Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-15
GOOD WORK BY CONGRESS
Senate Repeats the Federal
Elections Law.
HOUSE STANDS BY CLEVELAND
Final Adoption of Hawaiian
Resolutions.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-At 9 o'clock
this evening the Senate passed $50 to 2S)
the bill repeating the Federal Election
law, sometimes known us the "Bill to
Abolish John | Davenport" having
voted down all the Republican amend.
ments proposed. 1t was a strict party
vote, except that Mr.. Stewart, r., (Nev),
and Messrs. Allen, Kyle and PETER, Pop,
voted with the Democrats in the atiirma-
tive. Mr.. Stewart is one of the five men
now in tho Senate who voted in 1870
for the enactment OF the law which lie
to-day helped to wipe frcm the statute
book.
The debate to-day was mora interest
ing than on any former day Of the dis
cussion, Senator Hoar making an inter-
esting speech and Senator Gray another,
which was interrupted in striking
manner by Senator Cameron.
Mr.. lIoar said this law had been
approved not only by the Republican
party, but by a large majority of the
American people. wherever there is
a crevicc in our protection OF the free
dom OF the ballot, said he, there you
will find the Democratic party trying to
break through"
CAMERoN's REFERENCE TO 1876.
Senator Gray, in reply to Senator
ioar, said that these election laws had
in every instance promoted and aggra-
waited frauds instead of abating them.
In the course Of colloquy between
Senator Gray and Senator Hoar the
latter alluded to the election of 1876,
when the elections in New York were
fair because Of the operation and effect
Of these very laws. Senator Gray re-
turned by reading from the report cited
by Senator Hoar another extract alleg-
lug Wholesale frauds in Philadelphia in
the same year, when the entire local
and national governments were in the
hands of the Republicans.
Senator Cameron interrupted, and
after calling again for the reading of the
passage referred TO, said: ''Ihappen to
have good deal Of knowledge of the
elections OF 1876. | was the Secretary
of War, as the Senator will remember
The elections in Pennsylvania that year
were as honest as elections in any part
Of the world. They have been and
always will he, because we are an honest
people. But there were some elections
IN that year which were not SO honest;
aud as Secretary of War / had to inter.
fere. The result was that Mr.. Tiden
did not become President of the United
States" [Laughter.1
CHANDLER TAUNTs STEWART.
A haunting inquiry by Mr.. Chandler
as TO whether Mr.. Stewart would con.
tribute his vote to the repeal of the law
which had been one of the noblest acts
OF his public life, brought out a short
speech from Mr.. Stewart, to the effect
that the election act of 1870 was passed
just after the nation had emerged from
war, and that now the nation had
entered Oh another war-that of the
executive against the producing classes.
SYNOPSIS OF THE REPEAL BILL.
The bill passed to-day simply strikes
from the statute books all statutes
and parts of statutes providing for
the supervision by Federal officials
OF elections at which Congressman Az
chosen. Under these laws the coun-
try was divided into districts, each
OF which was presided over by chief
Federal supervisor of elections, with
assistants under him. These supervisors
had the power, in cities of over $1,000
inhabitants, of going into the registra-
ton and polling booths, watching regis
tration and balloting, challenging voters
and persons who came to register and
making arrests without warrants in cases
OF violations of the provisions of the
election laws. In country districts the
powers of the supervisors were not 50
extensive. All these supervisors were
appointed by the United States circuit
judges.
Another section of the laws author.
lied United States marshals to appoint
deputies for duty ON election day on the
application of the supervisors. The
Repeal bill abolishes the supervisors
altogether and leaves the supervision of
elections exclusively in the hands of
State authorities.
The bill now goes to the President for
his signature, having passed the House
at the extra session.
HAWAIIAN RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
BY vote of 176 to 81 the House
adopted the resolution condemning
Minister Stevens and sustaining the
Hawaiian policy of Mr.. Cleveland. The
Republicans filibustcred against 1t to
the end. ....-".
Upon the first vote the resolution was
carried-l74 TO 3-and an interesting
parliamentary question was raised as TO
whether l76 votes instead of ITO was
not quorum, four seats being vacant
on account OF deaths.
The Speaker held that the majority of
the members chosen and living com
sttutod quorum, quoting in support
oil ms position review of the subject
made by ex-Spcaker Reed in the Fifty
hrst Congress. His position, however.
was warmly assailed by some of tho
Democratic members and il was finally
agreed To take the vote over again, SO
that tho ruling was eventually with
drawn. The Boutelle resolution was
defeated by strict party vote.
Inc full text of the resolutions
adopted is as follows:
RtsolVed, First--That it is the sense of
TINS House that the action of the United
states minister IN employing United States
throwing the constitutional government Of
the hawaiian Islands in january, lSl3
ana III setting up in its place provisional
government not republican in form and in
opposition TO the will of majority Of the
people was contrary to the traditions OF
our republic and the spirit of our constitli-
Ton, and SHOULD be and is condemned.
eecond-That we heartily approve the
the United States that Interference viii
the domestic affairs of an Independent
nation IS contrary to the spirit Of Amer.
lean institutions. And it is further the
sense OF this House that the annexation OF
the Hawaiian Islands to our country, OF
the assumption of protectorate over them
by our government, Is uncalled for and in.
expcdient; that the people of that country
should have absolute freedom and indie.
policy; and that foreign intervention il,
the political affairs of the islands will moi
be regarded with Indifference by the rnu.