The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-12-14
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
DEBATE OPENED ON THE FEDERAL
ELEGTI0N REPEAL BILL.
Senator Collun Makes the Speech Of the
Day in Opposition to Repeal-sen.
ator Hill Defends the New
York Machine.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, dec. 12.-The first
gun of the inevitable parliamentary
battle in the senate upon the question
of repeal Of the federal election laws
was fired today by Senator Cullom.
The resolution calling upon the presi-
dent for additional information in the
Hawaiian matter was laid over until
tomorrow, in order that Senator Frye
might submit his remarks.
After the mornings business, SEN
ator Cullom took the floor to speak on
the federal elections bill He reviewed
the legal questions involved in the
federal supervision of elections, taking
the broad view OF the constitutional
power of the general government
to regulate elections for federal of :.
ficers Shall elections of senator's and
representatives in congress be subject
alike to the frauds and outrages of ju-
dicial ruffians and ward bullies? Shall
the mandate of corrupt judge, the
order of a Maynard, determine the
complexion of the Legislature which
elects senator to this body2 Shall
the Drawn and muscle Of a McKane in
defiance of the courts and laws, con.
troll next year the election of a repre-
sentative in congress, and congress
have no power to protect by law the
integrity of its own membership? In
other words, is there no power in the
hands of congress by which it may
maintain in degree the integrity and
purity of determination of its own
mem bership or must it be ever sub.
ject to frauds and wrongs which state
laws have failed to prevent2 l have
not so lost faith in American citizen
ship as to believe that the sworn off
GERS of any political party will persist
emily ignore the requirements of wise
and just election laws. Better such
miuistered than it be without law and
without hindrance. In the course of
his remarks Senator Cullom attacked
the New York machine, especially /.
H. Maynard, the Democratic candidate
for Judge. This brought Senator Hill
to his feet and along dialogue took
place. Finally Senator Cullom resum-
ed the direct course of his speech. He
called upon the good people every
where in America, regardless of poll
tics, to join as one man to perpetuate,
make stronger and more efficient eve
ry guard and protection for honest
elections. Senator Cullom then refer
red to what he termed the general sit
uation. He spoke of the recent panic
and hard times but had not proceeded
far when Senator Hill again interrupt.
ted.
Does the senator expect to prevent
the country from realizing these dire
effects he has mentioned by the con-
tinuauce of the federal election laws?
Senator Cullom-Their repeal is one
of the steps to be taken, the end Of
which will be the destruction of the
industries and very life of the nation,
Senator Cullom, continuing, referred
to the pulling down of the American
flag at Hawaii, which could not have
been accomplished by all the power of
monarchial Europe, but had been
committed by order of an American
president upon the advice and recon-
mendaton of a newly baptized secre-
tary of state. Laughter
Senator Stewart (Nev.) addressed
the senate in favor of the repeal of the
federal election laws. He soon drifted
into discussion of the nscianl ques.
ton and attributed the evils CON-
planned of to the gold standard
After an executive session the SEN
ate adjourned
HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12.-The no use
today discussed the question of pin
ming another star on the American
flag. Consideration of the bill for the
admission of Utah as q state was be-
gun. Principal point at issue was
whether the enabling act should con-
tain proviso imposing pains and pen
alties for polygamous marriages, the
contention on one hand being that the
state should come in on an equal foot.
ing with the other states unhandicap-
ped by such provisions; on the other
that as polygamy had been stamped
out by federal statutes and as the ad
mission of the territory would repeal
that statute congress should make it
practically part of the enabling act.
Mr.. Morse Mass opposing the bill
made vicious assault on Utah and
Mormonism, recalling all the out.
RACES OF plural marriages, crimes OF
the Danties, Mountain Meadow mas
sacre, blood at ointment and relela-
tions of the endowment house.
Mr.. Rawlins, the Utah delegate, in a
brilliant speech chanpioning the bill,
replied to Mr.. Morse and worsted the
from the Bay state ry
badly.
The debate will conclude tomorrow.
AS most of the Republicans have with
drawn opposition to the bill it Is ex
pected it will pass by an overwhelm
ing majority.
During the morning hour Mr.. Meyer
from the committee on naval affairs,
again called up the joint resolution
for the appointment of joint COM
mission to consider the rank, pay and
other questions to the personnel OF the
navy.
Mr.. Kilgore continued his obstructive
program of last week, demanding tel
lers on the motion to go into commit
tee of the whole. The measure was
discussed by Messers. Kilgore (Tex.), |
Cummings (N Y. }, aud Everett (Mass) }. |
Before a decision was reached the
hour expired, and the bill
went over.
The house resolved itself into q COIN |