The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-09
He In the Father Of an Important Law
and Has Lnbored Hard to Dispose
OF Contested Election Cases.
ON HIS WAY TO INDIANAPOLIS
WHERE HE WILL MEET THE
PEOPLE OF HIS NEW DISTRICT.
Bill Providing for the Adoption ~
the House-Senate Proceedings.
special to the InalanapolIs Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, April s-Representativ
Overstreet left Washington to-day for Indi-
annapolis. Before leaving the capital Mr.
overstreet was at pains TO clear up all the
work that needed his attention, both ~ the
departments and in committee. He has
been unusually successful In the depart
ments urging the claims and the rights Of
his constituents. In the House he has made
enviable record. One OF the most Inn
portant measures that has become q law
at this Congress, exclusive OF appropriation
bills, is the Overstreet act, paying all pen
sions by draft, measure which has won
the cordial approval OF President Cleve-
land and the Pension Bureau and the Grand
Army of the Republic In his committee
room Mr.. Overstreet has been indefatigable
He is a member OF elections committee No.
3. This committee has had fifteen contested
election cases assigned to IL. Its record il
equal to either of its correlative committees
OF it's fifteen assignments 1t has reported 90
the House and concluded seven. Five more
are ready to be reported Foremost In I'm
portance is the Murray Elliott case, from
South Carolina Murray is q colored man.
He is the only negro 80 Tar who has been
awarded his seat in Congress, for the favor
ed by the House. Mr.. Overstreet has made
a particular study OF this case. because hs
was determined that IL Murray could show
an honest majority his color should not
prove a bar to his entrance into the House.
During the hearing Of the Murray case
before the committee an incident occurred
showing the determination OF the young
member from the Indianapolis district Ger
fof oil rQfr1 "a os1A -
committee instructed Mr.. Overstreet to OBJ
tain them from the proper onaciAls at
Charleston. Mr.. Overstreet sent a courteous
note containing the request OF the commit
tee and assuring the officials that al ex-
penditures necessary for the preparation Of
the documents requested would be promptly
refunded. No reply was sent by the
Charleston officials. A second letter wss
dispatched. Again it was ignored, and the
work of the committee was necessarily Bus-
pended. Then Mr.. Overstreet sent q third
letter to the recalcitrant Official. reminding
him that all necessary authority was vest
ed in Congress to compel the presence OF
needed persons and papers, and that elec-
tions committee No. 3 knew its authority
and it's penal remedies and would not hest
tate. to employ them. This letter had the
desired effect, and the papers promptly fol-
lowed.
AS a member of the elections COMMITTEES
NJ. Overstreet has helped to inaugurate =
signal reform which all other elections COM
mittees OF this Congress, and. indeed. all
future Congresses. must adopt Under the
present law the unsuccessful contestant 10
allowed necessary expenditures not 70 ex-
ceed $1,000 Hitherto that limit has almost
invariably been reached. But. to the dis
appointment Of some gentlemen. Mr.. Over
street has insisted that their statement Of
expenditures should undergo . close
scrutiny before being accepted By the COM
mittee. The committee has been just, and
even generous. but it has refused to permit
extortions. This is q most praiseworthy
step. 1t has long been recognized In the
House that many OF these election contests
are mere fakes instituted by an alleged con-
testant and some inscriptions attorneys.
with a view solely to prodting by the law.
which allows 5000 expenses. The contest
anti and the attorneys have divided the
spoils. The step taken by Mr.. Overstreet's
committee will put check on these frauds.
Mr.. Overstreet has with him the good
wishes Of his colleagues Of many States.
His energy. affability and courtesy have
combined to win him many friends, and he
is, therefore now in excellent position 20
extend the limits OF the usefulness he has
already displayed