New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-23
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
DEMOCRATS AIDED BY REPUBLICANS.
JUSTICE DELAYED BIZ FILIDUsTERs AND ABSENTEE-
T8r TELEGRAPH 70 rHE rnrDrSz.l

matter up this morning Mr. Randall declared that
tie Democrats were exceedingly anxious to go on
with the public business" proper public business
he explained, which of course meant anything eX-
cept the contested election Mr.. Randall then
emphasized the Democratic anxiety to advance
the public business by moving that when ihe
House adjourn to-day 1t be to meet on Wednesday
next, and for this motion the Democrats who we're
present all voted. This was purely and only dila-
tory motion t. postpone, and if practicable to pre-
vent the unscatng of Dibble; and If was therefore
question In which Dibbe was personally inter-
ested. Nevertheless he voted and in the a!iirma-
tive but the motion rejected by vote cI IL
to 50.
The question "Sha the House now consider the
contested election case " was then put ana was
carried by "A vote of 113 to 2-3iessrs s. s. Cox and
Phelps voting in the negative Mr. Randall immc-
diaely made the point that quorum had voted.
A call OF the House disclosed the fact that fewer
Republicans were present than on Saturday last
although in the meantime Messrs. Browne, Crowley,
Hll Tubbs, Ketcham and Reed, who were then
absent, had returned.
There were thirty Republican absentres this
moTnnq-cipht with and twenty-five without
lsavo The eight absent with leave were Mcssrs
Camp, Cornell, Joyce Lindsey, Shailcnbergcr'
Valentine. Van Aernam and Washburn. Or the
twenty-five absent without leave. six were ex-
CUsctl LOT lIt VI lip utA, 40 i"''"'"'
Messrs. IIiscocE. Horr. Hubhcll, Lewis. Mason and
Scranton. The sixteen who were absent without
leave and for whose absence no excuse was offered,
were Messis. Iellord, bingham, Bowman. Errett, {.
b. Farwell. IIarmer Hawk, ID. 7. Richardson.
Sherwin. }. Hyatt Smith. Van VOorhis. Wadsworth
Walker Watson Walter A. Wood and Young. Mr..
Lewis of Illinois. who excused on the ground
of illness is rot dangerously sick; 1t is understood
that he was able to make trip to Mt. Vernon to-
day. Mr.. HscOck who was obliged to go home Tor
q dav made an arrangement with s. s. Cox to vote
in case the majority should be able to muster a
quorum lacking one. Mr.. Young. of Ohio. went to
Cincinnati saturday night without notice. and no.
bolv appears to know when he will return; al
though one of his colleagues says he hopes GoV-
ernor Young will be OH hand next Wednesday.
Just before the House adjourned this afternoon,
indefinite leave OF absence on account OF illness
was asked for Messrs. Mason and Walter A. Wood,
Of New.York One of Mr.. Woods colleagues said
to TRIBUNE correspondent after the House adj
journed that Mr.. Wood told him last Saturday
night that he was going home for good" and
that at the time Mr. Wood did not plead illness or
show any signs of illness. 1t Is suspected that
several of the cases of alleged illness Just now
among Republican Representatives amount simply
TO an indspoSition TO attend TO public business
There were twenty-five Republican absentces last
Saturday: to-day there were thirty. The problem
therefore appears to- be: If the majority lose five
members in two days, how long Will III take theh 10
Some comment was caused to-day by the conduct
of Mr. Iukerson, one OF the keanIusIer n'eiIlIeiS %
from Virginia who voted with the BoufDohS whe
Ncv yoted and TefrSiDeG from voting when tls'y
did In card sent to 7he RichmoHd D,spatca' 10 DC
published tomorrow morning. Mf' ruiheiSon oheiS
this explanation:
NJ action was based on the merits Of the un-
dersiand IT, an II should nave no PGcI P t,ser
such was elected and stand s9narely on inc Pat
The position assigned me by my party enables me to act
justly impsrty, aud for the best nere's oil the sou
try, free rom Democratic Vi 1'epuo'oaA e""'"' ''"
tion or part restraint
This sounds very WELL but does not change the
fact that Mr. Fukerson has got INTO the same boat
with the Bourbon Democrats who have hoistcd The
black flag AMI declared that If they can prevent 1t
this case shall never be Onsldered on its merits
Mr. Fulkerson owed his elect ion as an Anti
bourbon to Republican votes. but he appears to
have gone into the Bourbon camp bag and baggage
The other Readinster member Mr.. Paul, of Viz
rnia who is member of the Elect tons Committee
and who has carefully studied the pending case
has reached different conclusion respecting It's
merits and ne therefore votes with the MAJORITY
In the course of ta.day's proceedings Mr.. Randall
took occasion to refer to the testimony IN support
OF Mackeys claim to the seat as " forgery other
Democrats have done the same thing before. Now |
If there is any such thing i'll the case there lare |
plenty of Republican Representatives. who VIII not |
vote to seat Mackcy, and Therefore there 10 no |
reason why the Democrats should hesitate 10 nave |
the matter discussed on its merlts-lndeed there Is
every reason why they ought TO court such 4 dis |
cusson; hut in this. as in almost everything else,
the democrats are acting insincerely, and the cry
Of forgery is only TIE hmsest sort Of a pretext.
Those OF them who have investigated the matter |
know perfectly well that no forgery has been
committed and they dare not ATTEMPT to prove |
such an accusation SHOWING ing @ that they wouil DC
covered with confusion IL they dlu
Some of the shrewder and more sensible Demo
Gratis admit that the party has made mistake In
flibuserng against the consideration OF the case,
and they are anxious TO have this untenable position
abandoned, but there seems to be no immediate
prospect of such a result. The kepnblcans snow snow
,,ipo hut a n
To fight this and other contested election cases 10
the end. Whether tia majority shall win VII WI De de,
pend entirely upon whether the members oi inat
majority will give their public duties preference |
over their private business, convenience anu pleas
ures. . ,.,.,
sence has already wasted two days OF the time Of
the House Of Representatives. Chairman Galklns
helieyes that a quorum will be obtained by ednes-
dav next mt the very latest Unless 10 shall be |
there will be danger of an entire failure OF the
majority to do justice in any OF the contested cleo
ton cases at this session.
A REPORT ON THE LAND GRANT QUESTION.
WASHINGTON, May 22.-The House Commit
tee on the judiciary met to-day and further considered
the bill introduced by Representative Coob which pro-
poses that al lands granted to railroads when nave not
compiled with the terms OF the granting acts shall be de-
cared forfeited After discussing the case OF the North
ern Pacific Road vote was taken, which resulted in the
adoption OF the report Of the snbcomnittee declaring
lands granted TO the Northern racnc liIway 10 pe
non-forfeablc. Chairman Reed authorized 70 sub
mi the majority report to the House minority OF four
will statement Of their dissenting views OF the
subject
POSTAGE on PERIODICAL LITERATURE.
WAsHISGToy May 22.-Tbe Postmaster
General response to resolution OF the House, 10
day sent the Speaker in which he recommends
that the postage on class matter papers and
magaznes abolished He also states that the fourth
class matter merchandseD is carried at loss to the
Government and IL the Government Is to be taxed for