The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-21

kAnt al lat OMA V&nAO tAC
subject executed itself, but he thought the
precedent of four years ago had better De
followed. The concurrent resolution was
referred TO the committee on privileges anu
elections
The bill introduced by Mr.. Bate on Dec.
6 To repeal all statutes relating to super
vIsors of elections and special deputies
was taken up. aud Mr.. Bate proceeded to
make an IN its favor. lnese
laws. he said, had been In operation Tor
over twenty years and had not reconoiled
the people in their harsh interferencs Win
affairs belonging exclusively TO the States.
1t was not surprising that the late poiit-
ical rev olutions In 1890 and 1852 had swept
from power the party which enforced tne
machinery for interfering with the eiee,
tions of the States. The force Dill nad
been a potent factor In tSe late oyerwheIm-
ing defeat of the Republican party. The
law which he Mr.. Bate proposed 10 nave
repealed was the germ of the force DILL IL
was that bacillus which had POI
with. fraud. From the supervisor
of elections and the armed deputy
marshal the step TO the army OF tbe pons
was but q short one The day had come 10
bring the federal government PACK 70 'n rSo
duties for which it had been PROVIDED. Ino
late elections had brought into power
party pied ged TO only nscsl
but elective questions, not only the tartu
but all the federal machinery tnat inter.
fered with State affairs. and 10 wipe OUT
absolute power, which had no rlgndiui
place ID the American federal system. lDst
system vas a failure If the States could not
keep pure the very elections wnich mann
tanned it's organization. The power OF Con,
gress over elections having been conferred
oaly, IN the language of Alexander Hamll.
ton, Ito instruct the Union with the care OF
its own existence" and there being no ap-
prehension for the permanency or the
Union these election laws had no constitu-
tional warrant. They were useless for any
purpose. They served no good. They dld
~ IN
much harm. and their remaining OF the
sta books was in direct disregard or
the spirit and purpose Of the late elections,
aud OF the peace and quiet of the country.
The bill went over without action.
On motion of Mr.. Teller the McGarrahan
bill went over till tomorrow morning.
VICTORY FOR A~NTi-oPTIoN MEN.
After q brief executive session Mr.. Black
burn moved TO proceed TO the considera-
tion of the Hudson-river bridge bill This
would have displaced the antI-options bill,
and q warm debate ensued. Finally avote
was taken. 1t resulted: Yeas. IS; nays. Al;
and Mr.. Blackburn's motion was over
wkelmingly defeated.
The %anti-option bill was then taken up.
and Mr.. Palmer addressed the Senate. ex-
planning and defending his objections TO
the bill. He said that when he was can
wasting fhe State of Illinois as q candi-
- " tnO DCnae AO IA OOOh
asked whether he would vote for such o
bill, and he had said No." The clauses
against purchases of options were. he said.
less satisfactory to his mine than the statute
of Illinois on that subject. Dealings in op-
tIons were prohibited by the laws of Illinois
and were punished by adequate fines and
penalties. lie had. therefore. said TO those
who asked him that. there being q care
full, well-cOnsidered statute In force IN
Illinois, nothing more colld be done In
that line by more legislation. He argued
that the meaning and effect of the pro-
posed bill was 10 give TO the collectors or
Internal revenue absolute authority over
ali contracts made by any person for the
sale and future delivery of property. Ii
gave n most extensive and alarming juris-
diction TO collectors of internal revenie.
1t gave them an authority to look into the
business of every and any man In the
country-a power which had been hereto
fore only permitted under very limited and
restricted circumstance for mere revenue
broader grounds. He had heard
much of the rights of the
States" and he had supposed that
no party was prepared to say that the fed
ercise of police powers in the States. No
Senator. he apprehcnded. would risk his
reputation as n lawyer or Legislator by
claiming that Congress possessed the power
Co prohibit dealings in options or futures
IN the States. The attempt. however. wes
but thinly guised IA the bill to thrust the
jurisdiction OF the federal government into
States to define and punish crimes. The bill
resorted To the trick, or expedient, or sub
terfuge. or circumlocution of being put In
the form of q revenue law, and In that way
1t was sought TO find power to prohibit op-
fioDs and to define and punish
sales for future delivery. The Sem
ator who called the bill q revenue
measure knew that the term was a misno-
mer. and If IL were an action outside of the
Senate. where proprieties were observed.
the statement would he called false, be-
cause there was no purpose to raise reve-
nue. under the bill Tbs Democratic party,
when It comes into power. Will not toier-
ate a fraud OF the character of the pending
bill. 1t will never attempt to initiate the
Partisan legislation, licensing a certain
GLASS of houses in ORDER to prohibit them.
Gambling in the States will never be pro-
hibited by federal action; but the Demo-
cratic party Will endeavor to suppress
such vices by State action. After further
argument In the same line. but without
concluding his speech. MIR. Palmer yielded
the floor. The anticipation bill going over
without action. the Senate adjourned.
No Quorum In the House.
WASHINGTON, Dec was a bakers
dozen leaves OF absence granted in the House
TO day-some for sickness and some for the cell
ebration OF Christmas. Under the special order
the floor was accorded to the on pup
lie lands, which, through its chairman, Mr.. Nc
Rae. called mp the bill adjusting the claims of
Arkansas ana other States under the swamp-land
act No action was taken on the bill, no quorum