The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-12
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.

HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington. March 7.-Some minor
business was transacted by the house to-
day before the consideration of the post
Office appropriation bill was resumed.
The senate resolution authorizing the
secretary of the treasury to distribute
medals of the Worlds Fair to exhibitors
entitled to them was adopted
a bill to incorporate the Free Masons
in the Indian Territory was passed
Mr.. Cpdegraff Rep.) of Iowa, from the
judiciary committee, asked unanimous
consent to consider the bill to reduce the
catalogue of cases in which the penalty
of death may be inflicted. 1t provides
that i'll cases of murder and rape, for
which the penalty was death, that the
jury might return Il verdict without cap
ital punishment"
Mr.. Barrett (Rep.) of Massachusetts OBJ
jected.
Mr. Wadsworth (Rep.) of New York.
chairman of the committee on agricul
ture, moved non-concurrence in the senate
amendments to the agricultural appropri-
alton bill.
Mr.. Picker Rep.) of South Dakota en-
deavored to secure concurrence in SEN
ate amendment for the publication of Il
new edition of a book on dairy farming
issued by the agricultural department 10
years ago. a letter from the agricultural
department was read stating that the
book was out of date and needed ''heroic
mt. Nevertheless Mr.. Picker , having
been defeated IS to 70. dcvelo, ed enough
strength to secure Il roll call on his propo-
sition
Mr.. Pickler entered his motion. which
motion, on motion of Mr.. Wadsworth.
was laid on the table-93 to "a.
The agricultural bill was sent to confer
ence and the house then resumed consider
alton of the pOstotfice appropriation bill.
Mr.. Dockery DemD of Missouri open
ed the annual fight against the appropria-
ton of $196,6OO for special facilities on
the trunk lines from New York to New
orleans. Similar appropriations for
these special services have been carried
since 1877. The bill also carries SS1. 900
for special service from Chicago to Couns
cll Bluffs. This compensation was, Mr..
Dockery declared. in addition to the regu-
lar compensation. When the bill was
read for amendment under the five-minute
rule Mr.. McRae tDen.) of Arkansas NOV
ed to increase the compensation of post
masters from S16.250.000 to S17. 100000
class postmasters 50 per quarter. The
latter provision of the amendment was
stricken out on a point of order. The
amendment was then defeated Al to 80
several other attempts We're made to
increase the compensation of fourth-cass
postmasters, but all went down before
points of order
Without completing the consideration of
the pm, the committee rose and at 4:40
the house adjourned until Monday.
BOATNER MAY BE UNSEATED
Washington, March THE house
committee on elections No. . has de-
clded to report that the last congression-
al election in the Fifth Louisiana dis
trlct was null and void on account of
fraud and intimidation. The sitting
member for the district is Charles Boat
ner. The decision of the committee. if
sustained by the house, will have the
effect of unseating Boatner without seat
ing the contestant, Alex Benoit. Popu-
list, and will create Il vacancy of the
district. The vote in committee was m
strictly on party lines.
Ihe contest against Mr.. Boatner has
been very actively prosecuted and hear
lngs nave been extremely animated.
The official returns give Boatner II. 234
votes and Benot 1904, showing an an
parent overwhelming majority for Boat
ner. But these returns were attacked
by Benoit on the ground that violence.
intimidation and fraud prevailed at the
large cotton plantations along the Mis-
slsslppl river. In these localities. as
shown by census returns offered by Be-
MOTT the negroes outnumber the whites
more than ten to one. But it was
charged that the overseers control the
negro vote as completely as they CON
troll the mules"
1t was claimed that in the Madison
parish a system of ballot has been
foisted, the boxes stuffed and false re-
turns prevailed.
Mr. Boatner claimed that Benoit's
charges were reckless and unsound. that
the Populists had no organization in
these parishes and there was not n Pom
ulist vote in them.
Representative Taylor of Ohio will
write the. majority report The con-
clnslon of the committee is somewhat
OF compromise. as it does not give
Benoit the seat he sought, though his
claims are so far approved as to secure
report against Boatner's further oc-
cupancy of the seat
Mr.. Boatner is one of the well known
Democratic members of the house. He
came into marked prominence i'm con.
nection with contemplated duel be-
tween him and Louisiana editor.
The committee determined to take ur
the contest of Booze VS.. Rusk from
Maryland next Saturday.
BY THE PRESIDENT
Washington, March THE presiden'