The record-union., 1894-02-08
sneeial to the REcoRp-Us1oN.

Special to the REcoRD-USIoN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE bill repeal
ing in toto all Federal election laws regu-
laung the control of Congressional cleo
tions has passed both houses of Congress
and only awaits the signature OF PresI-
dent Cleveland to become law. After
several weeks discussion, the Senate to-
day finally came 10 vote on the House
bin repeating the Federal election laws,
and it passed by vote of 80 to %. .Nu-
merous amendments were presented by
the Republicans, but were voted down,
the Democrats not even taking the
trouble to join in the debate on the
amendatory propositions. Stewart of Ne
vada voted with the Democrats on every
proposition, giving as his reason that he
thought the power of the Executive al
ready too great and centralizing. The
tendency of the age should be checked at
once ii the Republic was to survive.
Three Populists-Allen, Kyle land Peffer
also voted with the Democrats on every
amendment and on the main bill. The
measure which passed the Senate is lden-
tical with the bill as passed by the House.
When consideration of the question of
repeating the elections law was resumed
Gray Dem, replying to Hoar, said the
election laws had in every instance pro-
moted and aggravated frauds instead of
abating them. In the course OF COLO
guy between Gray and Hoar the latter
alluded 10 the elections of 1876, when the
elections in New \ ork were fair because
OF the operation and effect of these very
laws.
Gray retorted by reading from a report
L oil loo inn
wholesale frauds in Philadelphia in the
same year, when the entire local end of
the National Government was in the
hands of the Republicans.
Cameron interrupted and after calling
again for the reading of the passage re-
1erred TO said: II happened to have
good deal of knowledge of the election in
1876. l was Secretary of War, as the SEN
atOr will remember. The elections in
Pennsylvania that year were as honest as
the elections in any part of the world.
They have been, and always will be, be-
cause we are an honest people. But there
were some elections that year which were
not so honest. and as Secretary of War |
had to interfere. The result was that
Tilden did not become President of the
United States" Laughter.
in opposing the bill Allison said he had
examined the Democratic national plat
form, and had not found demand for the
repeal OF this law, which some Senators
had alleged did exist there.
Senator Daniel, alluding to the Daven-
port discussion yesterday, presented the
published testimony of the Committee on
Investigation before which Davenport
had acknowledged, in answer to ques-
ton by Senator Hill, that he had received
$4,000 or SS, 900 from Union League mem
bers to be used in election prosecutions.
After few remarks by Chandler, Bate
took the floor in favor of the bill.
At the conclusion of Bates remarks
Chandler presented an amendment which
provided that only so much of the exist
ing election laws as provides for Deputy
Mershais at elections be repealed.
The yeas and nays being demanded on
Chandler's amendment, it was defeated
by u to 30. Stewart (Rep.) and Allen,
Kyle'and PETER (Populists) voting with
the Democrats.
Chandler then presented an amendment
the effect of which was to apply the repeal
sections of the bill to Supervisors and
Deputy Marshals, but leave on the statute
books the 'crimes" section. 81 hope
this amendment will be satisfactory TO
the other side," said Chandler. "By it
various sections OF the existing laws pro-
viding for Marshals and Supervisors will
be repealed. But we shall still have the
Crimes Act, and crimes against suffrage
in connection with Congressional cleo
tions will still be punishable under the
limited States statutes and in the United
States courts"
The yeas and nays were demanded, and
this amendment. too, was defeated, the
vote being Y to IS.
Another amendment was presented BY
Chandler to restrict the scope of repeal by
retaining a still smaller number of the
crimes provisions, but it, too, was re-
jected, 2S to 39
Chandler then presented an amendment
designed to retain certain provisions of
the Act of May 81, 1870, and to this amend
lnent he said he asked the special atten
lion of Senator Stewart. after the
Senator from Nevada" said Chandler,
''had succeeded as the grand champion of
freedom in the Senate Chamber in secur-
ing the adoption of the Fifteenth Amend
ment to the Constitution, he followed it
ND by the passage of this statute. He de-
clared then that the constitutional amend
ment was worthless. Congress made
law to enforce it. Does he intend to con-
tribute his vote here to strike down that
norton of one of the greatest and noblest
acts of his life?"
..At the time the bill was passed." said
Stewart, ''we had just passed through a
civil war. We were IN the process OF re-
construction. Many things We're neces-
sary then that are not now. The States
must assert their rights; they must be
upon the side of the people don't think
they have any protection against the FED
eral Government. Any social law that
might be supplanted by a State law l
want to see wiped from the statute
books"
This amendment was rejected by Is
to 80.
Perkins of California offered an amend
ment making the Federal election law
applicable to cities of 100000 or over, in
siead of cities of 10000 or over, as pro-
vided by the existing laws.
The amendment was rejected, q to 80,
and several other amendments next pre-
sented by Chandler rejected by a viva
voce vote.
a vote was taken on the passage of the
bill at O clock, and adopted by vote of
SO yeas to q nays. The detailed vote is
as follows:
Yeas-Allen, Bate. Berry, Blackburn,
Brice, Butler, Catfery, Call, Cockrell,
Coke. Colquitt, Daniel, Faulkner, Glib
son. German, Forman, Gray, Harris,
Hill, Hunton, Irby, Jones of Arkansas.
KYLE, Lindsay, Martin, Mills, Mitchell
of Wisconsin, Morgan, Palmer. Pasco.
PETER, Pqgh, Ransom, Roach, Stewart,
Vest, Villas, voorhees,, White of Califor-
nia-39.
Carey Chandler. Cullom, Dixon, Dolph,
dubois. Frye, Gallagher, Hale. Hans
brouoh. Hawley, Higgins, Hoar, Lodge.
Mitchell of Oregon, Perkins, Platt, Proc
TOR. QUAY, Sherman. Shoup, Squire, Tel
Iar Washburn, Wilson's.
After the transaction of some minor