The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-05
GOEBEL LAW DISCUSSED
A Lively Interlude in the Proceed,
ings of the House.
Consideration OF the Hawaiian Bill
interrupted by II Debate on the
Reply ing TO Mr.. Borcing. De-
tends the Bluegrass Democrats.

yesterday by discussion Of the Kentuck!
situation by Messrs. Boreing. Pugh, an'
Wheeler Of that State Mr. Boreing haC
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 a defence Of tht
| Democrats in Kentucky and OF the law
which he declared would not be repealed
but remain monument to the name Of the
"knighuy son Of Kentucky. who was sc
/ foully sssassinated In the course Of 9
! colloquy between Mr. Wheeler and Mr.
! Pugh the latter asked Mr. Wheeler if the
assassin Of Goebel could not be traced tc
| 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
/ Messrs. Mcdowell Of Ohio. Finley Of South
! Carolina, Hamilton Of Michigan. and Sulzer
/ OF New York. The Porto Bican 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-
lish a territorial government in Hawaii
was taken up. Mr.. Mcdowell Of Ohio. a
member Of the Committee 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
al! 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 he islands as
FAR as applicable. He took the ground that
7 me 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 of when the doctrine
VIII be established in this country. 10 the
satisfaction OF many and the confusion OF
some mat the Constitution was not a con-
Nehlent little thing like a garment to be
taken of. TO be put on: that the Constftu-
llon was not to be handled by the Congress
OF the United States as an overcoat might
be handled by a servant in waiting. nut
on. put of, hung up. or laid down folded
away with spices and anti-moth prepara-
lions until more convenient season for
taking il out
believe, he said. in conclusion, thar
the one thing to which all Of US must how
me one thing 10 which all Of US owe aIIeg-
lance. the one thing which determines and
measures the powers OF Congress the now.
ers Of the greatest and the smallest thar
protects the mightlest and the feeblest is
The Constitution Of the United States. that
II hves without Congressional action. and
mat the highest duty of Congress is &c
legislate under il and not against it."
10
Kentucky, who devoted portion of his
time TO presentation of the political en-
dltions in his State. The people. he said
wanted TO get rid OF the Goebel election
law, and to do this would permit a tariff
upon her products If the Internal revenue
taxes paid by ii were returned 10 it. II
ihat were done the State would speedily
become as wealthy as Peunsylyania or
any state in the Union The Goebel cleo
ton law. be said, was the immediate cause
oil the troubles existing in Kentucky hut
II was the elimination Of a series OF
wrongs against the Republican party in
that State.
Replying 10 d question by Mr.. Lacey OF
Iowa. Nj Boreing said that a Goebel law
could exist only In revolution or anarchy
II me state could not get nd Of the Goe-
bel election law Mr. Boreng said he
would ask Congress to pass q Federal dec
ton law. so that the United States courts
could determine the fairness Of the cleo
lions IN the States. Lincoln said that this
country could not exist part free and mart
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 iu other States
A response was made by Nj Wheeler
who represents the other extreme Of the
State, the First district. from that renre-
scented 10y Nj Boreing. whose district is
10 the mountains OF the eastern part Of
the State. lie said that he felt the shame
attaching 20 the present unfortunate con
diions 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 Boreing-Do you not believe tina;
they would do it 10 they could rid Of the
Goebel law?
Mr.. Wheeler-Thcy would not take "a
centimc not warranted by the Consti-u-
ton.
Continuing. Mr. Wheeler criticised Mr.
Boreng for his attacks upon The GoebI |
law, asking him what excuse he could I
offer for opposing a law which had been
declared constitutional by the highest 1
court I'm the State. composed Of Demr- .
crats and Republicans alike Referring IN /
the statement by Mr. Boreing that IL rb. /
Goebel law We're not repealed he would /.
ask Congress TO pass a Federal election
law. Mr. Wheeler said the law would /
never be repealed and that If M Borelnr
came back 10 Congress 10 would be under /
the Gcchel law
He asked permission to insert in his re-
marks a copy Of the law. which he said /
had been 50 grossly maligned and misrep
resented 10 show the country that 10 was
similar 20 the election laws Of half a dozen
other States.
In colloquy with Mr.. Boreinp Mr.
admitted that the machinery Of
the law was wholly In the hands OF the
Democrats. But reciting The vote in tho
First district. and that IN the Eleventh
district he called upon Mr. Boreiug to
name a single instance of fraud under the
Goebel law. Mr. Borcing sal stU
ohereupon Mr.. Wheeler said:
You can't do it. you are an honest man
and have a respect for your own honor "
Mr. Wheeler mentioned among the right
-0us deeds Of the State election commit
tees the issue Of a certificate TO Mr. Pugb
1 Republican candidate for Congress. upon
which be held his seat at the present time
This brought Mr.. Pugh into the discus
sion and an animated oolloquy followed
between him and Mr.. Wheeler. in The
course Of which the latter said:
81 would rather be disgraced with the
Democrats Of Kentucky than 10 he hon
bred by the party which contained the
men who assassinated William Goobel"
Mr. Pugh-Are you sure that those men
,annot be traced TO your own party?
Mr. Wheeler one believes that
Mr. Pugh with excitement once