
may bs made. The Massachusetts, consti-
tuition prohibiting State officers from taking
oath to support the federal constitution Of
the United States is referred to with the
suggestion that II, perhaps, has some con-
hSShVh WIN tuV AouVuo AA&AtAOAA huhAAS0-
| ton convention. and it 10 submitted that
! amendment.
ehises pAupers. 1t is not niece ssarily =
crime, however convenient. to be 3 psuper.
Vermont also requires voter te be Of a
peaceabie and quiet disposition. 1t is sug-
gested that Vermont has thereby violated
| Hho 49, hn Ia n
ms ori!y. Connecicu Rogers says, also
deserves honorable mention. In that state
voters must be Of good moral character.
1t may be in Connecticut all persons who
have not been in rebellion or guilty of
other crimes have good moral character,
hence good moral character would not,
in that state, operate as restriction on
suffrage.
Attention is drawn to the Idaho provision
70, bidiag polyRamists or mormons voting
Other states. Rogers says, might be cited
and the list is already go long as to suggest
the inquiry whether the whole country il
not rapidly growing weary OF the fourteenth
amendment altogether, and becoming i'm
bued with the idea that the people Of state
capable of self government should be lief
to it without officious outside interference
| 4 ne majority OF tue cODmltL2e, IN repoFe
prepared by Casweil of Wisconsin, says
the committee did not deem it necessary
in parliamentary inquiry, to examine the
various state constitutions; but in the juds
men, of the msjority the constitutions o.
Mississippi and Massachusetts are clearl,
within the provi.ions of the second section
fof the fourteenth amendment. because o,
educational and property requirement
thereof.
The instances cited with reference to
Massachusetts and Mississippi, we believe
show that the resolution ought to pass sc
thorough investigation might be had. N,
one is exempted from military serviceI
because he does not own property the same
may be said for those who have not hat
the advantages of education
They are often as loyal and devoted /,
good order and the welfare Of the people a
those enjoying superior advantages. Whei
the fourteenth amendment was adopted
public opinion was especially directed Il
this class of people and it may be assumed
they were in mind when the article wa
adopted.