The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-12-29

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ipelt dcmndl bat who hopo VI pafiissn
ahldsyiis and Do influence ofpnfty aud llie
Iobby u ~ IN ~ fallinr IN that,
al least draw q Conafemman's
pay during the period Of their ron.
test. And the number has beon steadily
growing. Most Of the present contestants
are Southern Republicans, and 10 Is barely
posi- bic a goodly number Of them may be
lot into the House on the @iargo Of fraud,
intimidation and what not, which they oil
make. But II Is not In q party or political
scnsethnt We desire TO speak ofthis subject.
IL Is the opportunity or right ofcontost
generally that we refer 10. And We con-
tend that In practice this right
has dcgencrated into so troublesome
Iand costly exercise to the general
government that one Of two things ought to
be done. Either the right OF contest before
Congress ought to be taken away altogether
Or the manner and policy governing its OK
orcise, heretofore, ought to be greatly
changed. The first proposition would vir-
tually deprive the House of its privilege to
judge Of the qualifications Of its own mem
bers, and would not probably be wise or
practicable, and it is useless here to. discuss
lit further, but the second certainly suggests
itself to us as of the utmost Importance as a
measure for Congress to act upon
and entirely feasible AS the matter
now stands the greatest latitude exists for
the would-be contestant, and if lie be- as he
generally is, a "needy" man, a positive in
dncement is held out to him to renew a
conflict settled by the people, before the
Committee on Privileges and Elections in
the House of Representatives at Washing
ton. For ifthere exists the slightest basis
for his claim, and it is no trouble to build a
basis, the expenses incident to the contest
are gratuitously voted him whether Sue
cessful or not, or more accurately stated two
men arc paid Congressmen's wages from the
same, district at,the same time. The con-
tests before Congress this session will foot
up at least $40 600 Or $50,00O and the inves-
tigntion all the time but the repetition Of a
matter passed solemnly upon by 1853, 900
free and wide-awake citizens. Is not this
an abuse an incentive to vexatious and
costly conflicts, source Of political corrup7
ton and an imposition on the people, And
yet the evil could be easily remedied, Let
Congress by statute declare that certain
broad and patent and just grounds,
such as experience and wisdom
Knight Suggest to it, must first
be % = clearly laid before the right
to contest is granted, and then, among
other provisions needed to fully cover the
case, that under no, circumstances should
any compensation of whatever character be
granted to the Successful party in the cons
test, but as cases in courts certain costs
should fall on him, and our word for it, this
character of man would be essseen around
the National Capital, and those only who
were thrice armed with a just quarrel would
ever torment the House. and retard legisla-
ton by the persistent pressing of
their claims for another's seat. Ae-
ded to this we believe the existence of more
stringent rules in this particular would
prove the means Of producing greater hon
esty and purity in elections in the various
Congressional districts of the Union, for
very obvious reasons. The nearer the cleo
ton itself approached a finality of the mat
ter, by the rules of the House, the greater
watchfulness and cnergy.and caution would
1t occasion on the part Of candidates, and
these things in turn would render i'm
possible many things now INDUCED at such
times, of questionable nature and arising
mainly from belief that the corrupt fea
lures ofthe campaign are easilyreviewed by
Congress and in fact afford new avenue Of
success, in case of a first failure. For these
reasons we most earnestly desire practical
reform in this matter and trust that the
present contestants will meet such a rebuke
as will have salutary effect in the fut ure