Congressional Recoud-House. I June 20;

10790 CONGRESSIONAL RECOUD-HOUSE. I JUNE 20; statute, as above, on this point, Senate bill 5809, which I urgently Resolved, That the Committee on Privileges and Elections prepare the : bUls necessary to more strictly control corruption, fraud, and machine commend to the attention of the Senate, not only the Democrats politics in the nomination and election of the officers of the United but the Republicans as well, because it is equally important to States, and to enable the people to have authoritative knowledge with honest Republicans as to honest Democrats that a majority of regard to the claims of c~ndidates. the Republicans should be permitted to nominate candjdates Mr. SMOOT. I understand the Semitor has offered that reso acceptable to a majority of their party members, as it is to the lution and has asked that it be referred to the Committee on. Democrats to have the right to nominate candidates acceptable Privileges and Elections. to a majority of their members. Mr. OWEN. I ask its reference to the Committee on Priv I remind the Senate that the preferential ballot was adopted ileges arid "Elections. by both branches of Congress in the Federal reserve act, sec The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no objection the tion 4, for the selection of the directors of the 12 Federal reserve resolution will be referred to the Committee on Privileges and - banks, and . this system is perfectly well understood by the Elections. · country. .Mr. WILLIAl'tiS. I move that the Senate adjourn. CORRUPT PRACTICES. The motion was agreed to, and (at 5 o'clock and 25 minutes · Fourth. I have also had drawn in like manner Senate bill p. m.) the Senate adjourned until Monday, June 22, 1914, at 12· 5864, to define corrupt practices in connection with campaigns o'clock meridian. for the nomination or election of United States Senators and Congressmen, and to provide punishment therefor. I believe that every Senator will agree. whether he be Democrat or Re HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. publican or Progressive, in the importance of having the nomi SATURDAY, June £0, 1914. nations and elections of the Congressmen and Senators free from corrupt practices. · The House met at 12 o'clock noon. These and other steps are obviously necessary to carry out The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the fol the pledge of the Democratic national platform at Baltimore, in lowing prayer : which · the Democratic Party offered itself to the country as 0 Thou great Father soul, above all, through all, in us all· " an agency tht·ough which the complete overthrow and ea:tirpa make dominant Thy spirit within us, that we may climb th~ tion of corruption, fraud, and rnachine t•ttle in A.rnerican politics mount of transfiguration for the moment and behold with can be effected." · wondering eyes the glorified Christ, the finished product, the PRESIDJ!lNTUL PRIMARY. paragon of human perfection, that we may descend into the I think we should provide for the nomination of candidates valley with re~ewed faith and confidence, working the works· for the Presidency and the Vice Presidency by the preferential. of righteousness with eager hearts and willing hands, looking primary ballot, and that pL·oper statutes should be drawn and forward to that perfection for which_ we all long, which, in the dispensation of Thy providence, waits on the faithful· in enacted covering this point along the line recommended by the Christ the Lord. Amen. ' · President in his annual message last December. The Journal of the proceedings of yesterday was read and The Democratic platform upon this point declared: approved. The movement toward more popular government should be promoted through legislation in each State which will permit the expression of CLERK PRO TEMPORE. the electors for national candidates at presidential primaries. The SPEAKER laid before the House the following communi- In order to have uniformity in the 48 States, Congress should cation: · lay down a few fundamental rules, which would be a minimum HOUSE OF REPRESE::o<T.A.TIVES, condition imposed upon the States in this legislation. At pres CLERK'S OFFICE, ent Congress requires the States to conform to certain rules in Washington, D. C., June 20, 1911,.. selecting Senators, and the constitutionality of the imposition Mr. SPEAKER: Desiring to be temporarily absent from my office for a short time, I hereby designate Mr. D. K. Hempstead, an official in upon· the States of a reasonable requirement in regard to this my office, to act for me and in my stead in any and all olficial matters matter will not be denied, since it is the practice of a hundred that may require the official action of the Clerk of the House or years. Representatives during my temporary absence. The State primaries on presidential, senatorial, and