The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-21
IN THE HOUSE.
Reduction of the Fees of Land Off
GERS in Pacific and Rocky Noun
tain States.

Washington, Jan. 20.-The speaker
laid before the house a bill authorizing
the Cairo and Tennessee River Rail
road company to build bridges across
the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers
in Kentucky, with senate amendments,
which were concurrred in.
Under the call of committees the
senate bill authorizing the secretary of
war to issue to telegraph operators in
the military service during the war or
to the representatives of deceased
operators certificates setting forth their
term and conditions of service, was
considered and passed.
House bill to reduce from 10 to 10
cents per folio of 100 words the fees
of land officers for taking dispositions
in contests, and reducing the fees OF
land officers in the Pacific and Rocky
Mountain states to the same as are
paid officers of the same class in other
states, (Which are now so per cent
higher, was passed. The same bill,
practically, was passed at the last ses-
sion of congress and was vetoed by the
president.
The house proceeded to the considera-
tion of the contested election case or
Yost VS.. Tucker for the seat in the
54th congress from the Tenth district of
Virginia. The majority of the COM
mittee reported in favor of Tucker;
Messrs. Walker, (Rep-, Va.), and
Thomas, Rep., Mich.), dissented from
the majority conclusion and recon-
mended the seating of Yost. The ques-
ton at issue was as to the counting of
certain imperfectly marked ballots.
The election was the first one held
rnder the Walton Australian ballot
law of Virginia.
Mr.. Codding, (Rep., Pa.), made the
first speech in favor of the commit
tees report. Mr.. Codding was followed
by the contestant, Representative YOSt,
who, in concluding a fervent appeal for
justice, said: The stigma of foul
elections disgraced and debauched the
south for years; it's deadly influence
paralyzed the public conscience. But
now, thank God, in Virginia, at least,
the shock of this election reused the
people from their stupor. The fear of
negro rule disappeared. But despite the
scourge of public opinion the guilty
tricksters still dare to bring their in
fanny to the doors of congress. If you
accept the result of the Vaccinations
you approve their methods and give
them fresh license"
Mr.. Jenkins, (Rep., Wis.,, said he and
three other Republican members of the
elections committee came to the con-
cluson that the contestee, (Mr.
Tucker), was entitled to retain his
seat And this conclusion he intended
to defend and maintain even if after
ward he were called a Massachusetts,
mugwump. iLaughter)
Mr. Grosvenor, (ReD., o., spoke for
Mr. Yost He argued that the house
was not to be circumscribed or linn
tied in the exercise of it's right to in
quire into the election of it's members
by a state statute. He asserted that
the case was full of fraud, despite the
statements TO the contrary; and he
appealed to members not to sustain it
by their votes. IL they did they should
never again pirate the lack of purity of
elections in the south. His speech was
frequently interrupted by the applause
of his Republican colleagues.
Mr.. Daniels, (ReD., n. V, chairman
of elections committee No. J, made an
argument to sustain the conclusions
of the minority of the committeeman
the house was justified in using the
ballot to determine the intention of the
voter, Notwithstanding the require
ments of the state law.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Daniels
speech the election case was temper
arily set aside and Mr. Hull (Rep.. la,
reported a partial agreement of the
conference upon the army apprOpria-
ton bill. It was agreed to, and the
house insisted upon its disagreement
to the senate amendments still in dis
pute.
1t was agreed that the vote on the
contested case be taken at 4:30 o'clock
tomorrow.
At sos the house adjourned until to-
morrow