Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-26
THE HOUSE.

NOTWITHSTANDING that today was expected
to inaugurate in the House a debate which
in partisan bitterness would equal II not
exceed. any debate that has taken place
since lS76. the attendance was unusually
small on both sides of the chamber when
the rap OF the gavel called the members
to order at noon.
On motion of Mr.. Grosvenor tohio) Q
joint resolution was passed authorizing
the commissioners OF the Chattanooga Ma
tionaI Park to use stone and gravel on the
grounds for the purpose Of making founda-
tons for the monuments.
Mr.. Smith QllD asked for the considera-
ton OF a resolution providing for the print
ing OF the hearings held by the committee
on ways and means. At the suggestion OF
MFR. Wilson CIV. va-) the resolution went
over until tomorrow.
Mr. Talbot Is. c. asked consent for ths
immediate consideration Of a resolution re-
rency, after the disposal of the federal
bill.
MIR. Warner On. " objected
The Federal Elections Repeal.
In the second morning hour tthe arst be-
ing unproductive of results Mr.. Talbot
(Md) moved that the House 60 into COM
mittee Of the whole for the consideration
of the bill to remit the penalties on the de-
the bill was laid over until the nth OF Octo-
Der.
The House then Gin accordance with the
special ORDER proceeded to the consdera-
ton OF the federal elections repeal bill, and
was addressed by Mr.. Tucker fNa-). who
opened the debate. He argued that the
statutes which IL was proposed TO repeal
were unconstitutional, and that Congress
had no right to confer The power that IL
had done upon supervisors OF election. The
right Of suffrage was a right preserved TO
the states and granted specifically In the
Constitution. The right Of suffrage rested
in the states OF the Union. He planted him.
self on the ground that the right CT a citi-
zen to vote was a right given TO him. not
by the Constitution Of the United States.
nor by the federal government, but by the
right preserved in the state and recognized
by the Constitution.
What right, he queried. was worth hav-
| ing that was put into the hands Of another
power? He held that the elective function
ana the determining function must so hand
in hand.
Mr.. Anlhken Cde) asked several qnes-
tons on this point and suggested that the
gentleman from Virginia might be elected
from his state as a representative o. his
district. but IL his right 10 the seat WAS
challenged the case would be passed upon
by federal power.
Stand by the Constitution.
SIR. Tucker replied that that was pro-
vided for in the Constitution, and he hoped
Constitution
MIR. Miiiken-I have always done that
and so have my ancestors.
Mr.. Tucker-Then you are right.
MrTucker continued with his constitution
al argument against the law. and declared
that II the original right of suffrage was
in the state, the federal government had no
right to come in and claim the power of
counting and canvassing the vote. How
could the United States by its supervisors
and deputy marshais supervise an election
under law which IL had not enacted. OF
scrutinize the registration "a condition OF
suffrage in many OF the states) when the
right OF suffrage emanated from the state
itself and the state alone could determine
It?
The right OF suffrage and the conditions
Of suffrage should be left TO the states.
The states should be permitted 10 control
their own elections. The object OF legisls-
ton should be 10 prevent conflicts between
the state and federal authorities. The
statutes which IT was proposed TO repeal had
been fruitful In engendering them
The Question OF Power.
In reply to a question by Mr.. Hendersoe
nll) as to whether there was not a neces-
sity for federal supervisors at the polls,
Mr.. Tucker said that he was not discussing
the question OF necessity; he was discuss
ing the question OF power. The propositions
contained In the law were propositions
which should not be allowed to live until
the 10th OF October.
Then Mr.. Ray On. " and Afr. Tucker got
into a constitutional controversy as TO the
rights of the states. the republican con-
tending that the United Stntes ought TO
have the right to supervise elections In
which the interests OF the whole country
were involved and the democrat held the
contrary.
John I. Davenport Criticised.
Then Mt. Tucker paid his respects q
| John l. Davenport. and severely criticised
his action. The atrocities OF the Duke Of
Ava. he said. did not exceed the atrocities
of this man. The day had come when (and
now was) Congress must respond 10 the cry
OF the people and strike from the statute
books these obnoxious laws.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. fuckers speech.
the floor was taken by Mr.. Bosiux, Pa-k
in opposition TO the bill