Speech #510093009

This amendment is simply to preserve and continue that system. which in substance has always been enforced. and under which I venture to say in not half a dozen instances has there ever been any complaint of the action of the State authoritiesthe secretary of the Commonwealth and the governorin mnakingreturns. It is admitted that these high State officers.acting under the great responsibility of distinguished character. are reliable personages. by whom these returns are to be made to the House. and until something to the contrary appears it will be assumed that these returns contain the true voice of the people. the legitimate expression of the popular power of electing members of this House. Now. sir. this bill reported by the majority of the committee provides for inspecting registration. inspecting naturalization. inspecting elections. and interfering partially with them. and for returns by the precinct supervisor of the district or the district supervisor. that statement also containing all the information necessary to exhibit on behalfof the United States the choosing of officials. in exhibiting any peculiarities at the election precinct. and under the amendment that information. the returns. certificatesand statement in the hands of the district supervisor of the election and his chief supervisor will be transmitted to the House. there to be laid by the Speaker before the House for its information. and if they impeach the returns the House has the power to send that information to the Committee on Elections. who may make a report on theprinta facie right as to that choice. and the House may take all proper order to preserve the dignity and justice of the proceedings. In short. this amendmentis calculated to eliminate from this bill the whole element of contradiction. inconsistency. and contrariety between the returns as they come to us through the longaccepted channelsthe governor of the State and his subordinatesand this irresponsible. from a legal point of view. authority of the district supervisors. but. leaving to it the proceedings under thisbill as to naturalization. registration of elections. and all district returns which it provides for. leaving all the proceedings. the objects. and purposes for which these inspection laws were originally passed. and that is for information. to detect frauds. to enable this House to do justice in a prompt and summary manner. That is all there is in this amendment. and it presents a sharp questibn to gentlemen of this House between the regular legal State action on the one hand and the irregular. mischievous. and dangerous action on the other. while the bill retains all those features intended for inspection and the detection of frauds.