New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-27
THE LYNCH-CHALMERS CONTEST
" NJ, To THE TRIBUNE.

I'll oc The House Of Represent
+;ves has at last begun IN earnest tne
f tho contested election cases, ana f-udS ""' w"
% va - ascension Of the Lynch-Chamers case
s,,l v,ben Chairman Calkins indicated his pup
,nrose 10 call up this matter, the Democrats were
immediately seized by anxious desire 10 piocoou
with the tariff debate
The dav had been set for the consideration VI
,nsiness from the Post Office Committee; ana MI
pandal made an effort TO induce Chairman Ding
-, ~ hat committee to antagOnize the election
case intimafng that such proceeding wonio IT,
ceive solid Democratic support The performance
e sS,osterdav was too fresh in the memory OF the
Renublicans for them to listen TO the promises Oh
pordau however. and be was compelled TO raise
tbe question of consideration against the Elections
Cor,m,ttee himself The Democrats were oe-
feo+od on this motion by vote of Is 10 10 lhe1e
were II absentees-39 Republicans % Demo
Gratis Besides the Republicans who voted IN 'nc
affirmative were MessTs. Brunm burrows oi
Missouri Ford Hazeltine, Jones OF Texas Murcn,
and Rice of Missouri, iGTeenbackerSi, ana faui
Readiuster Democrat.
No Ronrhlican voted with the Democrats to-day
this being in pursuance OF an unueis'@nuiHs
reached last night through the business coiui'c &C
annojuted by the last Republican caucus. hePuo-
r., ,Dec,lcrs Of the Ways and Means COMMITTEE
w voted with the OcDOCidtS NSSt~AN"J '
their action by saying that they hao
sonoo +,n,a oqo entered into an agreement
with Democratic members of that committee 10 ue-
nand three days time this week for the iurther ulS
cussjon of the Tariff Commission bill. They cay
that tbey are as anxious as are other RepuOhcah
members of the House TO proceed with the election
cases. but they felt bound TO stand by the agree
,oent which they had made; and moreover they
believe il wise that the Tariff Commission Oil shah
be disposed of as practicable, so that III may
be completed egisaton,a lat least as fan as the House
&c concerned There is stlll another reason as
signed for devOtIng so much time to the discus
sion of that measure. When the bill was hrst
brought in a strong minority OF the Democrats
EXPRESSED determination to flibuster not only
against its consideration but against Its passage.
After some time, however, most OF them agreed
that if plenty of time should be allowed for debate
they would not resort to dilatory tactics to prevent
its consideration OF passage. These various reasons
the Republican members who voted with the DEM
oerats yesterday believe fully sufficient to JUS
tify their action They think their party colleagues
might better have followed their example.
The Democrats came to the discussion OF the
Lynch-Chalmers with great reluctance, INSIST
ing that they not prepared for It, Ii they couid
have their own way they would not be prepared
before March g. 1853, Their game of rrocTas-
tuation anDears at last to be thoroughly unuerStOOd
IN, fbe Republicaus, who now declare that the ma
iorty Of the House shall hencefOrh direct the order
NJ its business As soon the Democrats were de-
feated today they III order to waste as much time
as possible insisted that the report of the commit
tee should be read. 1t is a printed document OF
tweutv-three pages and It's reading consumed a
couple of hours. OF course nobody paid the least
attention to the reading.
Nj Pettibone, Of Tennessee, member OF the
Elections Committee made the opening speech III
favor of its report. lie has devoted much thought
and study to the case, and he delivered strong
argument in favor of Lynch's title to the seat now
occupied by Chalmers. Mr.. AthcrtOn, tao Demo-
cratic member of the Committee whose absence on
account of illness has delayed the case for some
time followed in a long speech for Chalmers Mr..
Atherton spoke with great energy and vlgor for
nearly two hours, and appears TO have entirely re-
covered from his unfortunate illness lie is a good
lawyer and pleasant speaker, and he made the
best that he could Of a very bad case. Mr.. Moore.
OF Tennessee whose District adj0ins the Shoe
string District of Mississippi, and who has there
fore enjoyed excellent opportunities to study the
mississippi plan" made an interesting speech III
favor of Lynch, against whoLc he SAID the only
charge that could be brought by Democrats was
that hIs father was white Democrat"
Ii is expected that the debate Will be concluded
and a vote taken before adjournment 10 morrow, IT
It-Oit TO flbusterng in order 10 prevent the adj
mission Of "Nigger" to a seat which rghttuliy
belongs &c him.