The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-28
VOL. NEW SERIES NO 1875.

!
/ attitude assumed by Mr.. Morse, OF Massa-
remarks about Pension Commissioner
| Lochren. and stated that he would IN
! clude in his remarks IN the Record some
newspaper clippings These clippings had
| been Withheld from the Record by
/ Speaker Crisp because Representative
Morse had not formally obtained consent
OF the House for their insertion. To day
he made the request. but Mr.. flthian. Of
Illinois. objected Nhereupon Mr.. Morse
declined TO permit business 10 proceed IN
the absence Of a quorum. and It was 3l5
before Mr.. Bland could get the resolution
PASSED, which called on the Secretary OF
the Treasury for the reason why he had
not bon ght 4,500 900 ounces of silver tn each
OF July and August, as required by the
Sherman law.
That having been finally accomplished,
with no dissenting votes, the bill to re-
peal the Federal election laws was taken
up, and Representative Lawson (Ga.)
and Daniels (Rep., n. ", members OF
the Committee on Election Of President
and Vive-President and Representatives
In Congress. spoke, respectively, for and
against the bill.
Mr.. Lawson said that the unconstitu-
tionality Of the laws sought to be re-
pealed had always been strongly asserted.
The constitutional organization and his
tory OF the government in its relations
10 the States and the powers Of each
were set forth At length by the speak
er. Mr.. Lawson admitted that the Su-
preme Court had decided that these cleo
ton laws were constitutional, but, as
the gentleman from Virginia said yester-
day, Congress IS not bound by the judg-
ment of the Supreme Court upon these
political questions. We have carried
the case to the ultimate resOrt-the free
suffrages OF the people Of the country
and they have reversed the judgment
Of the Supreme Court. The gentleman
from Pennsylvania yesterday quoted an
apt expression from Garfield, that the
ballot box registers the decree Of the
people. Upon this subject the decree
of the people has been registered against
the constitutionality Of these election
laws"
MIR. Lawson said that under the opera
tion Of a system Of laws such as the
one under discussion, it were easy TO
see how. in close districts, enough per-
sons might be deferred by the mere
presence OF the Federal forces, civil or
military, at the polls from voting 10
change the otherwise normal result of
the election. While upon this part of
his speech Mr.. Lawson was interrupted
by Mr.. Mallory, who remarked that
in his own State two members Of the Leg
islature had been arrested by Federal
officials taken two hundred miles away
from the capital, and held there until
the Senate was organized by the Repub-
licans, and the State government thereby
given into the hands Of that party. When
that had been accomplished the men We're
released, no charge being made against
them. Also by Mr.. Bynum, who stated
that at a recent election I'm his own State
a man was arrested at the command
Of a United States inspector for making
an affidavit whereby another man was
enabled TO vote. BY the arrest Of this
voter. said Mr.. Bynum, fifty men We're
deprived Of the right TO cast their bal
lots.
Mr. Lawson's time having expired Mr..
Longley Rep. Maine) asked unanimous
consent for him 10 continue until he had
concluded. Mr.. Morse objected. Mr.. Bur
rows obtained recognition and Welded Mr.
Lawson enough time TO hnish-a courtesy
which Democratic members acknowlegg-
ed with applause. Ia concluding Mr., Law
son read from the report Of the iuvesu-
cation Of the conduct Of Lot Wright.
United States marshal at Cincinnati, made
by 4 committee of the House, 10 show
Wnat might be done under tne laws
sought 10 be repealed, which repeal was
demanded by the Democratic party ard
the country.
Mr. Morse made an Intellectual effort
90 adjourn and then Mr.. Daniels Rep.
n. " addressed the House against the
bill. lie said these laws had been signed
by President Grant and had net the
approval of the people from hat time
until the assembling Of the convention in
Chicago in 1892, which nominated Cleve-
land for the presidency. Then, Tor the
first time was the demand made that
these laws should be wiped off lhe sta
tute book. AS TO the constitutionality OF
the laws. Mr.. Daniels said, they affected |
nothing but the election of members Of |
Congress and TO that extent the proVis- |
ion in the Constitution by which their |
validity had been upheld met the approval |
OF the people who framed that document |
and adopted It. Mr.. Daniels argued that |
the operation Of the laws had worked |
no injustice TO any one in support of |
which he asserted that no deputy mar |
shall or inspector had been indicted and |
for abuse Of his powers under |
the law. At $40. Mr. Daniels having |
the House adjourned until |
noon tomorrow.