con Very respectfully, SOUTH TRIMBLE, gressional candidates could be ordered to take place the second Clerk of the House of Representatives. Tuesday in June, beginning in 1916, and the national conven tion authorized and required to meet within 30 days thereafter :M}\:SSAGE FROM THE SENATE. for the sole purpose of ratifying the primaries and writing the A message from the Senate, by Mr. Tulley, one of its clerks, platforms. announced that the Senate had agreed to the report of the The conventions should consist of nominees for Congress, for committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of ·the two the Senate, and of hold-over Senators not defeated in the Houses on the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. primaries. 14034) making appropriations for the naval service for the The Federal Government within its sphere is as soyereign :-.s fiscal year ending June 30, 1915, and for other purposes, had are the States within their sphere, and the Federal Government still further insisted upon its amendments Nos. 28, 29, 33, 40; can and should by statute indicate the minimum requirements and 71, disagreed to by the House of Representatives, had that should be provided by the laws of the several States in asked a further conference with the House on the disagreeing perfecting the right of the Federal Government to have its votes of the two Houses thereon, and had appointed Mr. TILL officers nominated and elected by a majority of the people, MAN, Mr. SWANSON, and Mr. PERKINS as the conferees on the safeguarded against fraud and corruption. If the minimum part of the Senate. requirements are not provided by the State law, then the The message also announced that the Senate had agreed to. Federal requirement should apply, as in the case of the recent the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing statute for the election of Senators. votes of the two Houses on tbe amendments of the House to. If the Democratic Party now in power leaves the_country un-. ,_ the bill (S. 661) for the relief of the widow of Thomas B. der the machine-rule system, with the door wide open to fraudu McClintic, deceased. lent practices in nominating and electing Senators and Members SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE AT SUNDAY SESSION. of Congress, after its solemn promise to the American people and after it has been trusted with power by the American people, Tbe SPEAKER. The · Chair designates the gentleman from· for the chief purpose of controlling the special interests and ·New York [Mr. RIORDAN] to preside to-morrow at the memorial the vicious alliance between corrupt business and corrupt poli services for the late Representative SULLIVAN. tics,- it will undoubtedly recei>e severe condemnation for vio ORDER OF BUSINESS. lating these vital promises so intimately affecting integrity of Mr. POU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the government. present consideration of the special order which I ask the Clerk I submit, therefore, the following resolution and ask that it , to report · be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections: The SPEAKER. The Clerk will report it. Senate resolution 399. The Clerk read as foiJows : · Whereas the party now in power appealed to the American people in Ordered, That on Tuesday, .June 23, 1914, the House stand in recess. 1912 upon the following statement: fl'Om 5 o'clock until 8 o'clock p. m. ; that the House shall continue in " The Democratic Party offers itself to the country as an agency session from 8 p. m. until not later than 11 p. m. During such ses<>ion through which the complete overthrow and extirpation of corrup it shall be in order to consider in the House, as in · Committee of the tion, fraud, and machine rule in American politics can be etrected"; Whole, bills on .the Private Calendar to which there is no objection. and The consideration of said calendar snail begin with No. 244 thereon, Whereas it is the sincere desh·e of all patriotic men of every party to continuing to the end, after which other bflls on said calendar may terminate corruption in government: Thetefore be it likewise be considered by unanimous corlsent. 1914. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOVSE. 10791 The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the present considera The report and statement are as follows: tion of this order? CONFERENCE REPORT (NO. S4Ci). - Mr_. :MANN. I object. · Mr. FITZGERALD. I expect to ask the House to s1t mghts The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the until the sundry civil bill is disposed of. Next week is the two Houses on the amendments of the House to the bill ( S. 661) last week of the fiscal year, and I shall object to any request for for the relief of the widow of Thomas B. McClintic, deceased.

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