New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-09
CONTESTED ELECTION CASES.

| MR.. BELTZHoovER's NEW LIGHT-INEXCUsABLE
DELAY OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE IN MAKING
| REPORTs-PARTY NECESSITY PLACED ABOVE
JUSTICE.
| IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
WAeHNGTON, May SIR. Beltzhoover, of Penn
sylvania, made long speech in the House to-day on
the contested election case of Curtin against YOcum
J Mr. Beltzhoover is member of the Elections
Committee, and when the majority report
in this case was agreed upon by tho COM
mittee three months ago he signed it. as
| did all the other Democratic members. The report
recommended that tho scat of Mr.. Yocum be de-
clared vacant and that a new election be held.
Mr.. BeltzhoOver has received new light since he
signed that report, and his speech to-day was an
argument in behalf of turning out Mr. YOcum and
giving his seat 20 Governor Curtin.
Only fifty or sixty members Of tho House were
present to-day. and but few of those paid any at
teutiOn to Mr.. BctzhOOveTs speech. A good deal
of the indifference in regard to this doubtless
arises from the general belief that vote will be
taken upon itat this session.
AS to other contested election cases, there seems
to be no prospect that anything will be done before
next Winter. The Elections Committee has not held
a meeting for month. Although the reports IN the
Donnelly- -Washburn case have been ready nearly
six weeks they have not yet been presented to the
House. and Democratic members of the committee
arc credited with determination not to report that
or any other case to the House before Congress
adjourns The pretext for holding back the reports
in the Donnelly -Washburn case is the anonymous
letter Investigation, which can have no possible
bearing on the the case, and which is likely to con-
tinue for several weeks longer.
The deliberate purpose of the strong Democratic
majority of the Elections Committee, ever since
last December has been as 1t now appears, to pre-
vent any action by the House on certain cases, un
less such action was sure to give the Democrats a
political advantage in the election of the next
PresdcntShould be thrown into the House of Rep
rescntatiyes. There are three such those of
Bsbee against Hull, of McCabe against Orth, and
of Donncly against Washburn.
The last-namcd case was prosecuted industrousy
until the Democrats discovered, to their surprise
and chagrin, that the attempt to steal Mr.. Wash
burns seat now could not succeed. There Is no
prospect that the House will do anything about it
until after the Presidential election. The Demo-
Gratis think that if they need the scat then they will
be able to steal 1t.
The committee has postponed further action In
the Indiana case until next Winter, with tho same
purpose In view
The other case, that of Bisbee against Hull, Is
one which presents few difficulties either of law
of fact. 1t was fully argued and submitted more
cided at a single meeting Of the committee, but it
has been left untouched. Mr.. Hull occupies seat
which even many Democrats believe and admit be-
longs to Mr.. Bsbee. and lie will continue to
hold IT until next Winter. Even then he
will be retained if the election of Il
President shall dcyolye upon the House,
for the Democrats will need the vote of Florida. II
that contingency does not arise Mr.. BisbeP may get
his seat sometime before March, but Mr.. Hull
viii, III the meantime, have drawn from the Treas
ury of the United States ten twelve thousand
dollars of the peoples money to which he had not
n shadow of right. The delay in reporting this
is the more unustIiiablc in view Of the fact that
when Mr. Hull was sworn in thorc was an implied
agreement that the matter should DO promptly in
vestIgatcd and the contest decided last December.
The Democratic members of the Elections Com
mitice very free with their criticisms upon the
dilatory action of previous Elections Committees.
They declared that they would act promptly on
every case, and that in Congress, at least no
man who not fairly elected should retain seat
and draw pay day longer than neces-
saTy. The committee was in O situation
tn carry out this cOnmrndable intention. for its
clerk remained here all last Summer TO oversee the
printing Of the testimony, and 1t was completed
when Congress assembled last Fail. There was.
therefore, for delay, and vet, although the
House has been in session nearly six months, it has
not heen called upon to decide single where
an adverse decision could possibly hurt the Democ-