The Portland daily press., 1890-08-19
CHALMERS MAKES A SPEECH
But the House Denies His Claim to
Membership.


WASHINGTON, August 1S-In the House,
today, Mr.. Dalzell;of Pennsylvania called up
the Mississippi contested election case of
Chalmers against Morgan. The majority
report finds in favor of Morgan, the sitting
member Gen. Chalmers addressed the
House in his own behalf. He asserted that
there was now and had for years been a con-
spiracy existing in the South for the carrying
of elections for the Democratic party. That
party was determined to carry. elections.
honestly if it could, forcibly if it must
Mississippi was the leader in that conspira-
cy. The men who dared run on Republican
tickets or make Republican speeches carried
their lives in their hands. That the black
vote in the South was suppressed. could not
be successfully denied. It was on the sup
preston of this vote that the Republicans of
the House justified the passage of the Lodge
bill. If the Republicans after passing that
bill should adopt the majority report they
would put themselves lSa in Suspicious atti-
ing Of Congress, it had been charged that
the Republicans intended to turn out
enough Democrats to give them good work
ing majority. If, after. getting that major
would give color to that charge. 1t would
be said that when they were undertaking to
pass law to give them chance for major
ity in the next House, they said that certain
testimony was true which, in this case. they
said was not sufficient to establish con-
spiracy in Mississippi. He did not believe
the Republican party could afford to place
itself in that attitude and did not think it
would do it.
evidence of fraud and intimidation.
Mr.. Kelley Of Kansas offered resolution
reciting the following paragraph from the
majority report:
"With regard to the other seven coun-
a1x0,- . 1o.~ -
testimony was taken, 1t may safely be af-
firmed that in not one of these counties, taken
as whole, was the election honest. Fraud
| in its various forms, including intimidation
of voters. corrupt manipulation and registra-
tion. stuffing and stealing ballot boxes, and
illegal voting, finds ample Illustration in all
| of them" The resolution recommitt the
case with instructions to the committee to
| reject from Its count the unexamined boxes.
| This was lost, 81 to 1876. The minority sub
stitute was rejected and the majority resolu-
| ton, declaring Mr.. Morgan entitled to the
| seat, agreed to without division.
Mr.. Russell of Connecticut, from the COM
mittee on printing, moved to suspend the
rules and pass the bill fixing the wages of
| printers, bookbinders and pressmen in the
| government printing Office at 80 cents for
night work. and providing that for all piece
work on the Congressional Record 60 cents
| per 1000 ems be paid; agreed to.
Mr.. Hit of Illinois. from the committee
on foreign affairs, moved to suspend the
rules and pass the Senate Joint resolution
| providing that nothing in the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill be construed
| to interrupt the publication of the reports of
| the International Conference.
MIR: Breckinridge of Kentucky, inquired
whether the publications would contain the
recent letters of the Secretary of State on
| the subject of reciprocity, and on Mr.. Hits
replying that they would contain only the
proceedings of tie conference, Mr. Breckin-
| ridge had read Secretary Blaine's second
letter to Senator Frye. Mr.. Breckenridge
said he did not entirely agree with Secretary
Blaine, but the Secretary was getting on the
| right track, and, as far as he went, he rMr,
| Breckinridge] agreed with him. A motion
| to suspend the rules and pass the resolution
| was agreed to.