New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-10
A REPLY BY MR.. LODGE.
REsENrING MR. GooDRiCH'S STATEMENTS.
wuv THE CONTESTED ELECTION CASE FROM
THE lid FLORIDA DISTRICT WAS NOT
TAKEN UP IN THE CLOSING HOURS
OF THE LAST CONGRESS.
.aY rTLEGRAPH 10 TIE IhBuNE1
,Br TELEGRAPH 10 THE IhiBUNE.1

,BY TELEGRAPH 10 THE IhlBCNk~I
Washington March 0-Representatve Lodge OF
Massachusetts, who has been criticised. with other
Republcans by Mr.. Goodrich, Of Florida, FOR oppos.
action on two additional election cases-GocdFch
against Bullock and Mcnnis against Anderson-duilhc
tho closing hours of the last session Of Congress re
cnts the imputaOn OF bad faith put upon him by MI
Goodrich in an Interview In The Tribune oil SUNDAY
and states frankly and forcbly the reasons WHICH
impeed him 10 vote against the consideration Oh ucso
two cases on Monday last. To have called up the'e
two contests. Mr.. Lodge thinks, would have led IN
evitably TO the defeat not only OF the copyright
hin the supreme Court bill and The Postal subsidy
hill but of two or three of the regular Appropriation
bills and would thus have entailed caled Session
Of the LID Congress. With these consequences PLAINLY
In sight. Mr.. Lodge and many other Repubh'ahs w.
luctantly urged the abandonment OF the TWO iehinS
slection cases. They fully in sympathy Win to
contestants and would have helped them cheenuly
IN seats in the House under any other circumstances
Commenting on the situation which made necessary
the sderackng Of the Goodrich Bullock and McolhhS
Anderson contests Mr.. Lodge said to-day
81 notice in The Tribune OF sunday an inerVie"
with Mr. Goodrich, Of Florida, in which reference was
made to me and my action in regard to the at'ehp.
10 call ND his election case in the Closing uaAs VI
the last session. wish in the first place, 10 say tha
The statement that | made any trade or arrangement
with anybody in regard TO the matter Is a'Soiu"'l'
false i have made any s'i'h uiues vi a
rangements in regard 10 any public measure aiu u'u
not I'm this instance. When | found that there was
an intention Of calling up two election cases i'll ''e
very last hours Of the session, stated openly ths
Thought il was extremely unwise TO attempt IL ana
that | should vote against taking them up Inns
opnion was shared by members OF TIE Elections ool
rtttee and bv a large number Of Republicans. MY
reasons were simple and appear TO me now as they
did then entirely conclusive In the LIN congress
I resisted taking up the case OF suihVah dsalI''
FELTON, in the closing hours OF the session, on Ilo
ground that IL utterly uniting 10 atVelhpV "
consider an election case at such tme Ieit INC
same in regard to these cases In TINS congress o"
the case OF Mr. Goodrich and that Of Mr.. McGlnnis
ought TO have been taken up and passed upon can!
in the session. and it no doubt an injustice ana
bardshp 10 them that this was not done, bu'
that fact does not alter In Inc Ieast
Tho ouestion as to taking them up
In the last hours of Congress- TINS pFoceco"'s -
frequently attempted 1t is one OF ue many p'u
practices which have crept in in dealing WIN elvoo
cases In addition TO this general objection there were
thar and spccial reasons even more conclusive II
the attempt TO take up these election cases had been
persisted In the Democrats would have rSlSeu 10 'o
utmost as VIC had done in the preceding congress Ill
the case of sullivan against FELTON,, ana hoths oise
xyop,d have been done. We should nave suCCcedcd
possiby in giving Mr.. Goodrich and Mr. Mc"ihhiS
,ber right to draw $40, 900 each from the treasury
without having their cases properly considered ana
nassed upon: and that is all that could have peeh ac
complished. ,
"By the attempt however, we would have sacr
feed the Postal subsidy bill, the bill Tor tIc reiiei ~
iocu tU Court the hill for international copyright
and the bill revising the land laws and by the l9sS Oh
several great appropriation bills should nave nau9 W
ox,ra session Inevitable To have sacrnceu all Ieso
great measures and many Others Of less Importers
and 10 lave forced upon the country an extra svSI d
=, conpr-ss for the sake OF these election cases wruio
have been In my eyes and in the opinion Oh s'e"'
MANY Republican members unpardCpaoN. onrso
xrond have been utterly improper and hst thelT ws
bnt one stand TO take in regard 10 the mater M
orcr IN nv life felt clearer about what my PIDilc
Hnv reoujred and with the accomplishment OF az VIE
legislation to which have referred ana am hoS NOE who
ever satisfied that my attitude anu lllat VI Vh0'0 wa
e,ooa With me was absolutely right