The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-26
IN THE HOUSE.
The Indian Appropriation Bill and the
seal Killing Bill Passed.

Washington City. Feb. 25.-The house
today promptly passed the Indian appro-
priation bill as amended. No one demand
ed separate vote on the Linton sectarian
school amendment as agreed TO in com
mittee OF the whole This is the sixth Of
the thirteen general appropriation bills
Dingley. chairman of the ways and means
committee. called up the bill reported yes
terday, authorizing the president 10 con-
clude negotiations with Russia. England
and Japan, or any of them, for commits
sion to inquire into the Alaskan fur seals
and the best method of preserving the seal
herds. pending which the president was
authorized by the bill TO conclude modus
vivendi, TO terminate January /, 1895. for
the protection of seals, and in case such
modus vivendi could not be concluded be-
fore the opening of the present season, the
secretary OF the treasury was 10 be author
lied TO kill all the seals while on the feed
ing grounds on the Pribilof islands. Ding
ley read the report of the committee, al
ready published. stating tnat the necessity
for immediate action arose from the fact
that the Canadian pelagic sealers. whose
ravages the bill sought to prevent, Were
already fitting out vessels and would be
ready 10 sail In the course of a week. The
bill was passed without debate.
The chairman of the District of Column
bia committee claimed the floor in behalf
of the committee, ana several Dlils OF local
Importance were passed.
johnson, chairman of elections commit
tee No. . called up the contested election
case of Van Horne VS.. Tarsney, from tho
Fifth Missouri district. There were three
reports of the case. The majority report,
signed by all the Republicans on the COM
mittee save one. Taylor. of Ohio. was in
favor OF the contestant. On the face of
the returns Tarsney had a majority OF 745.
but allegations Of fraud ballot box stuff
fng ETC. were made against the returns
in the several precincts in the Ninth and
Second wards OF Kansas City, which tho
majority regarded as so completely proven
that they favored the throwing out Of these
precincts, which gave Tarsney a plurality
OF f.1eo votes. thereby giving Van Horne.
Rep. a plurality in the district of 375 votes.
The majority, considering the circum-
stances, opposed the reopenng OF the tes-
timony. The three Democrats on the COM
mittee admitted the existence OF fraud.
but claimed that the vital question involved
was whether the returns from the fraudu-
lent precincts should be purged or thrown
out. Under the election laws of Missouri
each ballot is marked with the voting num-
Der OF the voter that the investigation
Of the ballots and the voters would deter
mine absolutely the fictitious names upon
the roll books. The minority therefore
reported a resolution to recommit the case.
regate the Illegal from the legal ballots
and recount the latter
TAYLOR in the third report concurred In
the conclusions OF the majority IL the
fraudulent precincts were thrown out. but
he favored reopening the case hecause OF
the ease with which. under the Missouri
election laws, the legal could be separated
from the Illegal votes. IT that was done.
he argued. the title To the seat would not
rest on conjecture and inference.
Strobe. Rep. Neb. opened the debate in
favor Of the adoption of the majority re-
port. and spoke for over two hours He
was followed by Taylor. the dissenting Re-
publican on the committee. who in some
what sensational speech urged that moth
ing could Justify the house in throwing
out entire precincts at a congressional cleo
ton and DISTINGUISHING honest voters. The
Reus1blicans of the house should free them
selves from their own partisanship- The
returns could be and should BE purged OF
fraud and the honest ballots counted At
3 o. clock the house adjourned.