The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-29
Thu Lib is PASSED
IN THB LOWER HOUSE.
Morse and Fithian Very Nearly
Come Together.
LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL.
4 Strour Aroumanf f-ouo RIoob nm 4l,o
LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL.
A Strong Argument from Black on the
Elections Bill.
If the Laws Laid Down in 1865 Were
Efficient Then, They Have Long
Outlived All Usefulness and
Should Be Repealed.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.-The lie was
passed at the opening session of the
House this morning between Morse, of
Massachusetts, and Fithian, of Illinois.
Morse, in brief speech, attempted to
justify his course in filibustering yester-
day, and charged 'Fithian with being
solely responsible for the refusal OF the
House to permit him to print in the Rec
ord newspaper extracts attacking Pen
sion Commissioner Lochrea.
Fithian, replying, said Morse had en-
deavored to induce him (Fishian) to with
draw his objection to printing by comm g
to him and intimating he (Morse) would
as member of the committee on build
ings and grounds, help Fithian get
through any public building bill in
which he might be Interested.
''That is absolutely taise,'' shouted
| Morse, striding menacingly toward Fifth
ian.
eff the gentleman from Massachusetts,
denies the statement, l have proof that
My colleague, Goldseir, heard the con-
versation,' retorted Fithian.
Morse backed against the rails and re-
piled meekly: ''What the gentleman
says has the color of truth (laughter),
but the construction he places on it is
unqualifiedly false.'
| IL the gentleman denies my state
ment," yelled Fithian, shaking his fist
angrily at the Massachusetts man, he is
wiIlfully lying.
The House was then in an uproar; and
the speaker pounded vigorously for order,
declaring both out of order. This closed
the incident.
The debate on the bill to repeal the fed
eral election laws was resumed.
Gen. John @. Black, of Illinois, ex-
commissioner of pensions, spoke in sup
port of the bill-h1s maiden speech in the
| House. He was accorded the closest at
tentiono He said he would not discuss
| the question from a constitutional point
of view. but would try to show bis reasons
for favoring the repeal. These laws were
enacted in 1865. The most that could be
said for them was they were designed to
! operate under circumstances which no
longer exist. 1t was following the fierce
! demoralizing struggle. The system was
a child of force, hatred, dread of men
long arrayed on sectional lines against
each other. If ever efficient, their time
was gone. The thing needed now is an
elevation OF the franchise. If men are
not fit to exercise this right, they should
be deprived OF the privilege. He did not
genius OF American institutions. Cor
rupt venal voters constitute danger to
the country. The election laws do not
meet and are not designed to meet this
condition. Their purpose is to protect
and elevate the unfortunate race by sup
porting them with the strong arm of the
government. They appealed to force,
not to reason, and Intensified the race
issue. He would vote in any event to
tn h0l he
dignity of the government and the rights
of its citizens, but these laws did neither.
At the conclusion of Blacks address
Johnson spoke in opposition to the re-
peal.
The debate was continued for more than
an hour.
Johnson arraigned the Democratic party
in the most bitter manner.
Breckenridge, the silver tongued Ken
lucky orator, followed. He hurled de-
| fiance at the lndianian. elf the gentle
man is fair type" he said, ssof the
people of his district, then they cannot
be criticised for sending here a man who
denounces as infamous the majority of
the people of this country. / have a pro-
found pity for the man who could make
| such a speech; who does not believe his
countrymen are to be trusted. With this
dismiss him from my mind and from my
speech
"There are other things" shouted
Johnson, (which the gentleman from
Kentucky would like to DISMISS"
At this direct allusion to the famous
Pollard Breckenridge breach of promise
suit, some Repu blicons laughed, but the
laughter was drowned by a storm of
Democratic Kisses.
''Such remark" replied Brecken-
ridge, bitterly, ''only shows the gentleman
has no sense of propriety and decency in
public life.''
Breckenridge's speech was devoted
largely to the constitutional phrase of
the question.
At the conclusion OF Breckenridge g
speech, the House adjourned.