Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-06
THE FEDERAL ELECTION BILL
The Close of the Debate on the Repeal
Measure.
Senators Hawley and Frye Defend
Existing Laws-Mr. Daniel
Advocates Repeal.

The bill repeating the federal election
laws came up Immediately after the pre-
liminary business in the Senate this morn
ing, and Senator Hawley Comm took the
floor in opposition to the bill.
Everybody knows that this bill is to
pass" said he. IN fact. Immediately after
the triumph of the democratic party at the
polls at the last election 1t was known
that this law would be repealed. This
marks distinct era in the history of the
country-at least, as regards the ballot. 1t
marks a new Interpretation of the Consti-
tuition, upon provisions of the Constitution
supposed to have been settled beyond
doubt for a hundred years The very pre-
amble of the Constitution is sufficient to
the regulation of congressional elections
is vested in Congress-"
Quoted From the Constitution.
Senator Hawley quoted the Constitution
providing for the election of members of
Congress and said: There can be nothing
palmer than this. James Madison, one of
the greatest interpreters and expounders of
the Constitution, said that this power in the
national government was necessary in or
der to prevent its own dissolution. He said
that this power was necessary in order to
pe-petuate the national government But
1t is said that these laws are a failure:
that they have not succeeded. No law has
ever succeeded in preventing offenses The
work OF the notification of the right of
sovereignty is in sense triumphant in the
south. The work of nullification in the
north is progressing. There have been au-
dacious crimes committed even in the la st
year in the north. When we consent to the
d1sfranchisement of citizens, we need not
say we can contine 1t to the south When
tne people see the United States Congress
treating with disrespect any attempt to
Protect thelr vote, how easy a thing Is it
1or them to suppose that the end shall JUS
tiIy the means in New York or St Loius
or Hartford. or Boston
nou think you escape all future trouble
NuInIhs 10 the democratic side in repeal
ing these laws. You leave yourself with
OUT protection. In proportion as you nulli-
~ the negro and put him in a dungeon
Mhere Ns voice is not heard in that re-
spect you invite frauds and outrages of
the white people against each other. Ask
MT. hoIb or Alabama whether / am right
or wrong in saying this"
senator Perkins (CalD spoke in opposl-
t1on TO the bill. No adequate reason had
been given for the repeal of the law: it
had not been contended that it had de-
prived single citizen of his right or op-
portunity to vote.
senator Daniel Defends Repeal
Senator Daniel of Virginia said the people
pealed to the tribunal of the people and the
decree had come that it should be repealed
II fail to find in the democratic platform
a specific recommendation for the repeal
of this law" said Senator Allison.
THE Senator did not fail" returned SEN
ator Daniel, ito hear it discussed in the
campaign. He did not fail to hear the re-
suit of the elections in which it was an
aVowed and open issue"
Senator Daniel continued to argue against
the law and declared that it was useless
The courts should be divorced from parti-
san politics, but this law made it necessary.
something About Maine.
Senator Frye of Maine followed and quot
ed from a Virginia democratic paper to
show that wholesale frauds had been COM
mitted in Virginia recently.
Does the federal election law have any
thing to do with that?" inquired Senator
Daniel
Yes, the claim had been made that the
federal election law ought to be repealed
because the states are competent to protect
the rights of the citizens themselves"
Did they ever charge any fraud in
Name"
II never heard of anything that was suffi-
cient TO call for an Investigation" laugh
teri
They did not have any investigation
when 1t was charged then" uaughter)
John 1. Davenport Defended.
Continuing, Senator Frye defended the
character OF John l. Davenport, chief su-
pervisor of elections in New York II have
the greatest respect for him." said he He
is fearless and has shown fidelity in office
that is rarely seen.
The election law is to be repealed at {
O'Clock today. Then John L. Davenport Will
disappear from public life and democratic
abuse"
Senator Frye, IN his speech, entered into
and read letters from him and from many
citizens in which his acts were highly COM
mended.
As to u Vote.
Senator Frye was interrupted by a sug-
gestion of several Senators that the hour
of final vote, fixed for pm, be extended
in order to give several gentlemen an Cd
portunity to speak.
Senator Gray was willing after some
pressure, to consent to an extension of the
hour. If final vote could be fixed at 3 O'Clock
tomorrow, but Senator Stewart demanded
that his bond resolution should thereby not
lose its place on the calendar and Senator
Berry, raising the same point in regard to
measure in which ne was Interested, a
controversy ensued, which prevented any
unanimous agreement for extension.
Postponed Until Tomorrow.
At 2:4J, however, by unanimous consent
the final vote on the bill repeating the fed
eral election bill was postponed until pm
tomorrow