Evening journal., 1894-03-19
FOURCONTESTEDSEATS
House TO Take Up the Election
Cases This Week.
A QUORUM WILL BE DEMANDED

The senate Has Before II Only Routine
business For the Present Week -Coionel
Brechinridgo 20 Make Long Defense
Himseif-wn Go on the stand First.
WAsHIHGToN. March lg.--As soon as the
suudry civil appropriation bin is disposed
of, which viii probably be done tonight.
the house will take up the four contested
election cases which are pending - the
O'Neill-Joy case from the Eleventh Mis-
souri, district, the Williams-Settle case
from The Fifth North Carolinn. the Eng
sh-Hilbom case from the Third Calilor-
mia and tho Wheatley-Co case from the
Fifth Alabama.
The O'Neill-Joy and the English-lIilborn
cases, which were both decided against the
sitting members (Republicansl by strict
party votes in the committee on elections,
are the most important and viii require
the major portion of the time. In both
these eases the result 6f the election IN
Novemb Der, 1892, was exceedingly close.
There were two counts In the O'Neill-Joy
election, the recount giving Joy, Repub-
lican, o. plurality. O'Neill being beaten
on the face OF the returns, he instituted
the contest on the ground that the Mis-
souri, election law had not been complied
with, IL having been shown that some OF
the JOY ballots had not been numbered
and initiated as required by that law.
The case before the committee hinged
upon the determination of the question as
TO whether the Missouri election law in
this particular should be regarded as man
datory OF simply directory. The members
of the committee wavered for some time,
but finally decided by a strict party vote
Al NNtaaH a.
technicalities had not been observed. This
decision gave the seat to O'Neill, Demo
crat.
English Charges Fraud.
In the English-Ililborn case the result
was also very close, English receiviSg 49,
l90 on the face of the returns against Hill
born's 1850 Englishs contest rested Oh
| the claim that in one precinct the returns
had been manipulated beyond doubt. and
| his attorneys charged that while Hilborn
was not responsible for he had been the
beneficiary OF that manipulation. AT the
/ close of the case lIilborn's s attorneys still
| claimed his election by single vote, but
! the Democrats of the committee decided IN
| favor of English.
| In the Nilliams-Settle case the contest
/ ant alleged that the sitting member had
been elected by the bulldozing and intimi-
dation of negro voters by the Republicans,
but most of the Democrats of the commit
tee refused TO sustain his contention. Mr..
Woodward, Democrat, however, dissented
from the decision of his colleagues.
In the Wheatley-Cobb case the commit
tee unanimously decided against the con
testant, who was populist, and his case
can have no standing in the house what
ever.
ID the contested election cases are dispos-
eel of this week, which is hardly probable
as the Republicans will doubtless insist
upon the presence of a Democratic quorum
TO unseat their colleagues, the house will
proceed with the consideration of either the
Military academy or consular aud diplo
matte appropriation bills.
The present week viii, so far ms the cal
endar reveals. be devoted by the senate tC
routine business of no general interest. Ii
is probable that the fortifcations appro
priation bill will be- reported from the com
mittee, and II it should be it will probably
be taken up for discussion and put upon
its passage.
For the rest there will he an effort to dis
pose of the government printing site. tn,
Russian thistle appropriation and the Nc
Garrahan bills and Of a large number VI
special bills on the calendar.