The morning call., 1894-03-19
ELECTION CONTESTS.
These Will Next EngroSS tile
Houses Attention.
After Struggling With the Tariff the
Senate VIII Consider Other
Important Topics.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-As soon as
the sundry civil bill is disposed of, which
will probably be tomorrow, the House
Will take up the four contested election
cases which are pending-the O'Neil-Joy
case from the Tenth Missouri District,
the Willlams-Settle case from the Fifth
North Carolina. the English Hilborn case
from the Third California and the What
ley-Colby case from the Fifth Alabama.
The ONeil-Joy and English HI lborn
cases, which were 10Th decided against the
sitting members (Repubicans) by strict
party votes in the c. mmittee on Elections,
are the most important and will require
the major portion of the time. In both
these cases the result of the election in
November, 1892. was exceedingly close.
There were two counts in the O'Neil-Joy
election. the recount giving JOY R) 81
plurality. O'Neil was beaten on the face
Of the returns. and he Instituted the con-
test on the ground that the M ssouri elec-
ton 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 determinatioD of the question as to
whether the Missouri election law In this
particular should be regarded as manda-
tory or simply directory. The mem bers
of the committee wavered for some time,
but finally decided by a strict party vote
that the law was mandatory and that its
technicalities had q OF been observed. This
decision gave the seat to O'Neil 3D..
In the English case. the result
was also very close, English receiving
Is. 130 on the face of the returns. again st
HhlborD's IS, 16O. EugIish's contest rested
on the claim that in one precinct the re-
turns had been manipulated beyond
doubt, and his attorneys charged that
while Hilborn was not responsible for it,
he had been the eneiciary of that manip-
ulation. At the close of the case Hill
born's attorneys still claimed his election
by one vote. but the Democrats of the
committee decided in favor of English.
In the WilIlams-Settlec case the contestant
alleges that the sitting member had been
elected by the bulldoZiDg and intimidation
of negro voters by the Republicans, but
most Of the Democrats of the committee
refused to sustain his contention. Mr..
Woodward O.) however, disseDted from
the decision of his colleagues.
In. the Whatley-Colby case the commit
tee unanimously decided against the con-
testan,, who was Popuiist, and his case
can have no standing in the House what.
ever. II the contested election cases are
disposed of this week. which is hardly
probable. the Republicans will doubtless
insist upon the presence of a Democratic
quorum to unseat their colleagues. The
House will proceed with the consideration
of the cUnsular and diplomatic appropria.
tion bills.
This week will. SO far as the calendar
reveals. be devoted by the Senate to rou-
tine business OF no general interest. II /:
probable the forlifieatien appro priation
bill will be reported from the committee
and If II should be, it will probably be taken
uD for discussion and put upon its passage,
ana there will be an effort to dispose OF
the Government printing site, he Russian
thistle appropriation and the McGarahan
bill, and large number of special bills
On the palandar