The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-02-08
VOTE ON FEDERAL ELECTION REPEAL
BILL POSTPONED.
The House Spent the Day in speechmaking
on the McCrsary Rssolution-Governor
Tillman's Whisky Brand Knocked
Washington Notes.
SENATE.

desired an opportunity TO be heard on
the measure, and by unanimous con-
sent time of general debate was ex
tended until o'clock tomorrow, The
chief event of the day was the speech
of Senator Frye (Me.). defending the
official course and character IF Chief
Supervisor Davenport Of New York
city and refuting the alleged ISLANDERS
and calumny which he said had been
heaped upon him by the Demo-
cratic party for 81 years.
The bill repeating the federal eiec
tion laws came up Immediately after
preliminary business in the senate
this morning and Senator Hawley
took the floor in opposition to the bill
"Everyoody knows that The bill is to
pass said he. In fact, Immediately
aft erthe triumph OF the Democratic
party at the polls at the last election
it was known that this law would pe
repealed. This marks distinct era in
the history of the country, at least as
regards the ballot. 1t marks new
Interpretation of the constitution upon
provisions of the constitution sup
posed to have been settled beyond
doubt for 100 years. The very preamble
of the constitution was sufficient to in
dicate that the power to make laws for
the regulation of congressional elec
tions is vested in congress-" Senator
Hawley quoted the constitution as
providing for the election of members
of congress and said: There can be
nothing palmer than this. James
Madison, one of the greatest interpret
ors and eXponents of the con-
stitution, said that this power
in the national government
was necessary in order to prevent it's
own dissolution. He said that this
power was necessary in order to per-
petuate national government. But it
is said that these laws are failure;
that they have not succeeded. No law
has ever succeeded in preventing Of
fences. There have been audacious
crimes committed even in the last year
in the North When we consent to
the disfranchisement of citizens we
need not say wescan contine it to the
South, When people see the United
States congress treating with disre-
spect any attempt to protect their vote,
how easy a thing it is for them to sup
pose that the end shall justify the
means in New York, st. Louis, Hart
ford, Boston or Chicago"
Senator Perkins, (Cal) spoke in op-
position to the bill. No adequate
reason had been given for the repeal
OF the law. 1t had not been contend
ed that it deprived single citizen of
the right or opportunity to vote.
Senator Daniel said the people, by
their candidates and their platform.
appealed to the tribunal of the people
and the decree had come that it should
be repealed.
Senator Frye followed and quoted
from Virginia Democratic paper to
show wholesale frauds had been COM
mitted in Virginia recently. Continu-
ing, Senator Frye defended the char
acter of Iohn l. Davenport, chief
supervisor of elections in New York,
81 have the greatest respect for him.
He is fearless and has shown fidelity
in office that is rarely SEEM" In con-
Guiding his review of the life of Daven-
port, Frye said: II admire him, l be-
iieve in him; he has many of the finest
qualities l have ever seen in man.
l believed that this defense
was his due as he was about to retire
from public Office. My only regret is
that it has been so meekly made by
me, but it has been honestly made
and of that | can say no more"
Senator Turpie replied briefly to
Senator Frye and reiterated charges
hn oh IF inf
ed by Davenport. In Indiana men
as deputy marshals were
men who had lost an eye or finger in
to force open windows and
burglarlze houses, who had lost arms
and fingers in steel traps by attempts
at robbery and theft. Senator Harris
refuted the statements Of Senator
Chandler in reference to frauds in
Memphis and advocated repeal of the
bill because it exercised power
never before vested in congress |
by the constitution, That the consti
tuition never intended to give congress
the power to regulate the elections
provided by this law. Massachusetts, |
in its earlier and better days, placed !
the same Interpretation of the consti- !
tuition, but it had changed its attitude, |
This caused spirited tilt with Sena-
tor Hoar. After brief argument on
the constitu 5ional phase OF the subject,
Senator Harris closed on account of
illness. / |
Senator Daniel replied briefly to
Senator Frye and denied that there
had been wholesale election frauds in !
and ridiculed the newspaper
statement the Maine senator had |
read, At the close of Senator Daniels !
speech the senate, at 4:30 went into ex-
ecutive session and 5 minutes later
adjournd,
HOUSE.
At the opening of the session of the
house this morning Mr., Ellis (Ore.)
asked unanimous consent for consider
alton of senate bill to extend time
allowed the Umatilla Irrigation COM
pany for completion of its canal across
Umatilla Indian reservation in the
state of oregon, and the bill was
passed.
After call of committees for reports
the Hawaiian debate was resumed,
Mr.. Cultivate (Dem. Ohio taking the
ioor in support of the McCreary reso-
ution. He took the position that
Minister Stevens, in ordering troops
ashore at the time of the revolution,