The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
sPEARERS, BUT FEW HEABERs.
Very Little Interest Taken IN the Election
Law Discussion.

WASHINGTON, D. c., oct. 7.-Ten
Democrats and twelve Republicans were
in the chamber when the House met at
II o'clock to-day. The Federal election
bill was then taken up.
Mr Everett Dem., Mass) did not deny
the constitutional power OF Congress to
pass the laws, but he did not believe that
IL had the moral right to do so. The
same corruption at elections had gone
on under these laws as had gone on be-
fore the time Of their passage. The laws
were impotent and inefficient, and they
should be removed from the statute
books Granting the efcientcy Of them,
he would still repeal them, because he
was a Union man; because Massachusetts
was a union State and he wanted every
vestige Of these laws swept away tAp-
plause) He wanted to wipe from the
statute books the last relic Of sectional
spirit lie would remove every law that
grew out Of the war
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohic) ridiculed the pres
ont position OF the Democracy in Con-
gress. with rebellion I'm one wing OF the
Capitol and Generalization In the other
MIR. Oates. I'm favoring the Federal cleo
ton bills. eulogized the Southern states,
declaring that the people Of those states
were law-abiding citizens. incapable las
had been charged Of keeping a nursery
Of fraud He then opposed the laws on
constitutional grounds. He had confidence
in the honesty and capabiity OF the OF
those States. Their honor and honesty
could be relied upon.
Mr. Hepburn Rep., Iowa) denied that
the present statutes interfered with To-
cal elections I'm the States. The only pur-
nose Of the Federal election laws was
that there should be peace at the polls
that there should be the right Of every
voter TO vote as he pleased. This repeal
was but the prelude for something more
Gentlemen would not be so sOlicitous n
their was not an Interior object when
could not be accomplished as long as
these laws were in force; and that OBJECT
was the complete oVerturning OF 'he
whole fabric Of the government lie had
no desire for negro domination; but ne
did desire that every man who was citi-
zen Of the United States. and had GER
tain rights under the Constitution, should
whether he was black or white, have
on all occasions, the power 20 exercise
Ills rights. He denied that the Federal
election laws had been designed to per-
petuate the Republicans in power.
Mr. Swanson Wa0 entered his earnest
nrotest AGAINST the charges which Repub-
iican speakers had made against the
honesty Of elections in Southern states,
Mr. Weadock Dem. Mich) advocated
the repeal bill. and pictured the dangers
which must follow the retention OF the
Federal election laws.
Mr.. Cannon Oll) said that ne uld hot
expect that anything he could say would
change a single vote on the pending
measure. but ne wished 90 declare that
the necessity and propriety Of the Fede-
raj election laws had been misrepresented
by gentlemen on the other side. He de-
Tended the constituionalty Of those laws,
and said that citizens having the right 10
vote. should be allowed 10 exercise that
richt. and neither corruption nor intimi-
dalton should deprive them Of that right.
Mr. Hunter Oem. Ill) declared that
The Federal election laws had been enact
ed In order 10 perpeuate tie Republican
party In power
MIR. Hull Rep.. Iowa. supported the
consttutionality Of The existing Federal
election laws.
Mr.. Cousins Rep.. Iowa) opposed the
nending legislation Fifteen members were
present when. at 5:4j. the House took a
recess until o'clock.