The morning times., 1896-06-04

After dodging conference reports and
other privileged questions, the contested
election case of Murray against Elliott,
from the First South Carolina district,
yesterday occupied the attention of the
House.
A rather rema rkabe featurein connection
with the matter is he fact that Elliot's elec-
ton from that district has been contested
three times-in the Fiftieth, Fifty-first,
and Fifty-fourth Congresses.
The ma jorty report of the committee in
charge OF the case recommended the seat
ing OF the contestant, and was advocated
by Mr.. Ovcrstreet. The minority found
that Elliott was entitled to retain his seat,
and their view was urged upon the lIouseby
Mir Jones. Without disposing of the case,
the House at bob O'Clock adjourned A
vote will be taken the first thug today.
FORD'S THEATER CLAIMS.
Quite contest preceded the consideration
of the election case over the appropriation
in the general deficiency bill To pay tue
amounts to victims OF the Ford 5 Iheatcr
disaster recommended by the Congressional
commission which Investigated the claims.
They were added i'll the Senate and Mr..
Sayers moved To strike out the names of
several beneficiarieS, the deaths OF whose
principals were asserted not 10 be due
TO the disaster, or who had not been in
jured i'll il, according Ia the report of the
board of War Department officials, which
also investigated the matter.
The motion was warmly supported 10y
MesSrs. Savers and Cannon and opposed
by Messrs Henderson and Updegraff, the
later a member of the commission ma king
the awards By a vote of 123 to SO the
House agreed To the motion, and these
claims, If the Senate agree, will go back
to the commission.
message from the Senate announcing
the passage i'll that body of The river ana
harbor bill was greeted with applause.
BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR
In the course of h.s argument on the
Murray Elliott case, Mr. Jones referred
10 The social aspect of the contest, 81 yinE
ihat many members Of the House had
declared that Murray was to be seated
because of his color.
Name one menlher who has ever 81 ID
that a mans right 10 d seat On the floor
of this House was to be decided upon his
COLOR" demanded Mr. walker of Virginia.
Mr.. Jones responded that many members
had made the deCla ration quoted. ''and ii
is not necessary for me to give their names
to the gentleman. Some Of them are
within the sound of my voice. If they
desire TO be known they can give their
Damcs.'
As bearing upon this feature. Mr.. Jones
referred to an item printed in The Times
describing a call upon the Elections Com
mittee having charge of the case by 4
number of colored clergymen. They came
to urge favorable report upon Murray's
case. -he said. and he read the names Of
the callers. The House was convulsed by
the comment of Mr.. Hardy: "If the Lord
pc fer him who can hc against h!m?''
PERRY CARSON BARBECUE.
Mr.. Jones spoke of the Perry Carson
barbecue, which he said was in aid Of
the Allison boom, where a resolution was
| passed advocating Aurray's admission. and
appointing a committee OF ten, with Carson
| at its head. to wait upon tie Republican
| leaders of the House and demand that
| Murray be seated.
cit is known everywhere" said Mr..
! Jones, in conclusion, that great pressure
! has been brought upon this House to seat
| this man because of his color and if the
! outrage be perpetrated t Will be because
of that demand and sentiment"
| Mr.. Mccall, Of Tennessee, asked Mr.
| Jones If this was the contested election
| case in which colored witness testified
! that 81 Ben Harrison. Tom Reed, Matt
| Quay, and other we'll Known Republican
! leaders, whom he had seen at the polls
| had been denied the right To vote?
Mr.. Jones-It is not. Neither is it that
! other contested election case from SoutI
! Carolina. IN which the contestant, a cOlofed
| preacher, in his testimony, had declared
| himself 10 he "a preacher, n class leader
and an eXtoruoniSt.'