The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-06
FEDERAL ELECTIONS BILL.
A Very Spirited and Interesting De.
bate in the Senate.

Washington, Feb. 5.-The federal
elections bill occupied the entire ses-
sion of the Senate today.
Chandler concluded his speech and
was followed by Palmer, who argued
that the law, having entirely failed OF
its purpose and being generally OBJ
noxious should be repealed.
Resol ltions from the Massachusetts
Legislature protesting against the cot
ton schedule of the Wilson bill were
presented and referred.
Palmer, in his speech, contrasted the
attitude of the Republicans toward the
south and the black m in the Ha-
waiian islands being very solicitous
for the rights of the former, while IN
the case of the latter they were only
concerned about white supremacy
Frye reviewed the history of the pres
identiaI election of 1868 and the Tam
many frauds in New York City, and
asserted that Tammany was just as
determined to avail itself of a viola
ton of the law now as in 1868. Turn
ing to Palmer, he asked:
docs the senator from Illinois think
it was the duty of the United States
to take cogniZance of these violations
and crimes against the ballot in the
empire state, or does he think it was
an attempt to crush freedom?
My answer said Palmer, lis that
the instance stated by no means justi-
fies the law. The fact that there was
crime in New York furnishes no rea-
son for subjecting any other congress
sional district in the United States to an
act placing over them supervisors and
masters. Nothing of that kind justi-
fies the placing of the whole country
under supervision.
81 am disappointed with the sena-
tor, said Frye; Il do not think he is
any better than any other Democrat
am afraid, as sometimes happens to
new recruits, he is even worse. Naugh-
teri A citizen of a state is a citizen
of the United States, and this republic
owes that citizen some duty" Senator
Frye then quoted from the constitution
of Mississippi and denounced its pro-
visions requiring that a voter be able
to read the constitution or give a rea-
sonable Interpretation of a section of
! it when read to him.
Does not the senator know that
Massachusetts mas even a more strin-
gent propositions" inquired Gray.
MOI it has not
you
why. there is not senator on this
floor" said Frye. who could perhaps
interpret the Constitution of the Unit
ed States to the satisfaction of an ex-
NOAiAtlAllCS, dS - required DIV
the constitution of Mississippi.'
THAT constitution, them suggested
Palmer, very much resembles the con-
stitution of Hawaii established by the
provisional government" Naughter).
Bates, of Tennessee, interrupted to
read the following provision from the
constitution of Massachusetts: Every
male citizen of q years, or upwards,
not being a pauper or a person under
guardianship, who is able to read the
constitution of the commonwealth in
the English language, and write his
name, shall be entitled to VOTE
IF there had been added to that. .
retorted Frye, the words if he could
interpret it to the satisfa elton of a. com
mittee,' it would make material
difference
Does not the senator from Maine
see" inquired Gray. now, that the
provision of the constitution of Missis-
sippi is no more severe than the con
listitution Of Massachusetts, where a
voter must be able to read the con-
stitution and write his name? In Mis-
sissippi, if he cannot read. it is s,lf-
ficient if he can understand its pro-
visions"
After some further colloquy on this
subject between Frye, Gray and Hoar.
the Senate, at 4:10, adjourned.