WORK FOR COMMITTEES.
On motion of Mr. CONNER, the order of business was dispensed with, and Senate bills, described on pages -- and 69 of these reports, were read the second time and severally referred as follows:
Mr. Anthony's Military bill [S. 28] was taken from the table and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. Ferguson's [39] and Mr. Hull's [41] to the Committee on Corporations.
Mr. Conley's [42] to the Committee on Organization of Courts.
Mr. Wilson's [44] and Mr. Mellett's [45] to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Landers' [46,] proposing severe penalties against election frauds, was laid on the table, and 200 copies ordered to be printed.
Mr. Landers' [47,] defining the qualifications of voters, being read-
Mr. SHIELDS. I move to strike out "sixty days" and insert "thirty days." There is a large number of railroad men residing in my county, and I would like to have no law by which they would be deprived of the right to vote or be virtually disfranchised. I think that thirty days would be sufficient to prevent the evils which have been heretofore practiced in Indiana.
Mr. NEWCOMB. I am as anxious as any man can be to pass laws guarding the ballot box, but I don't think the class of men spoken of by my friend from Jackson, [Mr. Shields,] ought to be specially legislated for. It seems to me men who are residents of one county to-day and another to-morrow, have not that peculiar interests in the affairs of any county that a voter ought to have. I would rather say fifty or sixty days than thirty days.
Mr. RAY. It does seem to me there ought to be a distinction made between the qualifications of voters at township elections and voters at State and Presidential elections. There is no great reason why a voter should not be allowed to vote upon thirty or even ten days in township elections, but he should have a longer residence before voting at a State or Presidental election. If the clause referred to did not apply to township elections, I would be willing to vote for the bill.
Mr. SHIELDS. I would say that these men who are engaged in managing railroads are not temporary men ; If I understand it they educate their families well, and intend to be permanent citizens; and I would, on behalf of this people, call upon the Senate to provide means by which these men shall not be cut off rom a participation in our government.
Mr. LANDERS. If the Senate thinks thirty days are amply sufficient, I am willing to submit to the amendment. My own opinion is that nothing short of sixty days will stop the frauds in the section of country where I live.
Mr. CLAYPOOL. I do not know but ten days would do in my portion of the country, but in other portions of the country, I am in favor of sixty days-we ought to have the law sufficiently ample to prevent emigration. If we put it at thirty days, it seems to me the law will not have that effect we desire it shall have. As much interest is taken in local elections usually as in the most important residential election; and for the purpose of having the law acting alike, I am in favor of sixty days.
Mr. JOHNSON. I am anxious to have some revision made by which this importation of voters may be stopped, but my opinion is, an attempt to enforce this law will be decided unconstitutional.
Mr. CARNAHAN. A large portion of farm laborers live along the township lines ; the revisions of this bill would cut off that large class of voters, and I am satisfied it would be unconstitutional.
Mr. CONLEY. I hope the amendment will not be adopted. As regards the constitution page: 97[View Page 97]ality of this bill, I am not prepared to say anything but I am disposed to vote for it. I would rather see the residence placed at three months than sixty days.
Mr SHIELDS I will withdraw my motion and put it in a different form. I will move to strike out the word "sixty" wherever it occurs in the bill.
Mr. MARCH. I am willing to go as far as the farthest in order to preserve the purity of he ballot-box. There has been no frauds committed with us of which we complain, and therefore I am willing to conform my actions to the opinion of those who live in the sections where frauds are practiced. But why require sixty days residence in a township? let sixty days be required in the county and ten days in the township. The bill as it stands will cut off those who change their residence in March or February, and will throw the elective franchise into the hands of property-holders. I will not vote to compel a man to reside in a township sixty days before he can vote therein. It is not right and fair.
Mr. RAY. In view of the great evils we have suffered, I am willing to encounter all constitutional objections.
Mr. SHIELDS withdrew his motion to amend.
Mr. MARCH offered an amendment requiring sixty days residence in the county and ten days residence in the township, ward or precinct where the voter desires to vote.
Mr. LANDERS would be willing to accept the amendment.
Mr. WAGNER. By that amendment, men who move their families from one county to another on the first day of March can not vote at the April election. I will not vote to cut out such voters. One-fourth of my constituents are made up of that class of men. I am in favor of a law which would require absolute residence, but I can vote for no bill which will disfranchise so many of my constituents.
Mr. JOHNSON moved that the bill and pending amendments be referred to the Committee on Elections.
Mr. CRAVEN made an ineffectual motion to instruct the committee to report two bills on the subject.
The motion to refer was agreed to.
And then-
On motion, the Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock.
