New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-15
A POLITICAL OUTRAGE.

nvN,ocp,r,c DrrAY IN RrPOETiNG on CONTESTED
rLFcTIoN CASES - REVIEW OF THE BIsBEE-
HULL CoxTFsT-A MocKERY OF JUSTICE.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, March 14-On last Friday Chair
man Springer, of the House Committee on Eiec-
tions gave notice that he would call M the con-
tested ease of Curtin against Yocum early this week
This case s far the record of the testimony is
concerned one which has involved more necessary
labor Oh the part of the committee than all the
other cases before it combined. 1t was, how
ever decided by the committee several weeks ago.
The Democratic members Of the committee unanl-
mously voted to send the back TO the peopefor
new election
There is one other case before the Elections Com
mittee which, as a matter of justice, ought to have
been decided by the committee and reported TO
the House long ago. When Congress met last De
cember the Democratic members of the committee
were loud in their declarations that the contested
cases should be disposed of at an early day. Mr.
Manning of Mississippi especially, chairman Of
the subcommittee to which the Florida case of
Bisbee against Hull was referred took occasion
three months ago crticise the tardy action of the
Committee on Elections in the XLYth and preced-
ing Congresses and to declare that the committee
of which he was a member would set a pattern by
its prompt action all cases. The papers IN the
case of Bisbee against Hull were all printed when
Congress assembled in December. The case was
promptly taken up by the subcommittee. 1t was
fully argued and submitted about six weeks ago,
and nothing has been done with it since.
On the organization of the XLVIth Congress,
wear ago. Hull was sworn on the technical ground
that he held a certificate from the Governor This
certificate had been annued by the judgment of the
Supreme Court of Florida declaring the first can
vass illegal and void; but the Democratic majority
e+l,o Of ,4oti ivps hal1 hat
not go behind the Governors certificate i'll prma
facie case. No such excuse exists now The legal
canvass gave Mr. Bisbee POI majority. The counsel
for Mr. Hull in their printed brief, admit fraud at
one poll and the suppression of the returns at two
other polls. The corrections which Mr.. Hnlls cOun-
sci admits should be made increase Mr. Bisbee'S ma
jority from POI to 1922 In Mr.. Huls behalf it is
claimed that this majority should be decreased 30
votes. leaving Mr.. Bisbee a majority of 327.
This is IN nutshell. There is no good reason
in the world why the committee should not report
it promptly to the House. There is no testimony to
examine and weigh. 1t is believed that any nte-
gent lawyer could write report in few hours, and
cover every disputed point. Not even DemOcratic
member of Congress has ever claimed that llull was
elected and the continued deprivation OF Colonel
Bisbee of his seat in the XLNIth Congress is one
of the most fagrant outrages ever perpetrated by
The House Elections Committee he's not vet had
the courage TO decide the Donnelly "ashburn
the committee will finally report i'll favor of unseat-
ing Washburn and of seating Donnely. The
dshingIOn Sunday Gazette, Bourbon organ. which
ought to know whereof 1t af1lrms says tins morn
ing that the majority of the committee will soon re-
port in favor of Donnely The Gazette says:
The testimony reveals most shameful state OF things.
The committee Will report 295 cases OF bribery, where
the money paid and the votes given for Wash
burn and a number of other cases where money
offered. These bribercs traced home in nearly
every a. to Mr.. Wasbburns office or 10 bis clerks or
Observation-Disclosures. Besides this hundreds of railroad
hands voted for Washburn in unOrganlzed counties
where there we're legal precinct and where railroad
used pOlllnGplaces, and clgarbo1os were
used for balotbOXes
In addition TO this the worbingmen of Minneapolis
were ntBlidated and budOZ d III the most outrage
manner, threatened with starvation if they voted
against Mr. Washbnrn and their ballots numbered so
that their EMPLOYERS might know how they Te1y voted
II time that Congress should rebuke tins system OF
suppressing freedom OF elections by driving Mr. Wash
burn out OF tue House and seating his conf etitOT.