The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-05
GOEBEL LAW DISCUSSED
A Lively Interlude in the Proceed
ings of the House.
Confederation of the Hawaiian Bill
interrupted by Debate ON the
Kentucky Situation-Nr. Wheeler,
Replying TO Mr.. Boreing, De-
tends the Bluegrass Democrats

| yesterday by a discussion of the Kentucky
situation by Messrs. Boreng. Pugh, and
Wheeler. of that State. MIR. Boreing hat
said that if the Goebel law was not re-
pealed he would ask Congress to pass
Federal election law This brought Mr.
Wheeler to his feet with defence of the
Democrats in Kentucky and of the law
which he declared would not be repealed
but remain a monument to the name of the
"knightly sen of Kentucky, who was sc
foully assassinated." In the course of 3
colloquy between Mr. Wheeler and Mr.
Pugh the latter asked Mr. Wheeler if the
assassin of Goebel could not be traced to
his own party, as the opposition to him had
been more violent on the part of his poll
teal associates than by Republicans.
The Hawaiian bill was discussed by
MessTs. Mcdowell of Ohio Finley of South
| Carolina, Hamilton of Michigan. and Sulzer
! OF New York. The Porto Rican bill was
transmitted from the Senate and referred
TO the Committee on Ways and Means. Nc
| request or motion TO retain it on the
Speakers desk was made.
| Nhen the House met the bill to estab-
llsh a territorial government in Hawaii
was taken up. Mr.. Mcdowell of Ohio, a
'A4N+HHSA VI the tOHHllIee on territories.
! was the first speaker. He, as one Of the
| original opponents of the annexation of
Hawaii, inveighed against the labor condi-
| tons in the Islands and the influence of
| corporations there.
He was followed by Mr. De Almond of
| Missouri. He believed the bill would allow
| all the Chinese and japanese in the islands
free entry into the United States He also
denounced that section of the bill which
| extended the Constitution to the islands as
far as applicable. He took the ground that
the Constitution was there of its own vigor.
! II not, the Congress under the Constitution
! could not by enactment extend it there
| The speaker said he was confident that
! the time was not far off when the doctrine
| VIII be established in this country. 10 the
! satisfaction OF many and the confusion OF
some that the Constitution was not con-
Venient little thing like "a garment to be
taken off, to be put on; that the Constitu
! tlon was not to be handled by the Congress
/ OF the United States as an overcoat might
| De haEdled by servant-in waiting, put
on, rCt of, hung up, or laid down. folded
away with spices and anti-moth prepara
lions until a more convenient season for
taking il out
/ believe. he said, in conclusion, thar
the one thing to which all OF us must bow
the one thing 10 which all of us owe alIeg-
! lance, the one thing which determines and
measures the powers of Congress. the DOW.
ers OF the greatest and the smallest thar
protects the mightlest and the feeblest is
the Constitution of the United States: that
II hFes without Congressional action. and
tnat the highest duty of Congress is tC
iegislate under il and not against it,
The next speaker was Mr. Boreiue Of
Kentucky. who devoted a portion of his
a of 4 ha
ditions in his State. The people he said
wanted to get rid of the Goebel election
law, and to do this would permit tariff
upon her products If the internal revenue
taxes paid by it were returned 10 it. If
that were done the State would speedily
become as wealthy as Pennsylvania or
any State in the Union. The Goebel cleo
tlon law he said was the immediate cause
OF the troubles existing in Kentucky. but
1t was the elimination of series of
wrongs against the Republican party in
that State
Replying to question by Mr.. Lacey of
Iowa, Mr.. BoTeing said that a Goebel law
could exist only in revolution or anarchy
II the state could not get rid OF the Goe-
Del election law, Mr. Boreing said. ne
would ask Congress to pass Federal clec-
tion law, so that the United States courts
could determine the fairness of the cleo
tons in the States. Lincoln said that this
country could not exist part free and part
slave, so Mr. Boreing would say that the
country could not exist with fair election
laws in part Of the States and unfair cleo
;ioE laws in other States
response was made by Mr.. Wheeler
who represents the other extreme Of The
State, the First district. from that repre-
scented by Mr. Boreing, whose district is
IN the mountains OF the eastern part Of
the State. He said that he felt the shame
attaching TO the present unfortunate CON
ditions in Kentucky, but no one knew
better than himself. unless it were the
Representative from the Eleventh dis
trict, what element Of citizenship had
brought the present Affections upon
the State. He said Mr.. Boreing did
not represent , per cent of his own con-
stituency in making the statement that
they would accept the internal revenue
receipts OF the State under any conditions.
MIR. BoTeing-Do you not believe that
they would do it IL they could rid of the
Goebel law?
Mr.. Wheeler-They would not take
centime not warranted by the Constitu-
ton.
Continuing. Mr. Wheeler criticised Mr.
BoreiDg for his attacks upon The Goebei
law, asking him what excuse he could
offer for opposing a law which had been
declared constitutional by the highest
Gratis and Republicans alike. Referring ia
the statement by Mr.. Boreing that if th,
Goebel law were not repealed he would
ask Congress TO pass a Federal election I
law, Mr. Wheeler said the law would /
never be repealed and that il Mr.. BoreInc
came back 10 Congress it would be under |
the Goebel law
He asked permission to insert in his re-
marks a copy Of the law, which. he said |
had been so grossly maIIEned and r,Isrer !
resented to show the country that II was |
similar 10 the election laws of half a dozen |
other States. |
In colloquy with Mr.. Boreing Mr.. |
Wheeler admitted that the machinery OF |
the law was wholly in the hands Of the |
Democrats. But reciting the vote in the /
First district, and that in the Eleventh |
district he called upon Mr. Boreing to |
name a single instance of fraud under the |
GoebeI law. Mr.. Boreing sal still |
whereupou Mr.. Wheeler said:
You can't do it: you are an honest man |
and have respect for your own honor"
Mr.. Wheeler mentioned among the right |
eOus deeds of the State election commit
tees the issue of a certificate TO Mr.. Pugh.
a Republican candidate for Congress upon
which he held his seat at the present time.
This brought Mr.. Pugh into the discus
sion, and an animated colloquy followed
between him and Mr.. Wheeler, in The
course OF which the latter said:
Il would rather be disgraced with the
Democrats Of Kentucky than 10 he hon
ored by the party which contained the
men who assassinated William GOebel."
Mr. Pugh-Are you sure that those men
cannot be traced TO your own party?
Mr. Wheeler-No one believes that
Mr. Pugh with excitement)-No one?
voice on the Democratic side-No sane