The sun., 1892-12-21
PROCEEDINGS or coNaREss
Mr. Bate's Speech Against Force at the
Pons-Debate on the Auti-Option Bin.

Mr.. Bate's Speech Against Force at the
Pons-Debate on the Ant.Option Bin.
WASHINGTON. Dec 20-The bill introduced
by Mr.. Bate dem. Tenn.) on Dec @. to repeal
all statutes relating to supervisors Of elections
and special duties was taken up in the Senate
to-day. and Mr.. Bate argued In Its favor
These laws. he said. had been in operation FOR
over twenty years. and had not reconciled the
people to their harsh interference with affairs
belonging exclusively to tho States. 1t was
not surprising that the political revolutions
of 1890 and 1892 had swept from power the
party which enforced the machinery for intor-
ferinp with the elections OF the States. inc
Forcc bill had been q potent factor in the late
overwl Ginning defeat of the Republican party.
The law which he Mr. Batol proposed to have
repealed was tho germ or protoplasm OF tho
Force bill. II was that bacillus which had
poisoned elections and inoculatcd thcm with
fraud. From the supervisor of elections and
the armed deputy marshal tho step to the
army at the polls was but short one. Ile
day had come to bring tho Federal Govern
ment back to those duties for which 1t had
been provided.
The late elections had brought into power
party pledged to reform, not only hscal. but
elective: not only the tariff. but all tho Federal
machinery that interfcrod with state affairs.
"
rgttful place in the American Federal sys-
tenn THAT system was II failure II tho states
could not keep pure the very elections which
maintalncd its ORGANIZATION. Tho power OF
Congress over elections having been conferred
only. in tho language OF Alexander Hamilton.
ito ntrust .he Union with tho care OF Its
own existence" and thrre being no appre-
hcnsion for the rermnnencv OF the Union.
thrso election laws had no constitutional
warrant. They were useless Tor any purpose.
They served no good. They did much harm.
and their remaining on the statute books was
in direct disregard OF tho spirit and purpose Of
the late electious and of tho Ieace and quiet OF
the couatry.
Tho bill went over without action.
Mr. Black khurn dem. ky.l moved to proceed
20 the cons liberation OF tho Hudson River
Bridge bill.
Mr. Wnshburn tRer.. Mimi asked whether.
II the motion prevailed. the Anti-Opti"n hill
would not lose its place OF privilege AS "unf,n-
ishel business" The presiding officer. Mr..
Harris Dem. Tenn. said that it would. Mr..
Wnshburn demanded the yeas and nays on
tho motion. and it wac rcjectri: yeas. l3:
nays. Al.
Tho Anti-Opton bill WAS then taken up and
Nj. Palmer (Dem.. H. addressed tho Senate
explaining and defending his objections to
the bill. He argued that the meaning and e.
feet OF the pronosed hil was to give to- n. col
over all contracts made by any person Tor the
sale and fnturn delivery OF property, i gave
most extensive and alarming jurisdiction t.
collectors Of internal revenue. IL gave them
| an authority to lock into tho business OF every
| anG any man in tho country. a power which
very limited and restricte4 ciccnmstancrs for
rd rounls .o III III nsard
ho had, supposed that no rartty was
eminent could interfere in ths exercis o o
ssna,o4 r9!ihS he G%sh's would risk his
utatinn as n lawyer Or legislator i.v claiming
| that Congress possessed the power to rr"-
states The attempt, however. was nut thinly
! disG Guisch in the bill TO thrust tho jurisdiction
| of the Federal Government int" States TO 4r,
| in the form OF a revenue law 1t was sought to
find power to prohibit OPTIONS and to define
and punish snes M ''r nInrs ny'ry m s,rS ImS
kne" that the '""m WAS mi,nomrr: ana II 1t
were an action outsid" Of tn: reuatr; wher.
wonI be called false. becaus. thcTe was no
purpose to raise revenue :nd"r the hil!
After further argument in the sam,e linz" but
yielded the door. and the Ant.or:ion bill
went over without action.
Mr.. Teller Hep. .Col.l introduced concur
| Houses in the hall of III" House OF represent
atives on Wednesday. frh. = lS'W !4;irsunnI, ~; i
TO the I.?nr.m%nt "f tn" G. Honsi,mtlof and ana
| Vice President ot the nited Statos The res
oiution was referred to tho Committed on
On motion of Mr.. Mrrherson Dem. y. -
| the House bill to rrovLe for the sale Of navy
yard lands in BROOKLYN ut not less than
| SiI 900 an acre was taken from the calendar
and passed without amendment.
| No business of general interest was done in
| the House to-day.