The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-25
Mr. Johnson's Effort to Ventilate Southern
Election Methods Checkmated by On Tn.
warranted Assumption Of Authority.
House Proposition to Abolish the Utah
Commission Killed by the Senate.
Interesting Testimony Concerning the Adult
ITERATION of Whisky-Greenhut Opposed TO
Investigation By Illinois Legislators.
CRISP ACTS UsFAIRI.Y.

Minority Report Suppressed After It Had
Been Ordered Printed by tho House.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24-Representative
Henry u. johnson, of Indiana. Is yet hot
on the trail OF the derelict contested cleo
tion cases undisposed of before the cleo
tions committee of the House. of which he
is o member. Mr.. johnson takes the posi-
tion that some kind Of action should be
taken upon all con tested elections. If they
have no merit they should be stricken from
the calendar of the committee and so re-
ported, but if there Is any merit they
should be tried before the House. The
Democrats have for years been in the
habit Of holding back in committee
the cases which might be decided
against the Democrats involved, or which
might afford opportunity for the Repub-
Gcans In the House to uncover Democratic
fraud and make political points.
At the meeting of the committee a week
ago the Miller-Elliott case from the Car
DINA district WAS voted upon. It was de-
cided upon strict party lines Mr.. Paynter,
of Kentucky. was designated by the COM
mittee to write the majority report, and
Mr.. Johnson. of Indiana. was asked to pre-
pare tho minority report. There il no
doubt that in this black district,
which is heavily Republican, the
elected. but the Democrats suppressed
the negro vote and gave the certificate of
election to the Democratic candidate. who
now occupies the seat. Of course the ma
jority of the committee do not fear the
unseating CT the Democrat in q House SO
heavily Democratic as this one, but they
do not want the election in the black dis
trlct of South Carolina stirred up" as lit
makes discomfort among the negroes in the
district. who have no business to vote.
anyhow, you know"
Mr.. johnson has been sick In bed for
q week. but he wrote his minority re-
port while on his back. and appeared
before the committee this morning with 1t.
He was there told that Mr.. Paynter had
been busy and could not write the major
ity report; that IL would be prepared next
week. Mr.. johnson. knowing IL would be
ridiculous to present such question to the
House next week. when Congress would be
on the verge of adjOurnmenr, arose on the
floor OF the House during the day and pro-
sented his minority report He wanted the
facts printed. anyway. Speaker Crisp did
not know what Mr.. johnson was present.
ing. OF he would not have been recognized.
Half an hour after presenting the
minority report the printing clerk
went to Mr.. johnson and said
that he had been directed by the Speaker
to withhold the report. and that IL would
not be printed. MI. Johnson went to
Speaker Crisp. and was tod, In the bland
est sort of way, that the report would not
be printed till the majority report was sub
mltted TO the House.
But" protested Mr. Johnson. you have
In open House, and in the usual course of
business, received the report, and the
House has ordered it TO be printed.
Can you, in the face of an ORDER OF
the House, withhold the report from the
printer
Il did not know what kind of a report
you were submitting" said Speaker Crisp.
"or / would not have recognized you to
make report. The report will not be
printed till the majority report is received
by the House."
Mr. johnson explained that the majority
report would probably never be made; but
the Speaker was memorable. Such pro-
ceedIng was never heard of before. It is a
bold usurpation OF authority. an astound-
ing suppression of individual rights ana
Justice.