The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-23
The F|FTY-FOUR1H CONGRESS
CONGRESSMAN COBB OF THE
FIFTH ALABAMA DISTRICT
IS UNSEATED.
THE SECTAR|AN SCHOOL QUESTION.
1t Was Holly Discussed in the Senate
Again esterday-Cherokee Claims
Agreed To-Mr. Bailey Gets Ex-
cited in the House.

Washington, April 21.-At the opening
OF the session of the house today, Mr..
Henderson Rep) of Iowa, asked unani-
nous consent that the bankruptcy bill,
which he gave notice he would call up
today, be considered Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday of next week.
Mr.. Hepburn Rep.) of Iowa objected.
There was great pressure for unani-
| nous consent Quite number of minor
| bills were passed.
| At II o'clock the regular order was de-
manded and Mr.. Daniels (Rep.) of New
| York, chairman of the election commit
| tee No. l, called up the contested elec-
tlons case of Goodwin vs.. Cobb, from the
Fifth Alabama district. An unsuccess-
| tul attempt was made to limit time for
| debate to three hours, but Mr.. Cobb the
| contestee objected The report recon-
mends the unseating of Cobb Oem.)
| Before the debate began, Mr.. Cook
CRep) of Illinois, from the same COM
| mittee, made the report on the case of
John |. Ranaker (Rep.) VS.. Finisee
| Downing Dem.) from the Sixteenth
| Illinois district.
The report favored the seating of the
contestant, a Republican.
Mr.. Downing is the only Democratic
III tit nOuSc lGOul
The report in favor of Ranaker was de-
cided today by elections committee No.
| by vote of five to four
MIR; Moody Rep) of Massachusetts,
voted with the three Democrats ON the
| committee in favor of Downing.
On the face of the returns, Mr.. Cobb
| had a majority of sos votes.
Mr.. Royse Rep) of Indiana, who
opened the debate, said the white coun-
| ties in the district, gave Mr.. Goodwin
| a ma ajority of 3612, while the three black
counties returned majorities so large for
| Mr.. Cobb as to overcome the ma jority of
| Goodwin. The testimony, he said, Show
| ed extensive frauds in the black counties,
which warranted q reduction of Mr..
! Cobb's vote by 2S6S, thus giving the con-
testant 1850 plurality.
Mr.. Bartlett Dem.) of Georgia, in be-
half of the majority, argued that the
contestant had been denied an oppor-
tunity to meet the testimony adduced in
support of the charge of fraud. He de-
| clared that fraud was not to be presumed
except upon the strongest proof.
| Mr.. Cobb, the contestee, took the floor
and made an hours speech in his own
behalf.
| An exciting incident occurred towards
the close of Mr.. Cobb's remarks.
| Mr.. Barrett Rep) of Massachusetts,
who was temporarily in the chair, let
the hammer fall and with the announce
ment that the time for the minority had
expired. recognized Mr.. Daniels of New
York, chairman of the elections commit
| tee.
Mr.. Cobb Indignantly protested that he
could not be taken off the floor; that he
had an hour in his own right.
Mr.. Bailey Oem.) of Texas; Mr.. Tur-
ner Dem.) of Georgia; McMillin Dem.)
| of Tennessee, and several other Demo-
Gratis jumped up and demanded recogni-
ton as matters of privilege and to make
parliamentary inquiries.
Mr.. Barrett was deaf to the clamOr, re-
| fusing to recognize them for any purpose,
unless Mr.. Daniels yielded.
Mr.. Bailey, with flushed face insisted
on recognition for parliamentary in
quiry as a right, not as a courtesy, and
shouted above the storm of protests from
| the Democratic side, that if the occupant
of the chair had any knowledge of the
rules he would know that a parliament
tary inquiry was always in order, but
Mr.. Barrett was obdurate.
Just as the strain was growing intense,
Speaker Reed, who had been hurriedly
summoned from his private room in the
rear of the lobby, ascended the rOstrum.
| He took in the situation at glance. The
|
quickly, to the irate Democrats from Il
Misunderstanding on the part of the tenn
porary occupant of the chair. :,
Ignorance; not misunderstanding,
shouted Mr.. Bailey. The speaker called
Mr.. Bailey to order with bang of his
gavel and continued that Mr.. Barrett,
understanding that but one and half
hours had been allowed on side, had
| sought to carry out what he considered
to be the understanding.
| Mr. Cobb was recognized to proceed
and the excitement quickly subsided.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cohbs re-
marks, Mr.. Daniels closed for the ma
jority.
At $50 Mr.. Daniels demanded the pre-
| vious question. which was ordered. The
vote was first taken on the minority reso-
luton declaring Mr.. Cobb the sitting
member, entitled to his seat. The reso-
| luton was defeated on a rising vote-47
to 100.
Mr. Dinsmore Dem.) Arkansas, then
| moved to recommit the case with in
structons to the elections committee to
allow the contestee to submit evidence
in rebuttal The motion was lost-6O to
103. Five Republicans, Messrs. Arnold,
Rhode Island; Barrett, Massachusetts;
Knox, Massachusetts: Loud, California,
| and Willis, Delaware, voted with the
| Democrats.
The majority report was then divided.
The first clause, declaring Mr.. Cobb en-
| titled to the seat. was adopted viva voce,
but the quorum failed-121 to 45-on the