The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-21
The Senate.


After the routine morning business was
disposed Of. the Army Appropriation bill
from the House was presented and re-
ferred TO the Committee on Appropria
tiOns.
The concurrent resolution for the holi-
day recess was laid over without action,
on objection from Mr.. Sherman Rep.,
o. a resolution for the assembling Of
the two houses on Wednesday, February
Sth 10 witness the count Of the electoral
votes was offered by Mr.. Teller Rep.,
Col) and referred
The bill introduced by Mr.. Bate Oem.,
Tenn0 on December 9th Ito repeal all
statutes relating to supervisors Of cleo
tions and special deputies was taken up;
and Mr.. Bate proceeded to make an argu-
ment 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 the States. 1t was not sur
prising that the late political revolutions
of 1890 and 1892 had swept from power the
party which enforced the machinery for
interfering with the elections of the
States.
The Force bill had been a potent fac
tor in the late overwhelming defeat OF
the Republican party. The law, which he
(Mr Bate proposed to have repealed was
the germ or proloplasm Of the Force Dill
1t was that bacillus which had poisoned
elections and inoculated them with fraud.
From the supervisor Of elections ana
the armed deputy marshal the step to
the army at the polls was but short
one The day had come to bring the Fed
eral Government back TO the duties Tor
which it had been provided.
The late elections had brought into
power party pledged 10 reform-not only
fiscal but elective; in not only the tariff
but all the Federal machinery that inter-
fered with State affairs, and to wipe out
absolute power, which had no rightful
place i'm the American Federal system
The bill went over without action.
on motion Of Mr.. Teller the McGarra-
han bin V ent over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Blackburn Dem, KY moved TO
proceed to the consideration Of the Hud-
son River Bridge bill.
Mr.. Washburn Oep, Minn) asked
whether If the motion prevailed, the
Anu-Option bill would not lose its place
of privilege as unfinished business
The presiding officer (Nlr. Harris Dem,
Tenn) stated that it would.
Mr. Blackburn: 1 ask unanimous con-
sent 20 proceed to the consideration of the
bridge bill.
Mr. Frye Rep., Me-: l object.
Mr. Blackburn: Then l renew the mo-
tion.
Mr.. Frye: / hope the Senator will with
draw that motion until after the holidays.
Mr.. Blackburn: On what grounds is
that request based?
Mr.. Frye: / have a telegram which l
win read preparing TO do sol.
Mr.. Blackburn: l object to any debase
unless we are permitted TO debate the bill
on both sides.
Mr.. Washburn: I demand the yeas end
nays on the motion Of the senator from
Kentucky.
The vote was taken and Mr.. Blackburn's
motion was rejected.
The Anti-Option bill was then taken
up and Mr. Palmer Dem, Ill) addressed
the Senate. explaining and defending his
objections to the bill. He argued that the
meaning and effect Of the proposed bill
was TO give to the collectors of internal
revenue absolute authority over all con-
tracts made by any person for the sale
and future delivery Of property. 1t gave
them an authority TO look into the busi-
ness of every and any man in the coun-
try. The bill was Objectionable on broad
er grounds. lie had heard much Of 'the
rights Of the States" and he had sup
posed that no party was prepared to say
that the Federal Government could inter
fere in the exercise Of police powers in the
States. No senator (he apprehended)
would risk his reputation as a lawyer or
legislator by claiming that Congress pos
sessed the power TO prohibit dealings in
options for futures in the Staes. The
attempt. however, was but thinly guised
In the bill 10 thrust the jurisdiction Of
the Federal Government into States TO
define and punish crimes. The bill re- !
sorted to the trick or expedient or sub
.erfuge, or circumocution, Of being put |
In the form OF a revenue law; and in that |
way II was sought 10 find power to pro- |
liDit options and to define and punish !
sales for future delivery. The senator |
who called the bill a revenue measure |
lnew that the term was missioner. and |
here was no purpose 10 raise revenue.
Without concluding his speech, Mr.. |
Palmer yielded the floor. the Anti-Option |
Jill going over without action, and the
senate. at 4 p. NJ. adjourned until to-
morrow.