The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-19
FARCICAL
Democrats VIII Seat N Democrat NO
Matter What the Evidence.

WASHINGTON, March ls.-As soon as
the sundry civil appropriation bill Is dis
posed Of. which will probably be done to-
morrow night. the House will take up the
four contested election cases which are
perding-the O'NeilI-Joy case from the
Eleventh Missouri district, the Williams
Settle case from the Fifth Carolina, the
Epglish-Hilborn case from the Third call
fcrria, and the Whatley-Cobb case from the
Fifth Alabama The ONein-Joy and En-
glish-Hilborn cases, which were both de-
cided against the sitting members Repub-
Iicans) by strict party votes in the commit
tee on elections, are the most important
and will require the major portion of the
time. In both cases the result of the cleo
ton in November. 1892. was exceedingly
close. There were two counts in the O'Neill-
Joy election, the recount giving Joy Repub-
ncan) 81 plurality. O'Neill being beaten on
the face Of the returns, he instituted the
contest on the ground that the Missouri
election law had not been complied with, it
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 on the determine
ton OF the question as to whether the Mis-
souri, election law in this particular should
be regarded as mandatory or simply direc-
tory. The members of the committee wav-
cred for some time, but finally decided by
a strict party vote that the law was men
d2tory and that it's technicalities had not
been observed. This decision gave the seat
to O'Neill Dem.) In the English-Hilborn
case the result was also very close, English
receiving IS, $50 on the face Of the returns,
against Hilborn's $3.50. English's contest
rested on the claim that in one precinct the
returns had been manipulated beyond doubt
and his attorneys charged. that while Hill
born was not responsible for. he had been
the beneficiary by that manipulation. At
the close of the case HilbOrn's attorneys
claimed his election by one vote, but the
Democrats of the committee decided in ia
vor of english. In the Williams-Settle case
the contest alleged that the sitting men,
Der had been elected by bulidozing and in
timidation of negro voters by the Repub-
licans, but most of the Democrats Of the
committee refused to sustain his conten-
ton. Mr.. Woodward Dem, n. c. how
ever dissented from the decisioTs of his col
leagues. In the Whatley-Cobb case the
committee unanimously decided against the
contestant. who was a Populist, and his
case can have no standing in the House
whatever. If the contested election cases
are disposed OF this week. which is hardly
probable. and the Republicans will doubtless
insist on the pressure of a Democratic quo
rum to unseat their colleagues, the House
the Military Academy or consular and dip
lomatic appropriation bills.
The present week, so far as the CAL
erdar reveals, will be devoted by
the Senate TO loutine business Of
no general interest. There will be
an effort to dispose of the government
printing site. the Russian thistle appropria-
ton and the McGarrahan bill, and OF q
large number Of special bills on the CAL
endar.