St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-22
WHERE IS HE At ?
MIR. COBB, OF LOCALITY FAME,
UNSEATED BY THE
HOUSE.
FINAL VOTE STILL PENDING.
NO QUORUM ON THE MOTION TO
SEAT THE CONTEST.
ANT.
REED WAS VERY BADLY WANTED.
MIR. Barrett Succeeded in Getting the
House in a Tangle Ruring the
Speakers Absence.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-The house today
unseated James E. Cobb Dem), representing
the Fifth Alabama district, and voted 121 to As
to seat Albert T. Goodwin Pop.), but the point
of no quorum being made the house adjourned
with the final vote still pending. Five Repub-
licans voted with the Democrats to recommit
the case with instructions to the committee
to permit the contestant to offer testimony in
rebuttal Mr.. Cobb had sos majority on the
face of the returns, but the majority found
extensive frauds in the three black counties
of the district. The minority claimed that no
opportunity was given to submit evidence in
rebuttal, and that fraud was presumed and
not proven. Mr.. Cobb has been a member of
the Fiftieth, Fifty-irst, Fifty-second and Fiji
ty-third congresses. He was unseated by the
Fifty-frst house. An effort was made to fix
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next
week for debate on the bankruptcy bill, but it
was unsuccessful. Mr. Pickler's general pen
sion bill will be brought up tomorrow and the
debate will probably run until Friday.
Mr.. Boyce Rep., Ind.) who opened the de-
bate in the Cobb case said the white counties
in the district gave Mr.. Goodwin a majority
OF S,612, while the three black counties re-
turned majorities for Mr.. Cobb such as to
overcome the majority for Mr.. Goodwin The
testimony, he said, showed extensive frauds in
the black counties, which warranted a reduc-
ton OF Mr.. Cobb's vote by 1855, thus giving
the contestant 1850 plurality
Mr.. Bartlett Dem, Ga), In behalf of the
minority, argued that the contestant had been
denied nv 10
duced in support of the charges of fraud He
declared that fraud was not to be presumed ex-
cept upon the strongest proof.
Mr.. Cobb the contestee, took the floor and
made an hours speech in his own behalf An
exciting incident occurred toward the close of
Mr.. Cobb's remarks. Mr.. Barrett Rep.,
Mass.), who was temporarily in the chair, let
the hammer fall, and with the announcement
that the time of the minority side had expired,
recognized Mr.. Daniels, of New York, chair
man of the elections committee
Mr.. Cobb Indignantly protested that he could
not be taken off the floor; that he had an hour
in his own right
Mr.. Bailey Dem, Tex.), Mr.. Turner Dem.
Ga.), Mr.. McMillin Oem., Tenn), and several
other Democrats jumped to their feet and de-
manoed recognition, as a matter of privilege
and to make parliamentary inquiries
Mr.. Barrett was deaf to the clamor refusing
TO recognize them for any purpose unless Mr..
Daniels yielded.
Mr.. Bailey, with flushed face, insisted upon
recognition for a parliamentary inquiry as
TiSht ana not as a courtesy and shoutad
ABOVE the storm of protests from the Demo-
cratic side that If the occupant of the chair
hau any knowledge of the rules, he would
Know that parliamentary inquiry was al
ways in order. Mr.. Barrett was obdurate
Just as the strain was growing intense Speak
er Reed who had been hurriedly sum-
moned from his private room in the rear ~
tne ioppy, assembled the rostrum. He took
in the situation at a glance. The trouble
nad arisen, he explained very quietly to the
Tate Democrats, from a MISUNDERSTANDING
on the part Of the temporary occupant of the
chair. "a 'No
ignorance, not misunderstanding" shout
ed Mr.. Bailey
The speaker called Mr.. Bailey to order with
bang Of his gavel and continued that Mr.
Barrett, understanding that but one hour
ana half had been allowed on a side. had
sought 10 carry out what he conceived to be
the understanding. Mr.. Cobb was recognized
to proceed and the excitement subsidized.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Cobb's remarks
Mr.: Daniels closed for the majority, and at
400 demanded the previous question. which
was ordered The vote was first taken ON
the minority resolution, declaring Mr. Cobb
the sitting member entitled to his seat. The
resolution was defeated on a rising vote, IT.
100.
Mr. Dinsmore Oem., Ark then moved to
recommit the case with instructions to the
election committee to allow the contestee to
submit evidence in rebuttal. The motion to
recommit was lost, 60-130. Five Republicans
-Messrs Arnold, Of Rhode Island; Bar
rett, Massachusetts,; Knox, Massachusetts,;
Loud, California, and Willis, of Delaware,
voted with the Democrats. The majority
resolutions were then divided. The first de-
claring Mr.. Cobb not entitled to the seat
was adopted viva voce, but the quorum failed
121-45 on the resolution declaring Goodwin
entitled to the seat and at $50 D. NJ the
house adjourned.
Before the debate began, Mr. Cook Rep.,
HID from the elections committee, made
report on the case of John 1. Rinaker, Re-
publican, versus Phineas E. Downing from
the Sixteenth Illinois district. The report
favored the seating of the contestant a Re-
publican. Mr.. Downing is the only Demo-
cratic member Of the house from Illinois.
The report in favor of Rinaker, was decided
on today by vote of to 4,Mr. Moody Rep.,
Mass) voting with the three Democrats on
the committee, in favor of Downing.