Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-24
IN THE SENATE.
Mr.. Chandler Pitches Into Election Repeal
BiIl-AIso Slaps Hill.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Peffer's resolu.
ton, declaring illegal the issue of bonds
vas referred to the committee on finance
The Senate resumed the consideration Of
the House bill to repeal the Federal cleo
ion laws and was addressed by Wilson
(Rey.) Of Iowa. in opposition to it. The
passage of the bill, Wilson said, would be
in effect, a declaration by Congress that
he Federal election laws were unconstitu-
ional.
Chandler (Rep.) of New Hampshire,
suggested to Mr.. Gray (in charge of the
,ill) that the bill be allowed to go over till
he first Monday Of December next He
,aid that in the absence of any recommenda.
ion by the President, a1d the bill be passed
ne would be led to infer that the President
vas very willing to have the Federal elec.
ion laws remain on the statute book and
1ave them again tested at the next copgres.
ional ele ction.
Gray (Dem.) of Delaware, eaid he fell
unwilling to wound the very tender feeling
appearing to exist between the senator from
New Hampshire and the President
Laughter. He would have to insist upon
he bill being kept before the Senate.
The election bill was laid aside inform.
ally, and Cullom (Rep of Illinois, address
I'd the Senate on the resolution offered by
Frye, January 3, declaring that in the pend.
ing investigation by the committee on for.
ejgn relations, there should be no interfer.
ence on the part of the United States gov.
ernment, by moral influence or physical
force, for the restoration of the Queen OF
maintsinapce of the provisional govern.
ment ia the Hawaiian islands. The reso.
luton offered by Dolph was agreed TO-
calling for correspondence with the govern.
ments of Columbia, Venezuela and Hsyti
on the subject of reciprocity.
Bill for repeal of election laws was taken
up, and Chandler (Rep.) of New Hamp.
shire addressed the Senate in opposition to
the bill. He recalled the facts in the Pres.
idential election, and subsequent electoral
commission, which placed MIR. Hayes in the
Presidential chair, and said that since that
time there had been no electoral vote cast
in the South for Republican candidate 70,
the Presidency, and at the last general e.ec.
ton the Republican party was reduced to
the paltry number of seven Representatives
from the South.
Harris (Dem.) of Tennessee, asked
Chandler whether he meant 10 have it up.
derstood that the authorities of A states
could not be trusted TO supervise, direct
and control the ele ction of their own soma
tors and representatives.
my present argument" Chandler re-
piled, sis not 70 broad a. that. ] am sho y.
ing, in detail, three instances of Democratic
fraud in false counting of votes
Harris repeated his question. Chandler
replied that the Federal officials did not con-
troll state elections, only made 3 record of
the frauds committed. Harris denied any
authority. Federal or otherwise, for inter
ference with state elections, and added that
the states we're q little older than the
Federal government. "Thirty-one Of them
are not" said Hosr. There were not A
states originally" Harris said, "but 13
and those Is consented to . delegation Of
certain powers. Every state that has come
in since, come in under those regulations
and is entitled to the same rights - any one
of the original states,
In the further course Of Chambers argu-
ment. he made pointed allufion {, Sena-
tor Hill's knowledge Of the alleged fraud