The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-08
Bill Repeating in Toto the Partisan
Election Law Ready for
Signing.
Stewart and the Three Populists
Vote With the Democrats
for Repeal
WIN Be Absent Prom Polls on
Election Day.

WAuN0ros. Feb. The bill rspealing z
in toto all federal laws regulating the con
troll Of congressional elections hAs passed
both houses OF congress and only awaits
the siRnaturo OF President Cleveland 10 be-
come law After several weeks Of discus
sion the senate to-day finally came 20 a
vote on the house bill repsaling the federal
election laws. and 10 passed BY a vote Of
thirty nine 10 tventy-eiRht. Numerous
amsndments we're presented by republicans.
but ware voted down. the democrats not
even taking tho trouble TO join 10 the de-
bate on the amsndAtory propositions.
Stewart, Of Nevada. voted with the demo-
Gratis on every proposition. giving a. his
reason that be thought the power of the
executive already too great and she cen
tralizing tendency OF the age should DO
checked at once il she republic is 70 survive.
ThrSe populists, Allen. Kyle and PETER.
nlso voted with the democrats on every
amendmsat aud on the main bill. The
measure passed by the senate is identical
with the bill passed by the house.
When the bill was taken mp for discus
sion Hoar spoke against ~. Gray, demo-
crat. replying TO Hoar. said the election
laws had IN every instance promoted and
aggravated frauds instead OF abatlng them.
In the course Of a colloquy between Gray
and HosF the latter alluded 10 the elections
Of 1876. when the elections in New York
were fair because Of the operation and sf-
feet Of these very lava. Gray rstortsd by
reading from the report cited by Hoar an
other extract alleging wholesale frauds in
Philadel phia In the same year. when the
entire local and national governments we're
In the hands Of republicans.
Cameron interrupted, and after calling
again tor the reading Of the passage re-
ferred 20, said: Il happened 90 have q
good deal Of knowledge OF ths elsctioa Of
1876. / was secretary Of war. as the sena
tor will remember. The elections in Psan.
syiVanis that year we're as honest ne cleo
tions in any part OF the world. They have
been, and always will be, because wO are an
honest people. But there we're some cleo
tioEa that year which we're not so honest,
and as secretary of war / had TO interf ere.
The result was that Tilden did not become
president Of ths United stataG" LauRh-
ter
la opposing the bill Allison said be had
examined the democratic national platform
and had not found a demand for the repeal
Of this Law. which some senators had al
ieg3d to exist there.
Senator DAME. allu ing TO the DaVOn-
port discussion yesterday presented the
published testimony Of tho committee on
investigation before which Davenport had
acknowle iRed, in answer to question by
Senator Hill, that he had received 500 or
S. 900 from Union league members 20 be
used in election prosecutions. After few
remarks bY Chandler. Bate took the floor IN
favor OF the bill.
AZ the conclusion Of Bato's remark.
Chandler presented an amendment which
Irovidsd that on'y 80 much of the existing
election laws as provided for deputy mar
shais at elections shall be repealed. The
yeas and nays being demanded on
ChandleT's amendment. II was defeated.
twenty-seven 10 forty. stewart. Allen. Kyle
aud PETER voting VITA the democrats.
Chandler then presented an Amendment
tho effect OF which was TO apply the repeal
sections OF the bill TO supervisors and dep
uty marshals, but leave on the statute
books ths 'crimes" section.
Il hope this amendment will be satisfao-
tory to the other side" said Cbsndlef. by
it various sections OF the existing Law pro-
viding for mafshals and supervisors will be
repealed, but We shall still have crimes act
and crimes against suffrage In connection
with cong essional elections will still b.
punishable under the United States statutes
and IN United States conts." Again the
yeas aud nays we're demanded, and this
emendment. too. was defeated, the vots
being tWsnty-seYen TO thirty-eight.
Chandler then presented the amendmant
designed to retain certain provisions Of the
act OF May 81, 1870. This amcniment, toe
was rejected. twenty-eight to thirty-nine
Perkins. OF California. offered an amend
ment making the federal election Law ap-
plicable to cities OF 100000 or over instead
Of cities OF $1,000 or over as provided BY
existing laws. The amendment Was re-
ieoted. twenty TO thirty nine. and
several other amendments next p esented
BY Chandler were rejected by viva voco
vote
Vote Was taken on the passage Of the bill
Al six o'clock and adopted by a vote Of thir-
ty-nine yeas. twenty eight NAYS.