The National tribune., 1894-02-15
CONGRESS. I
Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings Of Both Houses.
TnEsnAY EER. 8.

In the Senate Senator Hawley said that the
moment the Democratic party secured National
control it had been evident that the repeal oil
the Federal election laws would be one OF the
first tasks which il would set itself. Except the
emergency bill, relating to the repeal of the
Sherman slver-purchRsing act, this bill was
the first distinctive party measure OF the
Democratic party. There were, he said, on the
statute books certain statutes intended not 10
make voters, but TO secure tn voters the rights
guaranteed to them by the United States Gov
eminent Ii was now proposed to repeal all OF
them with the sole exception of the one pro-
viding for the election OF united states oena-
tors.
These election laws Mr.. Hawley said, were
not made merely for the Southern States
While notification of the right of suffrage was,
in some sense triumphant in the South, 1t was
progressing in the North, and the Federal
election laws were just as much needed in GER
tain sections of the North as they had ever
been needed in the South.
He recalled the declaration of a Southern
man in the ante-bellum era that the best con-
dition of country was where capital owned
labor. And that idea. he said, WAS at the hot
tom of the Wilson tariff bill. 1t was that the
best condition of the country was one Where
labor was cheap and abundant.
Mr. Perkins (Cal.) said that it seemed to him
that those who had spoken in favor of the pas
sage of the pending bill had done so from
feeling of partisan prejudice. They had done
80 not influenced by any motive of the public
good. He had waited patiently for some reason
to be given why the Federal election laws
should he repealed He had waited to hear
that they had deprived some American citizen
of the right of fairly casting his vote and OF
having that vote honestly counted. He had
been waiting to hear that they were un-Aneri-
can, and that they were calculated to subvert
the rights of American citizens. But, up to
this time, only two reasons had been given
that had impressed his mind. One Of those
reasons was that given by the Senator from
Illinois (Mr. Palmer, that the laws had not
been enforced; and the other was that they
had been passed by the Republican party for
the purpose of perpetuating itself IN office.
Certainly the last proposition fell, without an
answer.
Mr.. Daniel favored the repeal of the Federal
election laws because they were useless. were
very expensive, and had tendency to Sec
tonal friction sectional irritation aud sectional
antagonism."
Mr.. Frye declared that the claim had been
made that the Federal election laws ought TO
be repealed because the States could be trusted
to prevent election frauds. He was asked by
Mr. Daniel if there never had been election
frauds in Maine. and he denied that there had
been. although there had been attempt by
Democratic Governor to steal Legislature.
Mr. Harris spoke in favor of repeal, and Mr..
Daniel and Mr.. Frye INDUCED in free-and-
easy colloquy on the subject, at the close of
which the Senate adjourned.
In the House the Hawaiian debate during
the day was interesting, but not exciting Mr..
Cultivate eulogized President Cleveland and
asserted that Minister Stevens was in league
with the sugar planters of Hawaii; Mr.. Gull
berson made strong legal argument in sup
port of the McCreary resolution; Mr. Storer
tOhio) argued that the appointment of Mr..
BlOunt was Illegal and reviewed all the cases
that had been quoted as presidents to show
that they were in no way analogous to this,
while OF the deception practiced by the Admin
istration toward President Dole he said: " You
may take either horn of the dilemma and say
that Mr.. Willis knew that he could not use
force, and then he was acting bullying lie. or
you can say that he did not know it las he says
he did not) and then the Administration was
acting bullying lie"
Mr.. Loud (Cal.) said that be had gone to
Hawaii with Mr.. Bount, but upon arriving
there they had parted cOmpany-Mr. Blount
70 make a star chamber in vestigation and he to
go upon the highways and bywavs seeking
light in the broad day. He criticized Mr..
Blount severely, and exclaimed with great en-
phasis. No single man should be allowed to
determine the fate of Nation. 1t is unjust
TO the man, it is crime against the Nation"
Gen. Sickles. the veteran Democrat, of New
York, created a sensation by attacking the
Presidents policy. He was the first Democrat
who had not upheld the resolution Of the For
eign Affairs Committee. He held that one Ad-
ministration should not constitute itself a
court of appeal or review Of preceding Ad-
ADMINISTRATION.
The first vote was taken upon Mr.. Blair's
amendment declaring in favor of annexation.
This was defeated by vote of 80 Republicans
10 155 Democrats
After the defeat of NJ. Hits substitute, the
question REQUIRED on the original resolution
offered by Mr.. McCreary. This declares the
sense of the House that Minister Stevenss &C
tion in employing the Naval forces to aid in
OverthrOwiug the Queen and setting up Pro-
visioual Government not Republican in form
and in opposition to the majority, was con-
trary to the traditions of our Republic and the
Also that the House approves the principle an
nounced by the President, that interference
with the domestic affairs of an independent
nation is contrary to the spirit Of American
Institutions. Further, that annexation Of
Hawaii or a protectorate is uncaled for and
inexpedient and that the people of Hawaii
should have freedom to pursue their own line
of policy, and that foreign intervention will
not be regarded by US with indifference.
The vote disclosed lack of a quorum. Mr.. Nc
CTesry had resolution adopted reyoking all
leaves of absence. and directing the Sergeant
alarms TO notify the absentees that they must
attend the sessions, in order that public bust
ness be not be delayed. The House then ad-
harmed