The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-06-09
OUR WASHINGTON Z ETTER.
From our OoOa Correspondence
Tunlu7tuous scenes 5n Congress-Con-
tested election cases Whiskey AsSo-
Citations spending money for political
purposes - Important testimony. =
Diocesan Episcopal Convention.
WAsHINeToN. June 18th. IS

WASHINGTON, June 9Th, 1882.
Scenes more turbulent in the House
of Representatives than those over
Southern contested election cases have
seldom Seen witnessed in that body.
A brief statement of the South Caro-
lima case of Makey os. O'Conner was
given in the Washington correspon-
denceo of the TELEGRAPH last week. A
short resume of the prominent fea-
lures of the controversy will not be
out of place at this time. The Demo-
cratic minority, by q vailing them
selves OF the rules of the House.
INSTRUCTED all business Of legis-
lation from The 22d of May to the
10Th = eight days. The Democrats
had it in their power, under the exist
ing rules, to prevent legislation until
December next, when the term Of the
present Congress expires, if they had
chosen so to do. The only terms on
which the Republicans could go on
with business was the abandonmento of
the election cases. This they could not
consent to do. Speaker Keifer. in view
of the situation, regarded it his duty to
refuse longer to entertain motions
made only for the purpose of fillibus-
tering and obstructing legislation. For
the course he chose to pursue he had
abundant precedent. The Democratic
Speaker Of the last House, Mr. Randall,
had decided he would not entertain
motions made simply to obstruct legis-
lation. Elk Speaker Blaine, predeces-
sor of Randall, gave like decision.
Precedents of this kind run as far
back as John Quincy Adams, who,
when he was Speaker of the House,
declared the chair could not recognize
motions intended for the purpose of
delay. With these decisions, especially
that of Mr.. Randall, who is one of the
leaders on the Democratic side Of the
House, it comes with an i'll grace for
Democrats to complain of the decision
of Speaker Keifer. It will be asked,
what reason did the Democrats offer
for obstructing action on the election
cases? The excuse was, the evidence
on which the Republican claimant
(Makey) rested his case was fraudulent.
Such allegation had no reasonable prob
ability. The case had been before
Congress at previous session, and be-
fore the present Election Committee of
the House since December last, and
every opportunity had been afforded to
eontrovert fraudulent testimony, if any
had been taken.
The first of the contested election
cases was not reached by final vote
until Thursday last, having occupied
eleven days. O'Conner was voted out
Of the seat he had been occupying, and
Makey adjudged entitled to it. Up to
Saturday evening two more cases, Bis
bee 0s. Finley, and Low as. Wheeler,
were decided. All the contestants
voted entitled to seats are Republicans.
Just two weeks, with night sessions,
were spent in disposing of these cases,
to the exclusion of all other business.
Had there been no fillibustering the
business might have beenfairly adjust
ed in day or two. The riotous conduct
ofmembers of the House during action
on these election cases was, to say the
least, disgraceful. Who the leaders
were in trespassing ON the rules of
common decency let those who wish to
be informed consult the official record
Of proceedings.
THE WHISKEY INTEREST USING MONEY
TO CONTROL ELECTIONS AND INFLU-
ENCE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. M
PORTANT TESTIMONY.
It will be recollected that Senator
Windham offered a resolution in the
Senate, which was adopted, for the ap-
pointment of a committee to inyesti-
gate the charge that members had
been influenced by the whiskey ring to
favor legislation in the interest of the
liquor business. The committee has
begun the work assigned it. The first
witness called was J. M. Anterior, of
Louisville, Ky. From testimony of
Mr.. Atherton, it appears he is one of
the largest whiSkey dealers in Ken-
lucky; his distillery has the capacity
OF. making $4,000 barrels per annum.
He says there are now stored in his
warehouse 10000 barrels of Whiskey,
of which he is the owner in part; the
balance owned by other parties. The
government has the whiskey in bond to
the amount of $3,500,000 for the pay
ment of the tax thereon.
Mr.. Anterior describes the Associa-
ton to which he belongs, the sums of
money raised, and the purposes to
which it is applied. Large sums have
been sent to Washington to be used to
secure the action of Congress. favorable
to distillers and whiskey deafers. Col.
Wharton, the agent of the Association
in Washington, is paid $4,000 per an
mum. His business is to visit commit
tee rooms and prepare such bills as
may be for the interest of distillers,
&c. Of the ways money is expended
the witness says $4,000 were sent
west to defeat prohibition. Mr.. Ath-
erton insists that in all this there is
nothing wrong; that to aid the liquor
business is to help the interest of the
entire country. Two other witnesses,
large whiskey manufacturers, have
been called. Their testimony comedies
with that of Mr. Anterior, with addi-
tional facts. But the most important
information which the Committee seek
to obtain has thus far not been
reached. The witnesses refuse to give
the names of persons implicated in the
attempt to bride. IF the Committee