The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-23
Twenty Democrats Enter Vain Pro-
test Against the Outrage on the Voters
of the Seventh District.
The Elder English Charged with ViOlat-
ing the Privileges Of the House,
And a Committee Appointed to Investigate
the Matter Inquiry Which
Promises Rich Return.
STEALING A SEAT.
The House Votes, 13O to 1871, In Favor of
Seating Mr.. English.

The House Votes, 130 to 127, In Favor of
Seating Mr.. English.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, May 22-The Democrats seated
young English to-day, and they succeeded in
getting an investigation ordered into the methods
pursued by his father in bringing about that re-
suit In the foregoing sentence is embraced the
| groundwork of the doings of one of the most
exciting days of this session in the House. Col
laterally, there crept in charges of improper in
huence, plainly indicating though not specific
ally mentioning, father English as the one
party, and as plainly indicating Calamity
| Weller, the Iowa Greenbacker, as the other.
At times, while these things were being enacted,
there was the utmost confusion and uproar. A
| dozen angry men were at several times on their
| feet at once. The excitement did not commence
until the latter half of the seatstealing was
under way
The House met with full attendance, on both
sides, of those who were well and in the city.
After little routine business was transacted
the English Peelle election case came up
from yesterday as unfinished business. Voting
| by yeas and nays was commenced on a motion
to lay Mr.. Springer's motion to reconsider the
| 1920 vote of yesterday, in favor of Peelle, on
| the table. There was the utmost silence while
| the vote was being taken Many members tried
to keep tally of the vote as it progressed, but it
was so close that they had no idea what the re-
suit was until the announcement was made.
The two Englishes and Senator Voorhees, were
more nervous than ever when the pairs were
being announced, and each side was closely on
| the watch; they were evidently suspicious that
| tricks might be attempted The result was 1872
! and 1872, and the motion to table the motion
I to reconsider was therefore lost as it re-
quired majority. Nobody changed his vote
from yesterday; there were only more members
voting than then. No Democrat was added by
the increased number of votes to Mr.. Peelle's
side and no Republican voted for Mr.. English.
Only a very few noticed anything peculiar in
the vote, but some did. Calamity W, ller did
not vote at all. Yesterday he voted for Mr..
Peelle. He was in his seat this morning when
the House met In a short time q messenger
came to him from the elder English, who was
ensconsed in a convenient cloak-room. There
was an earnest conversation between the two,
and Mr.. Weller did not return to his seat during
the day. Had he staid in his place, and voted as
he did yesterday, Mr. Peelle would have been
seated. What could be more natural, then,
| than to inquire what it all meant
Here was a vote, or man not voting,
wanted to defeat Mr.. Peelle Mr. Weller talked
earnestly with English, and did not vote. 1t
looks queer
| Mr.. Springer's motion to reconsider the Peelle
vote of yesterday was adopted by 1873 to 100.
Then General Browne moved to recommit the
whole question to the committee on elections
IL,
| seated-with instructions that recount in the
disputed precincts in Marion county be made.
The Democrats tried to argue that this motion
was not in order, but Speaker Carlisle decided
| that it was. The motion was therefore enter
tanned, but was lost by 124 to 1874. Sew
eral Democrats on this ballot changed
their votes, They had gone with their con-
sciences until they saw that it was useless to try
and head off the thieves. Among them was
Judge Turner, of Georgia. chairman of the cleo
tions committee Two more votes were taken,
one on the minority report of the committee, in
! favor of Peelle and the other declaring for the
majority report, that English is entitled to the
seat The closeness of these votes, especially
the former, showed how valuable was the alb
sence of Calamity Weller to the English cause.
| 12S If Mr. Weller had been in his seat and had
voted as he did yesterday, the result would have
been just the contrary. The majority report
was adopted by 100 to l27. The announcement
of the vote drew forth no applause.
Mr.. Converse then walked up to the Speakers
desk with young English in convoy. The latter
looked scared, and truth compels the statement
that he was also little shamefaced.
THE SENIOR ENeLIsH's METHODS.
! Before the last two votes were taken AMI af-
ter their commencement and wind-up, there was
very remarkable sensation Little Mr.. Horr,
of Michigan, started it by rising to question of
privilege. He read the rule of the House which
forbids the privileges of the floor to all ex-mem-
bers who are interested in claims or legislation
of any character He said that it was notori-
GUS fact that the father of one of the litigants
in the pending case had been on
the floor for days, He had been
importuning and soliciting members to vote for
his son; he had sent for members TO the cloak
room, where he had tried to persuade them to
vote for the young man. he had used all means.
doubtful and otherwise, to secure the coveted
seat He wanted to know if this was not an in
suit to the dignity and integrity of the House.
Mr.. Horr's remarks were greeted with applause
on the Republican side and with Kisses by some
of the Democrats.
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia said the rule to which
Nh. Horr referred was oEsolete at any rate, it
was taken advantage of by numerous railroad
| lobbying Republican exmembers
Mr.. Cox explained the origin Of the rule,
which, he said, he had been instrumental in hav
ing adopted
Mr.. Horr replied to Mr.. Cox that he had never
yet heard of piece Of legislation that the latter