The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-04

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.-A good deal
of acrimony was injected into the debate
on the federal elections bill today. Gen.
Black of Illinois, Mr.. Johnson of Indiana
and Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky were
the speakers. Two exciting incidents of
the day were the colloquy between Mr..
Morse of Massachusetts and Mr.. Fithian
of Illinois during which the lie was
passed and an allusion by Mr.. Johnson,
while Mr.. Breckenridge was talking, to
the sensational breach of promise suit
brought against him by Madeline Pollard,
which was rebuked by the Kisses of the
democrats.
Mr.. Morse, in a fve-minute speech.
this morning tried to justify his action
during the course of which he charged
Mr.. Fithian with being solely RESPONSE
BILE for the refusal of the house to permit
him to print in the Record some news
paper extracts attacking Commissioner
Lochren.
Mr.. Fithian, rising to reply, said in
asmuch as Mr.. Morse has seen fit to crit
icise him that he desired to call the at
tention of the house to a rather dubious
proposition made by Mr.. Morse to him
He said Mr.. Morse, when he Ffthian)
objected to his leave to print, came to
him with honeyed words and Informed
him that he was a member of the COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds
and intimated that IL he (Fithlan) had
public building bill he (NIorse) might be
able to help him, If the Illinois congress
man could see his way clear to withdraw
his objection.
f- oh fo1co ~ chntttad Mr.
Morse, striding in a war-like manner to-
ward Mr.. Fithian.
''If the gentleman from Massachusetts,
denies this statement have proof to pro-
duce that will satisfy any member of the
house. My colleague. Mr.. Goldzier. heard
the conversation" AS Mr.. Fithian said
this Mr.. Morse backed against the rails
and replied meekly:
What the gentleman says has the
color of truth Qaughter), but the con-
struction he places on il is false
IF the gentleman denies my state
ment." yelled Mr.. Fithian, shaking his
fist angrily at the Massachusetts, con-
gresham, he is wilfully lying himself"
In a minute the house was in an up
roar The speaker quelled the impend-
ing riot by pounding his desk vigorously
with the gavel and declaring both gen.
tlemen out OF order. This closed the in
cident.
Gen. Blacks speech.
After some further routine business
the debate on the election bill was re-
sumed and Gen. John G. Black OF IlH-
nois, ex-commissioner OF pensions, took
the floor In support OF the bill. This was
his maiden speech in the house and he
was accorded impressive attention. II
beginning his argument Gen. Black salt.
he desired to discuss the pending ques-
ton in a quiet and investigating spirit.
He would not consider Il from a const'-
tutional standpoint, but would try e.
show his reasons for favoring the repeal
of this system of laws. They were en-
acted In 1865 and the most that could be
claimed for them was that they were
designed 10 operate at time and under
circumstances that no longer exist. They
were designed to protect and elevate an
unfortunate race. by supporting them
with the strong arm OF the government.
They were designed to intensity the race
issue. They appealed TO force. not TO
reason.
IT will vote" declared Gen. Black en-
phatically, for any amount OF money
and force, IL necessary, to uphold the
dignity of the government and rights of
its citizens, but these laws do neither"
He then went into a detailed analysis
Of the cost of these laws. He read
letter from Comptroller Boiler, showing
that from 1877 supervisors Of elections
had cost 2.S54, 900 and deputy marshals
81 127, 900. The cost OF the troops IL was
impossible 10 detail. Their cost repre-
sented all the hidden drains to be ac-
counted for The records showed that at
first these officials had been massed in
democratic states in the South and in
New York. Gradually the amount spent