The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-21
The Subjects OF Discussion by Sena-
tors Bate and Palmer at
Washington.
Tho Former Wants Supervisors
and Special Deputies Swept
Out OF Existence.
The Latter Is Opposed to the Anti OptIon
Bill Foster Continues to Talk
OF Gold.

WASHINGTON, Dec, 20. In the senate the
army appropriation bill was presented and
referred to the committe on appropriations.
large number OF petitions for and against
the anti-option bill were presented and re-
ferred to the committee on agriculture.
Sherman introduced a bill to extend the
north Pacific ocean provision statutes for
the protection Of fur seals and other fur
bearing animals. deferred to the commit
tee on foreign relations. A resolution for
assembling both houses Feb. 8 to witness
the count of the electoral vote was pro-
scnted. The McGarrahan bill was laid
aside and the house bill for the sale OF the
navy yard lands in Brooklyn was passed.
The bill introduced By Bate, of Tennes-
see. to repeal all statutes relating to super
visors Of elections and special deputies.
was taken up and Bate made an Argument
in its favor. These laws, he said, have
been In operation over twenty years, and
have not reconciled the people to their
harsh interference with affairs belonging
exclusively to the states. Tt was not sur
prisinR that Of late political revolutions
had swept from power the party which en-
forced machinery for interfering with the
elections of states. The force bill had
been potent in the late overthrow OF the re-
publican party. The law which he pro-
posed to have repealed was the germ of the
force bill. These laws had no constitu-
tional warrant, serve no good, and their re-
naming on the statute books was in direct
disregard of the spirit and purpose of cleo
tions and the peace and quiet of the ooun-
try. The bill went over without
action. After brief attempt by
Blackburn, of Kentucky. to displaoe the
anti-optlon bill with the Hudson river
bridge bill, the former was taken up and
Palmer, of Illinois, addressed the senate In
opposition to the bill. He argued that the
meaning and effect of the proposed bill was
to give the collectors of internal revenue
by any persons for the sale and future de-
livery of property. It gave most extensive
and alarming jurisdiction to collectors of
internal revenue; gave them authority to
look into the business of every and any man
In the country, power which heretofore was
only permitted under very limited and
restricted circumstances, for mere revenue
purposes. The bill is5sobjectionable on
broader grounds. No senator, he appre-
hended. would risk his reputation as a law
yer and legislator by claiming that congress
possessed power to prohibit dealings in
options on futures in states. The attempt,
however, WAS but thinly disguised in the
bill to thrust the jurisdiction of the fed
eral government into states to define and
punish crimes. The senator who called the
bill revenue measure knew the term was q
misnomer, because there is no purpose to
raise revenue under the bill. The demo-
cratic party. when it comes into power. will
not tolerate fraud of the character of the
pending bill. Gambling in states will never
be prohibited by federal action, but the
democratic party will endeavor to suppress
such vices bv state action.
After further argument in the same line,
but without concluding his speech, Mr..
Palmer yielded the floor. the anti-option
bill going over without action, and the CEN
ate adiournad