Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-18
IN CONGRESS TODAY
The Senate Refused to Take Up the
Alabama Election Case.
MIR. ALLEN CHARGES NOINCERIFY
MIR. Sherman Answers Him and
Gives the Party's Policy.
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE

In the Senate today the following bills
were passed: Authorizing the purchase by
the United States and the making free of
toll of roads passing over the Yosemite
National Park; regulating the pay of non
commissioned officers of artillery, cavalry
and infantry of the army follows: Ser
geant major. $50; regimental quartermaste ter,
$40; first sergeant. $50; sergeant. S23; cor
poral, ST.. A proviso TO the last bill pro-
vides for a continuance of longevity pay as
heretofore. Appropriating s2OO.GoO for a
public building and site at Deadwood, SD.
The Bond Investigation.
The resolution authorizing the employ
ment of stenographers and clerical staff for
the invcs; ;igdtion of recent bond issues CT
the finance committee was reported and
agreed to.
Mr. Chandler CN.H) secured the adoption
of a resolution calling on the Attorney
General for a statement of the condition of
the government suits Instituted In New
York city as to the Joint Railroad Traffic
Association between Chicago and the At
antic seaboard-
The Proposed Seal Inquiry.
The resolution recently presented by Mr.
Sherman for the appointmc mt of a COM
mittee of five Senators to go 10 Alaska
during the recess of Congress ana conduct
certain inquiries as to seal life, boundary
etc, was reported back to the committee
or contingent expenses and placed on the
oalenaar without favorable or unfaI ora bic
recommendation.
.1r. Chandler objected to Immediate con-
SidcrS tIon.
In presenting petition from New Hamp-
Shire urging government ownership of tele-
graph lines. MIR. GaiI.nScr stated that the
petition was address, to Senators Gal
lnger and Smith of Nv Hampshire" Mr.
GalliLSer added facetjCusly that the refer
erce to his New HamDshire cOIIca scua
(ChandIer) as Smith was doubtless because
ne had been before the public SO little of
late.
The Alabama Election.
The proposed inquiry into alleged election
irregularities in Alabama came up on a re-
quest by Mr.. Allen CNcb) for unanimous
consent to proceed tc the immediate con-
siderG-tion of the subject.
Mr.. Hill (NYD quickly objected, saying
other business had the right of way, and
this proposed inquiry was not a privileged
question.
Mr. Chandler. author Of the resolution cf
inquiry, pointed out that the question had
been pending Fcre i'll one form or another
for the last two years, and it seemed evil
Gent, said Mr. Chandler. that the resoiu-
tiOn could not progress as long as the New
York Senator was here to object.
Mr. Chandler asked unanimous consent
that fI.al vote be taken on the resolution
bn Wednesday at } pm.
IIr. Allen argued that the alleged Alaba-
ma irregularities was one of the highest
privilege. He 1sclaimed howeI er, any de-
sire to prosecute any inquiry which would
question the light of Mr.. Morgan (Ala) to
his seat.
Mr.. Faulkner Oy. VaD interjected the re-
mark that this disclaimer of any purpose
to question the right OF Mr.. Morgan to his
seat at once took from the question any
privileged character it might possess.
Mr.. Aliens Motion and It's Defeat.
Mr.. Allen responded sarcastically that he
voull not go so far as to term this sugges-
tion ''pettifOgging." yet he knew it would
rot deceive the intelligence of the Senate
Mr.. Allen added that, in order to relieve
the presiding officer, Vice President Steven
son, from ruling on the question of privil-
tge, he woull move 10 take up the resolu-
uon- THIS precipitated an unexpected vote
The motion was defeated; yeas, s. nays,
Al.
Those voting in the affirmative were
Chandler, Fry, Gallinger and Morrill,, re-
pubHcans, and Allen and PETER. populists.
On the announcement of the vote Mr.. AL
len, with some feeling, said this disclosed
to him what he had long suspected that
there was no sincerity the part of re-
publican Senators, with the exception of
the author of the resolution, Mr.. Chandler
as to proceeding with the investigation
He had felt satisfied, he said, that when
1t came TO the showdown" republican Sem
ing the investigation.
He said he desired this vote to go before
the country in view of the claim that the
republican party stood Tor fair election
ard an honest count.
Mr.. Sherman's Reply.
Mr.. Sherman ansH cred briefly that Mr..
Allen had entirely pDrehended the
caUses lea ding to The adverse vote 1t
was not for The present Congress, but for
4
quire into any questions affecting the seats
or Senators O. members whose terms be-
gan at that time. The Senate had no
jurisdiction, Mr.. Sherman said, TO examine
into the general subject of an election
Its jurisdiction extended to an investiga-
ton as &c the riFnt of Senator to his
seat when that right had been formally
challenged. 1t could not investigate the
election of members of the House He
made this explanation, he said, in view
or Mr. Aliens suggestions of insincerity
Mr.. Allen rose to state that in his judg-
ment the vote deliberate refusal to
carry out party claims of chamrionins the
cause of fair elections.
Mr.. Chandler said the vote had resulted
largely from the unwillngness to displace
appropriation bills. If he had been con-
suited he would have advised against
cIowding a vote as against appropriation
bills
Mr.. Allen, sotto voce, expressed willing
ness to let Mr.. Chandler's explanation
stand for what 1t is worth"
With this furry over the Senate took I'D
the bill relating to the price of gas in the
District of Columbia.
THE HOUSE