The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-22
Another Democratic Head in
the House Comes Off.
THE GUILLoTINE AT WORK
Barrett S Ignorance Causes an
Exciting Scene.
A MOST OUTRAGEOUS RULING
Mr. Cobb Has Been a Member of Four
Congresses Beside the Present
and Was Once Before
Unseated

Washington, April 21.-The House
to-day unseated James E. Cobb (Dem)
representing the Fifth Alabama dis
trict. and voted 121 to As to seat Al
bert L. Goodwin (Pop.), but the point
of no quorum being made the House
adjourned with the final vote still
pending. Five Republicans voted with
the Democrats to recommit the case
with instructions to the committee to
permit the contestant to offer testi-
mony in rebuttal.
Mr.. Cobb had sos majority on the
face of the returns, bat the majority
found extensive frauds in the three
black counties of the district which
reduced Mr.. Cobb's vote and gave the
contestant 1850 majority. The minor
ity claimed that no opportunity was
given to submit evidence in rebuttal
and that fraud was presumed, not
proved.
Mr.. Cobb has been a member of the
50th, 5fst, 52nd and 53rd Congresses.
He was unseated by the 51st House.
IN exciting incident occurred to-
ward the close of Mr.. Cobb's remarks.
Mr.. Barrett (Rep., Massachusetts, who
was temporarily in the chair, let the
hammer fall, and with the announce
ment that the lime of the minority
side had expired, recognized Mr.. Dam
iels, of New York, chairman of the
Elections committee. Mr.. Cobb in
dignantly protested that he could not
be taken off the floor; that he had an
hour in his own right.
Mr.. Bailey (Dem., Texas). Mr.. Tlr-
ner Dem, Georgia), Mr.. McMillin
(Dem., Tennessee), and several other
demanded recognition, as matters of
privilege and to make parliamentary
inquiry.
Mr.. Barrett was deaf to the clamor,
refusing to recognize them for any pur-
pose unless Mr.. Daniels yielded.
Mr.. Bailey, with flushed face, in-
sisted upon recognition for q parlia-
mentary inquiry, as q right not as a
courtesy, and shouted above the storm
of protests from the Democratic side,
that if the occupant of the chair had
any knowledge Of the rules he would
know that parliamentary inquiry
was always in order. But MIR. Barrett
was obdurate. just as the strain was
growing intense Speaker Reed, who
had been hurriedly summoned from
his private room in the rear of the
lobby, ,ascended the rostrum. He took in
the situation at a glance. The trouble
had arisen, he explained very quietly
to the irate Democrats. from mis-
understanding on the part of the tenn
porary occupant of the chair.
IGNORANCE is not misunderstand-
ingn shouted Mr. PaIicy.
The Speaker called Mr.. Bailey to
order, with bang of his gavel and
| continued that Alr. Barrett. under
standing that Dut one and half hours
| had been allowed on q side had sought
to carry out what he conceived to be
the understanding. No such under
standing had been had, but Mr. Dam
ieIs had given notice that he would
| call the previous question at the end
of one and half hours of debate on
side. He readily agreed that Mr..
Cobb was entitled to al hour and could
not be taken off the floor.
Mr. Cobb was recognized to proceed
and the excitement quickly subsided.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cobb's re-
marks Mr.. Daniels closed for the MAJ
jority.
AT 4.0D -. III. OaHlGls ltlndAtsASd
the previous question which was or
dered. The vote was first taken ON the
minority resolutions declaring Mr..
Cobb, the sitting member, entitled TO
his seat. The resolutions were de-
feated on a rising vote--17 to 109. Mr..
Dinsmore (Dem., Arkansas) then
moved to recommit the case with in
distractions to the Elections committee
to allow the contestee to submit evi-
dence III rebuttai.
The motion to recommit was lost-60
to 1870. Five Republicans, Messrs. Arr
mold rep. Rhode Island), Barrett
Massachusetts, Knox (Massachu-
setts), Loud California and Willis
(oelaware) voted with the Democrats.
The majority resolutions were then
divided The first, declaring Mr.. Cobb
not entitled to the seat, was adopted
viva yoce but the quorum failed--12l
to 45-on the resolution declaring Mr.
Goodwin entitled TO the seat, and at
$50 the House adjourned