New-York tribune., 1883-12-20

been trying to convince Messrs. Ranney, HiscOck,
Reed and other good lawyers that the Republicans
ought to contest the admission OF Mr. Skinner
of North Carolina, when he should come before the
House bearing his credentials from the Governor of
that State Repeated efforts were made to show
him that his position was indefensbe, contrary to
Repnblicansdoctrne, and one which no Republican
could support. All such efforts were vain and TO-
day when General Scales asked that his colleague be
sworn General Keifer objected and offered reso-
kltion, with long preamble, to refer the whole
matter to the Elections Committee This he sup
ported in q long speech, to which General Scales
made an equally long reply.
Mr. Hiscock offered q substitute for the Keller
resolution, which directed that Mr.. Skinner be
sworn and that the legal question as to whether OF
not he was elected from the proper district be re-
ferred TO the Elections Committee with instructions
to report thereon at the earliest time practicable.
Mr.. Uiscock supported his substitute in an encr-
getic speech Mr.. Reed made capital speech on the
same side, andMr. Bedford declared that the Keifer
proposition was dangerous one. By this time
General Keifer began to realize the bl under he had
made and he offered to withdraw his objection and
let Mr. Skinner be sworn provided his resolution,
minus the preamble, could aherward be referred
TO the Elections COmmittee-<carTyng the whoIe
case with it, This offer the Democrats Wero not
only willing, but anxious to accept, for they i'm
mediately saw that it would afford the Elections
Committee fair pretext to delay report until the
expiring hours of the XLVIllth Congress. Mr
HiscOck it, too. and offered vigorous protest.
in which he exposed the effect, If not the purpose
of the Keifer proposition.
General keIfer continued to insist on his resolu-
tiOn and to protest against the Iliscock proposition
which however, was adopted on division hy vote
of 107 to 90. The yeas and nays were ordered ana
the substitute again carTicd-ll7 to los. Oeneral
keifer voted i'll the negative and was the only l'e1
publican who did SO. About 80 Democrats voted
with the Republicans in the affirmative. General
Keifer was thoroughly discounted. The result has
"A practical bearing another case, which VIII soon
arise aud il is important that the House shall iary
and squarely determine what course it Will pursue
The death of Mr. Haskell causes vacancy IN the
old lid Kansas District. Since he was elected the
State has been Ie-districted and the Id District
comprises different territory from that covered ny
the old district. Should the vacancy caused by MI
Haskelrs death be filled by an election Ill the OLD
district or in the new Onei becomes practical
question which will be answered in the Affirmative
or negative according the House decides whether
Mir. Sknners election IN the new list DlstTlct OF
North Carolina was legal Illegal by the
adoption of Mr.. HscOcks resolution the Elections
Committee is required TO bring III an early report,
and the House obliged to make an early decision.
which will remove all doubt as TO the Kansas
vacancy.
With single exception all the precedents point to
decision adverse TO MIR. skinner but he is Demo-
crat and the House is Democratic by sixty majority.