The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-27
1T COMES RATHER HIGH.
How General smalls Is Suffering Financial
for His Own and His Party's Sake.

How General smalls Is Suffering Financially
for His Own and His Party's Sake.
Washington Special.
1t is four weeks since the House committee
on elections took a vote on the Smalls- Elliott
contested election case. 1t was q strict party
vote, the Democratic members of the
declaring that Elliott was entitled to his seat, aud
the Republicans that Smalls was honestly
elected.
Though this decision was reached q month
ago, no report has been heard from the commit
tee. 1t is customary to make such report very
soon after a vote is taken, as the right Of q citi-
zen to take his seat, il elected, is considered to
be more sacred and important than any other
question. In the case of Thoebe against Carlisle
the committee reported Immediately after a vote
had been taken, but 1t seems there is a vast diff
farence between a Democratic Speaker Of the
House of Representatives and 9 Republican
negro.
Even the Republicans seem to have tired Of
the case. and show a disposition to abandon the
fight, simply because the weather is so warm
and the Democrats have worried them so that
they do not want TO hear il discussed. When a
fight to seat a Democrat is involved. the great
body OF the Democracy, being from the sunny
South, can always stand more heat than the
Republicans.
General Smalls has been in Washington since
the LIST OF last January, In attendance upon TINS
case. lie has been at great expense to see HIM
self righted aud the Republican party righted.
and has far exceeded the 81. 900 allowed by Con-
gress to each contestant in such cases. Beside
his travelling expenses and his heavy expendi-
lures during his stay in Washington for nearly
seven months, his expenses for attorneys, wit
nesses, notaries, printing and so forth amount
TO about So. 200. 1t is q habit of notaries to
make a discount where there is a large amount
of testimony to take. but in this case they
charged the full fee, which is very high in South
Carolina.
To one notary he paid no less than 1896 95.
One attorney charged him upward of $500 for
three or four days service. though he was drunk
three or four times during that period. General
Smalls objected TO the bill on the ground of ex-
cessive charges. but the white court sustained
the white attorney. and the negro client had to
pay. To another attorney he paid S643, 10 an
other $3.50, TO another S279. aud to ex-Copgress-
man Ellis. now practiciug law in Washington,
81. 900 for his services in the case ut this point
Y % printing of bis brief cost him 1893.
General Smalls may be able TO stand the loes.
but that is no reason why judgment should not
be given in his cause one wav or the other, that
he may know whether he or Elliott 10 entitled to
the seat occupied by the latter. and from which
he is regularly drawing his salary of $1,000 a
year. In the opinion OF many who have exam
ined the evidence on both sides. aud without
party distinction. Smalls was clearly counted
ont OF his seat. There are Democratic members
Of the House who think 80. and will vote &C.
cordinely, and possibly that is the reason why
the majority Of the committee and the majority
of the House are so willing to delay action.