The evening times., 1895-12-05

It is not by any means impossible thai
the presens House OF Representatives may
| surpass all of its predecessors by having two
/ committees on elections.
There is at present much talk to this ef
fect, and an unusual amount OF pressur
/ viii be brought 10 bear upon tue Speaker Il
obtain his cooperation in the matter.
1ne 1act that tnIrl, -swo c01tests havs
been filed for consideration By the House.
all Of them being instituted by Republi
cans, with the exception OF Tim Campbell
| against Harry Miner from the Ninth New
York district, both being Democrats, has
seemingly rendered advisable, u not neces
| sary, some method for expediting tue con
| sideratiou of these cases.
AS A COURT OF REVIEW.
The Committee on Elections acls in the
same capacity as a court OF rcyiew, the
| work beng purely OF a judicial charact cter.
With "a limited number or cases before it
upon when opinions must be prepared and
submitted for ratification TO the House.
1t has been the rule rather than Che ex.
ception for contests to renAatn In allegiance
until the closing lays OF a Congress and then
both parties to The controversy are given
salary and expense allowance.
Such dsferment OF contests in the pres
ent Congress would mean q considerable
outlay OF public money and attention would
be attracted to 1t By reason Of its mag
nitude.
The Republicans desire. II possible, to
avoid all contingencies which night be
distorted into campaign literature OF q
detrimental character. 1t Is for this pur-
pose. In addition 10 the self-eyident ne
cessity Tor expedition in the speedy and
quiet adjudicatioDs of all contests.
There is no precedent for the appointment
by lhe Speaker OF two. committees charged
with the transaction OF business ordinarily
coming before a specified committee. 1t
would consequently be necessary for the
House to give authority for the naming
OF two separate and distinct committees to
take up the consideration of contested cleo
tion cases.
The nearest approach to precedent was
in contest made against the late Samuel
J. Randall. when a special committee on
elections was chosen by ballot 10 consider
that case alone.
AUTHORITY TO APPOINT.
Similar action could now be takrn by
the House. giving the Speaker authority TO
appoint dual elections committees and d.
vide the contested cases between them. The
rules OF the Fifty-firs, Congress. II finally
adopted without amendment. would not
except with the consent OF the House.
Those Republicans WIN urge the appoint
nieut OF tws elettions committees point
out the faCt that In many of the State
legislatures this method NJ expediting busi-
ness is often found necessary, and that the
plan in pra c,ical operation has been
found perfectly satisfactory. The last Texas
legislature. as an illustration, had twu
Judiciary committees, designated as Mas.
! aud 2.
The name most frequently mentioned in
connection with the chairnanship OF the
Elections Committee is Mr. Dnnieis. of the
Thirty third New York district. who is
qualified for the place. being a
jurist OF high standing and q man OF the ut
most Integrity.
THE conclusion in any case coming before
him woald he based Purs-ly upon its merits
and stripped OF all partisanship.
Mr.. DANIELS FAVORED.
1t is believed that Speaker Reed viii
place AR. Daniels OF Buffain. n. T.. at
the head OF nne of these committees. The
belief is very general amcng members az
the Huusc that contested election cases
shonld DC considered upon their merits:
thai the conclusions OF the committee should
be based upon the law and evidence ad-
duced. and that n spirit Of judicial fair-
ness should govern the committee in all 1
its tieliteration, and that men should not !
be seated or unscated for purely partisan
Mr.. Daniels is the ranking Republican |
member OF the committee. aud il the senior |
ity rule be followed the chairmausllip would |
belong to him. Members generally 4
believe that his selection would be an ideal i,
cue in view of the judicial quality of his |
mind and The reputation which the Buff /
ralo Congressman made in tie last Con-
.rtss for conscientious and paiDstaking thor 4
oughneSs.
Mr. Daniels frankly asserts that he /
loes Rot want the chairInanship- He says i
he amount Dr business which win came 4
'eiore the c,minittee is prsdigious. and
or that reasaa he wauh prefer not Il, be
'laced at its head. II the chairma nship be /
enderel to him he viii no doubt accept
t. but il is plain that he does not desire il.