The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-16
USELESS WfsTE or MONEY.
The Kind Of Testimony the rcorie Paw for 30
Please senator Morton.

wAsH1vGroN. Jan. 5--It is about time
that public Indignation should be expressed at
the expense Incurred by Morton's committee In
bringing Moth amo'ley crowd Of witnesses to
testify to intimidation In tho elections Of Ala
bima and Mississippi Some time ago Morton
sent several spec agents through those two
states. with rowing commissions to subppua
pack - Reuublcans Tor use before his commits
tee. Many Of them are now aud have been for
some time In Washington, chi az themselves
at Government expense while waiting to be
called, aud 50 far - already examined they
have done nothing hut submit mass Of worth
less hearsay testimony, which no court would
admit. To cay, sen tor Mitchell produced one
George r.. swan, an old Republican attorney OF
Mississippi. Clerk Of the United 81 tos Circuit
Court for ,uthern Mississippi. and chief uper-
VISOR OF Elections in that state. lie profes ed
that he hid been = lawyer Tor ~ years. His
ox mination lasted over two hours. 1t ap-
pear from his testimony mat he found ob-
staces In the way of ohtaining petitions
and nominations for Federu Supervisors
in tine for them to uct with the state
officers Of registration. and he went on To *
plain that iu the opinion Il distinguished law
ycts Of Misss-ippi, X publican and Dom cratic
the Government h "a no tiglt q NEEDLE In mat
tiers that were properly under the control Il the
St,tc. aud lie thought II roh bic mat many
charges on the part of state SUPERVISORS were
not prosecuted because u the pr vning notion
that United st tea Courts had no Jurisdiction
Over tuem. Tic iOMcf~ ~ these Federal SuDef-
vsors lad been abridged by IN ct which passed
the Mississippi Legtsl ifure iu ISL.
Mr.. Swan was un ted with rumors and hear
say reports, tut his testimony In brief amounted
& the following al rmius 81 tements: lie knew
OF just one afid wit alleging irlegularity against
a supervisor at the 81 election. lie could not
specify any cases OF his pers knowledge
where colOred men "a been refused the right
to vote because they could not designate the
particular subdivision OF the district Ia winch
they lived. lie could not saw OF hts personal
knowledge that there had been any failure to
prosecute ihfriugements Of the Election
laws through fear of personal violence.
lie had never been interfer,d with In
the discharge Of his duties Chief SUPER
visor. lie hat no personal knowledge Of meet
il-s wing been broAen up py Democrats, with
ono exception, winch set the committee room
la % roar. hat WAS during the last camp ign,
where Republic IN convention htd been Ouli-
d zed 10y the injection Of a Dsmocgstic .dress
from George W. harper. when lie mad been in-
vited to deliver Oy lAr-e mai Itity OF the mem-
bers. hat was the only in.t.ncc Of violent in
reference that hal come under MA observation.
80 far as he knew. or had lac I'd. there -
scarCely any open Intimidation tni- year as COM
pareu with the election OF $50 The Repubhe an
CLUBS bad sin PLY failed to Orsaniz'
Nr. swan las enc ur geu 10y senator Mitchell
to diercss cOntt.tu Ilty into WOE Mess rumurs OF
one Kind or another. and 10 Kent 'nator KEENAN,
busy with objections 10 introducing sucu -tuff
under the n ,iue Of evidence. II costs toe Gov
eminent i've cents a mile and 50 day to indulge
In such Witnesses.