Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-15
HURD OUT IN THE COLD.
THE HOUSE VOTES IN FAVOR OF
THE SITTING MEMBER.

A Vote OF I6s to los Tells How the Con-
test was settied-The Contestant Flo
quently Sets Forth the Overwhelming
Odds Against Which His Party
Fought.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE House
to-day resumed consideration Of the
Hurd-Romeis contested election case.
Alter speeches by Messrs. Hall. OF Iowa;
Ely, OF Massachusetts,; Hopkins. OF Him
OILS; Green, Of North Carolina; Pettibone,
Of Tennessee, and Breckenridge, Of Ken
lucky, the floor was accorded to con-
testaut Hurd to speak in his own behalf.
he took mis- stand far back on the Demo-
cratic side at the desk which he occupied
during the Forty-eighth Congress and
from which he delivered his speeches
upon the tariff question. The in
attention which had characterized the
conduct OF the members during the
! previous discussion was suddenly trans
formed into attention as Mr.. Hurd opened
MS argument with a statement that he
/ would not have addressed the House but
FOR the fact that he wished 10 show that
ne had good cause to claim that he had
been elected in the Tenth Ohio district.
HIS SENSE OF DUTY.
His sense of duty to himself, to his
friends and to his constituents who had
so often hOnored him, compelled him TO
speak to-day. Nor did he overlook the In
terest which the public mad in the ques-
ton he would discuss. Before and
! beyond all the interest which
| either the sitting member or himself had
IN the controversy was the interest OF the
public. 1t made but little difference who
a legislator was, provided the source of
fs4af tod
/ Lastly. above the question, and
greater than the question as to
who was the Representative was that
| other question "has the election on
which be relies been fair?" He then re-
viewed the testimony taken in the case
and In conclusion said: II do not deem
| 1t improper to call attention to the cleo
tlon, at which l was defeated. 1t
was the October election in Ohio
in 1884. The Democratic party Of
| that state was engaged in the first
| great battle of that canvass. All the for
ces were concentrated on its soil. The
fate OF the Republican party was held in
It's hand. If Ohio went against the Re-
publicans Ohio was lost 70 the Republic
can candidate for President.
TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.
SIT is a matter of public notoriety that
whatever wealth or power or Organiza-
ton could do was done. Members of the
different departments at w ashington were
in Ohio. The campaign was managed
under the eye of the great leader of the
! Republican party, and the Republican
candidate for President was in Ohio, in
my district, in my city, on the night be-
fore the election. The eyes Of the whole
nation were turned toit. The battle every
where else was suspended, but it went on
in Ohio; and how it went on with such
effort against such fearful odds, with
such pains, strength, and vitality, none
can know except the gallant Democrats
OF Ohio, who were engaged in the cOntrO-
Versy. 1t was in this battle in which |
was stricken down, If l had been fairly
stricken down | should have waited for
the tender hand of a kindier day to lift
me up, but having been unfairly stricken
down. as | honestly believe, could l do
less than come to this House and ask
it in its impartial Judgment to give me
the seat 70 which l am entitled, not
through sympathy or partisanshlp-God
forbid-but in punishment of wrong and
in Yindication of right"
AS Mr.. Hurd ended his speech he was
greeted with loud and lOng-cOntinued APP
plause on the floor and in the galleries.
Mr. Turner, of Georgia, after carefully
reviewing the testimony which hadIled him
to concur in the findings of the majority
report, dwelt upon the necessity OF the
House examining impartially the evidence
presented in election cases, and deciding
upon these cases without partisan bias.
A vote was flrst taken on the resolution
Of the minority which declares that ia
cob Romeis is not entitled to the seat,
This was defeated by 105 yeas to 1853 nays.
THE NEGATIVE DEMOCRATS.
The following Democrats voted with the
Republicans in the negative: Messrs.
Beach, Blanchard, BlOunt, Boyle, Cand-
Ter. Catching, Dargan, DOckery, Dunn,
Findlay, Ford, Gay, Gibson of Maryland,
| Hale, Hammond. Harris, Heard. Hemp
hill. Henley, Herbert, Hewitt, Holman,
Lanham, Lawler, Lore, Lowering, Lowry.
Morgan, Neal, Niece, OFerrall, Perry,
Randall. Rogr rs, Seymour, Shaw, SOwden,
Spriggs, stewart of Texas, St. Martin,
SwOpe, Tillman, Turner, Ward Of Illi-
rOis, Warner of Ohio, Wilson, Wise,
WolfOrd and Warrington.
The majority resolutions confirming Mr..
ROmeis' right to his seat were agreed to
without division.
RACE FOR THE SUPREMACY.
Then arose a contest for precedence in
the consideration OF various apprOpria-
ton bills. Mr.. Willis, Of Kentucky, having
in charge the river and haTbor bill, steered
it successfully around the obstacles pre-.
scented by the Military Academy, and con-
sular and diplomatic appropriation bills,
but his course was delayed when the OBJ
struction of the agricultural appropria-
tion bill was reached. The delay. how
ever, was but temporary. for In half
an hour the agricultural bill was
taken up and passed. There was
no discussion of the measure
except over an amendment offered by Mr..
Price Of Wisconsin, having in view a re-
ductiOn of the force Of employees in the
Department OF Agriculture. This gave
Mr.. skinner OF North Carolina oppor-
tunity to attack the Commissioner of
Agriculture for retaining Republican
pets" who did not come within the civil
service rules.
The river and harbor appropriation bill
was then taken up long enough to make
II the unfinished business. The House
then adjourned.