The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-09-04

WASHINGTON, D. O., Sept. 3-one
of the first efforts of the Democratic
Congress will be directed to secure the
repeal Of the federal election law under
which JohnL Davenport, Of New York,
had made such a reputation as super
visor Of the election. Senator Hill, Of
New York, has taken the initiative in
this matter in the senate and General
Black, OF Illinois, ex-commissioner Of
pensions and now member Of Con
gress, has prepared bill to the same
purport for Introduction in the house.
Senator Hill has made such substantial
progress that he has secured the CON.
slderation of his bill by the senate com.
mittee on judiciary, and day or two
ago the measure was ordered to be re.
ported to the senate with the recom-
mendation that 1t do pass. Senator
Hills bill is very brief and is as follows:
'That title twenty-six Of the revised
tions twenty hundred and two to
twenty hundred and thlrty-one, both
inclusive) entitled therein the elective
franchise and generally known as the
federal election law, Is hereby repealed;
but this repeal should NOT affect any
preceding or prosecution now pending
for any oftense under the said sections,
or either Of them"
The bill prepared by General Black,
of Illinois, Is practically In the same
words. and totally abolishes federal
supervision Of elections, incidentally
also abolishing the Office Of federal su-
pervisor Of elections, and thus throwing
John ]. Davenport, Of New York, out
of vocation. The Democrats, in their
fight 70 repeal this law. do not expect
to encounter serious opposition, either
in the house or senate; aud they appear
to be assured that the measure is one
which will secure immediate approval
by President Cleveland.
Senator Hill and Gen. Black and the
other Democratic leaders who are pre-
pairing to secure a prompt repeal OF this
election law are receiving very suhstan-
tial encouragement from the admins.
tration. Under direction Of Secretary
Of the Treasury John g. Carlisle, the
postmaster Of the city Of New York has
Just elected Supervisor Davenport from
his otfice in the postoffiee building and &
has barred the door in some manner as
to prevent the federal supervisor or his
assistants ever again securing entrance.
Its believed that Davenport will ap.
peal to the courts to decide the right Of
the administration to eject him from
the Offices heretofore occupied in the
New York postotice building, but Is
expected by the Democrats that before
he can possibly secure any favorable
action in the courts, the bill will have
passed both houses Of Compress and
have been signed by the President, re.
pealing in toto the section OF the law
creating federal supervisor of cleo.
tions, and under which Mr.. Davenport
has operated for many years.
Congressman George W. Hthian, Of
Illinois, the new chairman OF the com-
mittee on merchant marine and fish
cries, has prepared bill which will se-
ceiye a favorable report from his COM
mittee, providing for the free admission
to American registry Of ships built In
foreign countries. The position which
Congressman Fithian and a majority OF
his committee will take is that 1t is folly
to attempt to restore our merchant ma:
rine by government bounties, and that
the only manner in which the flag OF
the United, States can secure its fair
share ofthe growing trade Of the world
is to admit free to American registry
ships built in foreign countries. q