The record-union., 1893-09-15
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECORD-UNION.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14.-Open war be-
gan in the House to-day. Partisan hos
tilities were inaugurated over tho Tucker
bill to repeal the existing Federal election
laws. 1t became apparent at the outset
that the Republican members would fight
the proposition to repeal the existing
election laws to the bitter end. Burrows
OF Michigan led in the filibustering move
ment. He declared in justification of his
course that measure so sweeping as the
Tucker bill would drive the National
Government out of States and leave no
one on guard at the polls to prevent fraud
and corruption in Congressional and
Presidential elections, and should have
no status in the House until the Demo-
Gratis produced its own quorum. Fur
thermore, the leaders declare once it gets
into the arena OF debate they will resist
its passage with every eXpedient known
to parliamentary law.
In the hlibustering fight to-day they
demonstrated their ability to block mat
ters, and there was a dead lock of the
House until quorum OF Democratic
members was produced. by their actions
and words to-day ii is understood they
are in desperate earnest, and the present
election laws Will only be repealed under
a hard fought, exciting and bitterly con-
tested struggle. They won the first blood
To-day by forcing the passage of a resolu-
tion revoking all leaves OF absence, and
summoning absentees by telegraph to
Washington. Some administration DEM
ocrats, led by General Tracey of New
York, knowing the White House opposi-
ton TO present consideration OF this bill,
or any other bill in the House which may
cOmplicate the night in the Senate for un-
conditional repeal, acted with the RepuD-
licans to-day. This angered the silver
Democrats IN the House, especially the
Southern men, who are particularly in
terested in the passage OF the Tucker bill.
Beyond this measure 1t was claimed to-
night that the President did not coun-
tenance this course on the part of some of
his recognized heutenants in the House.
If this is true, they will probably be
promptly called oil, and their position in
the future, rejecting that of the admin
istrauon, Will show a change of sentiment
at the other end of the avenue.
D The galleries OF the House were well
filed in anticipation OF The preliminary
sllrmish over the Tucker bill.
At the conclusion Of the Chaplain's
prayer, Burrows of Michigan, one OF the
Republican leaders, surprised the House
by beginning a species OF covert filibust-
cring TO prevent the report of the bill to
the House. He asked unanimous consent
ports be dispensed with.
Tucker objected.
Burrows then moved the call be dis
pensed with, without asking unanimous
consent.
Tucker called for the ayes and noes.
1t was apparent as the roll-call pro-
ceeded the Republicans were grimly reso-
Lutte. They remained in their seats re-
fusing to vote in order 10 break a quorum
a number OF Administration Democrats
rejecting on the White House opposition
to the present consideration of that bill
also refused to vote. The result, as an
nounced, was: Ayes, t; noes, lO6. No
quorum.
\ call of the House was ordered, re-
sulting in the presence of 100 members.
The doors were ordered closed and mes
sengers dispatched in all directions to
bring in the absentees.
The House then settled down to a hand
to-hand contest.
The second call again showed the lack
OF quorum.
Tucker moved resolution instructing
the Ssrgeant-at- Arms to bring absentees
before the bar OF the House.
Reed thanked this movement by a mo-
ton 10 adjourn and the roll was again
called. The expressed determination OF
the Republicans to force the Democrats TO
produce quorum of their own before the
Tucker bill could be reported dead
locked the House.
Reeds motion was lost
Then fuckers resolution provoked a
hot, bitter debate OF half an hour
General Grosvenor of Ohio controlled
the time and led the debate for the Re-
publlcanS. when the President called
Congress in extraordinary session in
midsummer" said he, "the Democratic
leaders, recognizing the divisions in their
party, appealed to us to stand by and
sustain the Administration from over
whelming defeat. The Republicans al
most TO man, recognizing the condition
OF the country, demanded that PARTISAN
ship be laid aside, resolved to support
the Administration and force into law a
measure designated TO affect party sue
sess. \ measure more partisan than any
that has been introduced in twenty
years is TO be forced upon us. desire to
sound only a single note of warning
The bill TO repeal the Sherman silver law
is not yet law. Ii 1t happens TO pass
the Senate, when II returns here the Ad-
ministration may not be able 10 muster to
its support solid Republican vote"
Mcmillan, flushed and excited, replied
to General Grosvenor: You can do
your worst" ne shouted angriIy, pound
ing his desk, this bill will be reported
anu paSsed-if not tomorrow, then next
day or next week-but repealed it will
be, make no mistake about it.' Loud
applause from the Democratic slde.l
Alter some further remarks from Allen
OF mississippi. Rae of Arkansas and Bur-
rows and Grosvenor. the motion was put
and carried and then the House ad-
journed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS ON THE BILL.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE majority
report OF the committee on the bill re-
peallng the Federal election laws declares
that the purpose and object for which
these laws were passed have long passed
away. Surely no officer of the army or
navy should be left to determine when il
is necessary TO bring troops to the polls.
and the Constitution has implicitly pro-
hibited it.
With reference to those laws relating to
the appointment, duties and composltion
of Supervisors OF Election and Deputv
Marshals, the report goes into the consti-
tuIionality of the laws which were passed
under warrant of a section OF the Consri-
tuition prescribing elections, and SAYS the
object OF the legislation should be to pre-
vent conflicts betw cen the State and Fed
eral authority. The conditions they were
designed TO meet have happily passed
away. and we feel they cannot be too
quickly erased from the statute books
Let every trace of the reconstruction leg
islation be wiped from the books. Let
the States understand that elections are
IN their own hands, and il there be fraud,