The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-09
1t is Believed That He Will Re-
tain His Seat.
SPEARS is IN FAVOR OF HIM
But There is Little Hope for the
Other Democrats.
woopARo-cHEATHAM CONTEST
The Republicans Senatorial Caucus
Adopts the House Revenue Bill
and will Pass it---Butleron
Tap in the Senate.

Washington, Jan. Especial y
Election Committee No. ,, of which
Johnston. of Indiana, is chairman,
and before which the North Carolina
cases will come, had its first sitting
Yesterday morning, Besides Con-
gressmen Woodland aud Shaw, there
were present, also. Cheatham and his
counsel. Blocks-of-Fiye Dudley. 1t
is quite patent that Dudley is being
retained for his rapid and radical per-
sonality and partisanship, rather than
for close attention to the merits OF
his case; for. in the first ease taken
up Yesterday morning that of Beattie
against Price, the Democratic con-
testans from the Third District of
Louisiana. it transpired that in reply
to the preliminary motion of Prices
counsel to strike out part OF the
evidence. Dudley admitted that he had
read none of the evidence, though
Prices counsel suggested that he had
had the testimony in his possession
all the while. Dudley suggested that
the Committee read it over first to
see il il was admissible, legal or not,
which was done, much after the
fashion of the old Justice of the Peace
at Norehead City, who, in the grave
yards insurance eases, said he would
admit everything, and do the striking
cut afterwards.
Moreover, this Dudley, at the close
Of the committees session, proposed
to reopen Woodard's case in order
to introduce more evidence, which
wiH probably be done. Meanwhile,
the next session of the committee will
be held on Thursday, about which time
it lie expected that Cheatham's counsel,
Major Graham, will be here. In sew
erai of the cases, preliminary motions
will be made, in fact not more than
half Of them are in shape for considera-
ton. Among these latter, the case
against Buck from Louisiana will pro-
badly be heard first, and, doubtless,
in about ten days. There are all
sorts OF speculations as to how
Chairman Johnson is going TO deport
himself towards the Democrats. In
the midst of these speculations,
heard it said to-day that, taking into
consideration all the supposed parti-
san preiudices of the committee. Shaw
would, of the Tar-heels, probably
stand the best chance before tall
this without reference to any merits
i'm either caes. 1t was urged by some
Republicans that Shaw fought an out
and-out three-cornered fight, and that,
therefore, the committee could not
have any combination of Populists and
Republicans to throw into their lima
e inskry balance against his contention.
Moreover, it is stated that Oscar Spears
W i'll make a strong personal appeal to
4xan. lnr hat
should the figures be twisted in favor
OF Thompson. the whole district viii
be thus turned cvtr x, the RepuDii, ans.
1t is thought that tie minds of so, c
of the committee will be alert enough
to this danger TO ouen their eyes 10 4
fair investigation, especially those on
the committee who beat Jerry Siap-
son and Coxey and are therefore not
supposed 10 hc biased against a Deia-
!, rat in fIyor oil a Pcpulist. | have
rsao-a T. hint that E'f. Shaw is sfufle
sanggIine over his prospects, and in
this his friends rejoice.
was talking to-day with Congress
man Swanson, Of Virginia, who viii
lend his every energy TO abolish the
fee-systeIn to United States Marshals
and United States Commissioners. Mr..
Swanson comes from near Danyille,
and says that the substitution of sala-
ries for fees In his section will save
much needless activity on the part of
these revenue officers, as well as much
now wasted money to the country
Moreover, he says he will include in
his bill feature to get rid of the $780,
600 fund for "inforners." The neces-
sity Of some such legislation as this
will come home 10 those in Raleigh
who saw the city, during the two terms
last year of the United States court.
swarming with pint and quart corn
liquor cases, which in nuluberless in-
stances were so baseless as to render
the court proceedings against them al
most farcical. For not a few even said
that some of the "informers" had
formed pool with the so-called Of
tenders with whom they later divided
profits.
1t seems to be among the near pos
sibilities that Senator viii not be
able to complete his remarks without
The assistance OF Senator Butler. He
was on tap again yesterday in the
nid.t of busy part of Senator Ciiand-
ler's remarks on his postal bond bill,
but Chandler didn't seem to have time
10 bother with the junior Senator from
North Carolina and so hurried on.
The two hours speech OF Vest in
answer to Sherman was listened to
with wrapt attention by the whole
chamber. Morgan and German and
Faulkner and Gray got close around
the speaker and Mills stretched him
self out almost under the nose of Vest.
Sherman did net lose word, and his
wneasiness was plainly visible to every
eye. The figures of Vest left the Ohio
mans speech of few days ago with
cut a prop, and Aldrich and Lodge
and Hoar and Alison were in almost
constant motion and consultation, re-
ferring to authorities continuously,
sut not summoning up courage to
stand up in front Of the Missourian's
seferce of the Democratic party. It
is doubtful if there can be any docu-
Hnent more valuable for campaign pur-
poses than this extraordinarily clear
AID strong presentation.
Congressman Lockhart's friends
were much panied to hear to-day by
telegraph from him that his little son