The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-06
rms .DoDor CONTESTED rLrorror CASE.

THE BRooKs-DoDdk CONTESTED INJECTION CASE.
The House then resumed the consideration Of the
report Of the Committee Of Elections, In the con-
tested election case Of Dodge vs.. Brooks.
Mr.. Shelabarger, Of Ohio, addressed the House
at considerable length, entering into a review Of
the committees report, and contepding that the
evidence showed, as the priMa face result Of the
election, that the contestant, Mr.. Dodge, was en-
titled to the seat which he claimed at the hands Of
the House. .H
Mr. Paine, Of Wisconsin, was Of opinion that the
case hinged upon the question whether the invalid
ity Of the register ofthe Fifteenth district Of the
Eighteenth ward was a Sufficient ground for the
lection Of the Official returns Of the canvassers for
that district He held that the register was worth
less, and It's worthless character reduced the
amount Of proof necessary 10 nyadate the returns;
but he did not think that In ITSELF II was decisive
Of their invaidty In the absence Of proof Of illegal
votes or unlawful proceedings at the polls.
If the returns Of this district are not set aside Mr.
Brooks retains his seat. N "a w E
Mr.. Spalding. Of Ohio, expressed his conviction
that neither the sitting member nor the contestant
had established title to the seat sufficiently clear
to afford the House basis for settling this con-
test.
Mr.. Brooks, of New York, then took the floor In
defence Of his title to the seat which he held He
opened his remarks by abiding to the embarrass-
ment which he felt In carrying on q contest like
this, In which he was opposed by man Of almost
boundloss wealth and resources, whose annual In
come exceeded three hundred and eighty -four
thousand dollars, whose gains amounted 10 fifteen
hundred and nineteen dollars every day Of his life
and who received four dollars and eighty cents with
every breath that he drew. The election which
was now the subject Of dispute was one Of the
hardest contested which In all his long experience
he had ever known. II took place In q district
which contained vast amount Of wealth, as we'll
as q very large population Of the poorer class. He
was sorry to say that large proportion Of the
voters who represented the wealth and property Of
that district-the moneyed oass-the men Of Firth
ayenue-had opposed his election and had given
their support to his opponent, Mr.. Dodge, while,
on the other hand, the laboring population--the
hard. listed working men and mechanics-the arti-
hcers whose industry sent our vessels out upon
every sea--these had given their support to him
Mr.. Brooks, The contestant had seen ft TO avail
himself Of this fact to institute q comparison be-
tween the superior "intelligence" Of his own sup
voted against him. lie lMr. d. had no comments
to make upon this classification Of the oonstit-
uency whom the contestant assumed to represent.
He was willing to let the gentlemans classification
go before those constituents that they might pro-
nounee upon It's justice for he would say that he
expected TO meet the contestant again hereafter
not here, but there lin the Eighth Congressional
distrct)
After Mr.. Brooks had spoken something over an
hour, and before he had concluded his remarks, he
gave way for proposition to adjourn, and the
further consideration Of the subject was postponed
until tomorrow.
Mr.. Bundy, Of Ohio, offered resolution declaring
that whereas there are in this city large number
Of persons calling themselves claim agents and ass
sumng to have peculiar facilities for the collection
Of claims against the Governments and whereas IL
Is well known that some Of these persons have In
their hands large number Of claims, some Of which
they have collected and the proceeds Of which they
refuse to pay to the claimants: therefore the
Committee on the Judiciary are instructed TO re-
port bill to moro fully protect soldiers and sailors
In getting their claims adjusted by providing that
such dishonesty on the part Of any claim agent
shall be considered as embeIrlement and punishable
| as such
Mr.. Farnsworth, Of Illinois, advocated the imme-
date adoption Of the resolution as an act Of justice
and mercy to the poor soldier.
The Speaker remarked, for the information Of the
House while on this subject that one Of these claim
agents had applied to him for the use Of his (the
Speaksr') name for reference, which had boon pos
itiyfy refused and yet in spite Of this refusal he
fouad that the circulars Of this agent naming him
among other referees had been sent broadcast over
tho country; and Of late he had been much troubled
in having TO answer 4 number Of letters from sol.
diers who wrote to him inquiring about the agent
in question.
| The resolution was adopted.
On motion Of Mr.. Stevens Of Pennsylvania, the
House took up the naval appropriation bill az
amended by the Senate, and after action on the
various amendments, many Of which were nou-
conourred In, committee Of conference thereon
| was ordered.
And thenr-at IS p. m, the House adjourned.