Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-30
The Question Likely to Come Up in
the Next Congress.
QUALIFICATIONS IN LOUISIANA
Restrictions Deemed by Some to
Be Unconstitutional.
SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED

The recent racial difficulties in North Chr
olina have caused considerable speculntton
In relation TO the attitude Of the Fifry-siSth
Congress toward representatives, whose
seats may be contested on claims al inttm-
idaticn or upon the ground that laws COY
erning heir election were unconStit,fionaI
This question has brought forward the sit
uation In Louisiana. and tho probability
'hat several other southern states may
adept the methods in vogue there in rala-
uon TO the ballot. In Louisiana the white,
people OF the state have absolute copirnI
OF government affairs. which is secured by
them on the basis that they arc white p.a-
pie Inc tests which decide whether q
man may vote are so regulated that pr3c-
ucaIly every white man in the state may
exercise the right Of franchise. although he
may be il.iterate, while under them very
lew colored men can cast a ballot.
Qualifications of "a Voter
IN the hrst place, there is an educational
test: hut another provision. i'm effect that
any man whose father voted preyious to
ls''s' may vote. This allows nearly all the
white people to vote There is A proparty
qualification, but there Is also a provision
that a woman owning property may dssis-
nate some man TO vote as her proNN- ar4
oii'thSl WHICH provides ih8t tho her 4f
son VINO owns property may vote The
erect or all these provisions is that about
every white man in the state may Not,
Members Of the Fifty-sixth Congress N,rc
me hrst 70 be elected under this election
law, so that the first opportunity to test
the validity of the law will occur when the
new Congress ASSEMBLIES in December lSq
or IN extra. session next spring
when The law wGs passed il is said that
number of the best constitutional LAWYERS
IN louisiana opposed il and said that ir
members OF Congress, whether :, ,natorS or
representatives, W re elected under such a
law they would "a 10 sit on tha stems of
the Capitol when they came TO WasbIp,,-
ton, as they would never be admitted 10
their seats.
North Carolina hay Copy.
The election law of Louisiana Will doubt
less be carefully studied in framing a law
TO keep North Carolina under white con-
tro, and some of its peculiar features will
be embodied in the North Carolina law.
The question that will be of vast .ntcr,.ss
to the southern states relates to what en-
gress will do regarding these tnaft,rs.
There are southern Representatives yho
think 1t is quite probable that this whole
matter will be discussed with the result
that In some way Congress will outline ne
extent 10 which election laws can be en-
forced with the purpose OF limiting sue-
irase. The educational and property quai-
constitutional, but whether a state may saw
that man can vote because his father
voted prior to certain year is another
matter.
some southerners who are well informed
upon the situation in their states as relate;
10 the race question say they fear that
attempts of colored men to obtain poIfticol
control IN certain sections may opera.a
against the race generally as far as th-ir
educational opportunities are concerned
IN Louisiana. tor instance, IL IS stated
that there is strong sentiment in favor of
having taxes collected for educational nlIT-
poses applied to white or black schools ac-
corning 10 the race of the man or woman
paying the tax. Louisiana now supports
two state colleges for the cuiorcd peopl.
and makes a very liberal provision for col
ored primary schools. Should the idea he
adopted of applying taxes paid by white
people to white schools only the coIored
schools would be practically DESTROYED for
% per cent OF the taxes of the state or Lou
lsiana are paid by white people.
nile the coming session of Congress will
not deal with this question. z $ II will natlIr-
ally come up in a serious way only I'm COM
necuon With contested election cases il is
likely that the subject VIA be discusse, TO
some extent among members in order to
prepare for some action later.