The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-29
JOHN |. DAVENPORT MUST GO
HILL Nv THE SENATE AND FITCH N
THE HOUSE AFTER BIs sCILP.

THE HOUSE AFTER Els sCILP.
A Bin TO Repeal the Federal Election Law
Reported In the senate by the Judiciary
Connittee-The FIRST Work OF the House
Connittse, OF which Mr.. Fitch IL Chair
r,.s. VIII Re TO Prepare n Similar Bill
twin Also Prepare . Biu Changing the
TIne for the Meeting of the Two Houses.
WASHINGTON. Aug. % Senator Hill IL after
John /. Davenports official scaln To-day the
Senate Judiciary Committee made favorable
report on the bill OF Senator Hin to repeal tho
Federal Election laws. The bill and report
have been intrusted to Senator Hills care and
he proposes to urge considerable on OF the sub
Ject as early as practicable. The Democratic
party in the Senate is united il favor OF the re-
peal oftho existing Law, and tits not expected
that the Republicans will interpose a very Wig
orous opposition. In the House Representa-
tive Fitch OF New York Is equally anxious that
the country should dispense with the services
OF Mr. Davenport and as soon IS the House de-
cdes to 60 ahead with general legislation Mr..
Fitch will introduce bill similar to that report
ed to- day by Senator Hill. Mr.. Fitch's bill will
| he referred to the Committee on the Election
| OF President, Vice President. and representa-
tives in Congress of which Mr. Fitch is Chair
man. He has already cut out some important
work for that committee. The first measure
TO be taken UP will be the repeal OF the Federal
| Election laws. Mr.. Fitch SAYS:
! Mr.. Crisp's selection OF me as Chairman OF
this Com ittee. to which the consideration OF
all the Federal laws relating to elections is
| given. is particularly agreea tle TO me. on ac
| count OF my connection with this subject in
the last House as Charm an OF the special COM
mittee which investigated the operation OF
| these laws In the state OF New York. The re-
suit Of that Investigation. and the methods
pursued by John l. Davenport. the Chief
! Supervisor OF Elections. has convinced me.
| and. / think. majority OF the House. that
! these laws oushtto be entirely repealed. They
| were passed by the Republicans for party
purposes and they have been used exclusively
! for partisan advantage. Under cover OF these
statutes the greatest injustice and frauds havo
| been committed. l am opposed to giving to
any N ember OF my own party the power which
| Mr.. Davenport has ! would not approve OF
| the use OF his Methods II we got the advantage
OF them. any more than when they are used
against US. All the bills in relation to this
| subject will be sent TO this committee. and
think the first work OF the committee will be
to prepare and TO bring into the House COM
prehensive and carefully drawn measure.
which will wipe the whole system by which
Davenport and his supervisors and marshals
exist of from the statute books.
The second measure which may receive at
tention on this committee will be an act for
the changing OF the time for the meeting OF
Congress Under the present system. which
has been complained OF for many years. a
Representative in Congress elected. for in
stance. in November. 1892 does not take his
seat under ordinary circumstances until De-
cember. 1899, thirteen months after his cleo
ton. 1t seems to me absurd that in the popu-
lar branch Of the Government. where Repre-
sentatives ar supposed 10 como directly from
the people. over year should DO allowed 10
earse before the Representative takes his
seat in Congress The issue on which Con-
gresham has been elected may in thirteen
months entirely fade out OF sigh5. The reasons
why he was elected mas no lonEe: exist The
people should lie ahle To control prompt Con-
gressioua action in any direction in which a
majority OF them desire to have it taken. In
order to accomplish this Congress ought to
. few months after the election. This will
give an Interval Of about tive month. for pre-
il amply sufficient The present system had
its osiEIn a, time when it took weeks IT., 70
to make their arrangements TO remain at the !
seat OF Government without return home ior
most distant parts Of the country can come to /!
Washington in week. and they are 10 con-
with their homes and have frequent oppor- T!
tunities to return for short visits II Congress
meets within I'VE fnon.ms altes the eee'i .h
people. aud the voters could put their wishes !
int law with raGid,y: ! believe e. borough
is one OF the most necessary r.forms which |
can he considered and believe that the COM |
mlttee will give il immediate and careful con- !
THE two reforms which have alluded to |
can be Effected BY Congressional action. There !
are two other PROPOSITIONS. which. although |
tthey must originate in C9pgressi and he passed |
in order TO re carried into effect, lie put in the ,
form Of a nstitu'ional amendment and ap- |
Union. These have both peen considered for !
years in Congress. and will be again discussed |
n this committee and action taken on them.
provides for the election OF United States SEN
sto1s BY ne ponuaT vote instead O. BY the
Increasing dissatisfaction with the election q
United states senators by state Legislatures.
and in other States men have been elected
who probably never could have received the
Is, a mater OF the greatest importance, on
which there are diverse views, and i will be
the views Of the committee viii Re reported in
a biz to the H9use and thus the initial step
saon q hs rhs& sas In tho Con-
The second question Of this nature Is that
eectan the Pr Fs Of the ned States
There are hunter OF proposals IN regard 10
this. the most popular on. Of which IN the
Presidents term should lie heightened from
four to six years. and that he should he made
hv the Constitution ineligible for req lection.
The discussion on this proposa! will also &C.
cupy the time OF the committee. and rnay re-
suit in action by Congress looking toward the
approval ny the states Of an important change
in our Government. The committee has been
selected hy the SPEAKER with the utmost care.
and contains some OF the best material in tho
House oil Representatives ] am greatly
pleased with the make-up nf the com m ittee.
and am sure that its WORK will be effective and
Lotti- Collins ut the Stan
Ynttta Colline With all bar ancspt har