The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-18
cAROLlNA'S MEN IN CONGRESS.
VALIDITY OF THEIR ELECTION IN
QUESTION.

The Alleged UncOnstitutiOnaIity of
the state Election Laws the Basis
for the DOubt-The Republican Ma
iority Not Expected to Take Ad-
vantage of the Claim and Attempt
10 Deprive the State of Representa-
tion.
Washington, Jan. 17.-AT of the mem
hers of the South Carolina delegation in
the House of Representatives are anxious
~ awaiting the decision of the elections
committee in the cases of AIessrs. Latimer.
NcIaurin & Elliott. which have been ar
eUed To-day the question arose as to
what might be the effect if the committee
decides that the South Carolina fegistra-
ton law is unconstitutional. The commit
Tee has repeatedly announced that all of
the South Carolina contests will be consid-
cred as involving one and the same ques-
ton. namely: The constitutionality of the
registration law. Now should that law be
held unconstitutional by the House what
effect would the decision have upon those
members of the delegation against whom
no contest has been made? This PROPOSE
ton was brought into serious considera-
tion by democrats and republicans to-day,
and the question arises whether the House
would have the power, or the authority of
law. to declare the entire delegation not
entitled to their seats in the House. 1t is
not probable that the republicans in the
House would undertake to deprive South
Carolina of it's entire representation, yet
it is cOntended that if Messrs. Latimer,
NcLaurin, Elliott and Stokes are deprived
of their membership in the present con-
gress on the ground that their election was
due to a registration law held TO be uncon-
stitutional, their colleagues, Messrs. Tai
bert, Strait and Wilson, are also holding
seats. with questionable titles.
on the other hand II is stated that the
republicans are not so much in need of ad-
ditions TO the majority as to induce them
10 90 to such extreme measures in re-
gard to the South Carolina delegation. be-
sides the fact is recalled that the regis
IratiOn laws, under which these gentle
men We're elected, were in force when their
immediate predecessors were elected, and
no question as to the constitutionality of
their election was raised
As representative McLaurin remarked
to-day: "The registration law was framed
when I was q boy at school, and 1 am in
no way responsible for any defects 1t may
or may not have"
If he committee on elections holds to it's
original purpose to try all of the South
Carolina cases together and let their de-
ciSlOn rest principally on the validity of
the registration law, Representative Ell
lott Of the Charleston district appears to
have the strongest case, instead Of the
most doubtful, as some of his political
enemies supposed. During the closing
moments of the hearing yesterday,
the chairman of the committee, Rep
resentative Mccall of Massachusetts OBJ
served that the attorney for the contest
ant Murray. made no plea against the
registration law. The chairman asked the
attorney why he had neglected to touch
upon that feature of the case. To the sur
prise of the members of the committee
and the contestee and his friends. Muir
rays attorney replied that he did not pro-
pose to raise the question in behalf of his
client If the committee rest their decis-
tration law it seems that Col. Elliott has
s much better case than his colleagues.