Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-03
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February {

WASHINGTON, February 8.
SENATE.
An enormous floral structure, consist
ing of two tall columns of white roses
connected on top by bar of white
chrysanthemums on which the word
Honor" was marked in purple, and
with profusion of large red roses
scattered along the base, stood upon
the desk of Mr. Dubois who had just re.
turned from his unsuccessful campaign
for reelection, and who was warmly
welcomed back again by Senators from
all parties.
a bill permitting Major General
Alexander M. McCook and Captain
George Schriver, U. S. A., to accept
medals from the Russian government
was passed.
The resolutions heretofore offered by
Mr.. Allen looking to the delay or pre-
vention of the judicial sale of the
property of the Union Pacific Railroad
Company were taken up, and Mr..
Thurston addressed the Senate on the
subject. He was questioned by Messrs
Smith, Morgan, Stewart, Allen and
others.
Mr. Thurston was still speaking
when the morning hour expired, and
the Nicaraguan canal bill was laid be-
fore the Senate.
Mr.. Morgan accepted, with some
slight notifications, the amendment
providing that no bonds should be
guaranteed until after survey was
made and a complete plan was accepted
by the President; and that no liability
should be assumed by the government
if the cost of the canal should appear tc
exceed S150,000,000.
Mr.. Villas resumed his argument
against the bill.
HOUSE.
Senate amendments to the resolution
providing for the printing of Z, 900 copies
Of agricultural bulletin SO, relating to
the cultivation of the cotton plant, were
concurred in. A resolution to print 3, DOC
copies of the consular regulations Of
1896, for the use of Congress and fol
sale to the public, was passed.
The contested election case of George
A. Cornett versus Claude A. Swanson
from the fifth Congressional district o.
Virginia, was called up by Mr.. Mccall
The committee on elections number
three reported that Swanson was en-
titled to hold his seat; the minority
| Messrs. Thomas, Walker and Over.
street-hold that neither Cornett MOI
Swanson was entitled to the seat. Brief
y stating the case, Mr.. Mccall said
that Swanson received the certificate oil
election upon return giving him o
majority Of 2300 votes. If every pre-
cinct concerning the vote of which any
:, testimony whatever was presented tc
the committee were thrown out of the
count, Mr.. Swanson would still have
1900 majority. There was absolutely DC
arithmetic known to intelligent men
by which a different result could be
reached. The ground upon which the
minority based their views was that
the election law of Virginia was uncon-
stitdtional, and therefore no valid cleo
ton was held. AS to this, he desired
only to say that the House had voted
in two other contests to seat members
elected under that same law, and that
all the members of the Virginia delega-
ton held their seats by virtue of the
operation of that law.
Mr.. Jones made an elaborate argu
ment in support Of the committees re-
port. Referring to the election law, he
said it had been declared to be constitu-
tional by the unanimous decision of the
supreme court of the State. And the
committee had concluded that if all the
provisions of the law attacked by the
contestant were invalid or unconstitu-
tional, there still remained undisturbed
and unaffected enough of the law to
make the election perfectly valid.
Mr.. Jones then went into the matter
of the votes in dispute, setting forth
the details, and claimed, in con6rma-
ton of Mr.. McCall's statement, that the
rejection of all the votes attacked by the
contestant, Mr.. Swanson would still
have over 1900 majority.
Mr.. Thomas presented the views OF
the minority. He said that four ques-
tons arose in the consideration of the
case:
l. Sufficiency of the notice of contest;
2. The right of the House to inquire
into the validity of the election law of
Virginia; 3. The constitutionality of
the Walton law; 4. The effect of the
operation of that law upon our system
of popular government. He devoted
most OF his time to the two latter prop.
ositions. An analysis of the Walton
law was given by Mr.. Thomas, from
which he declared the law to be per-
version of the Australian ballot system.
The House refused 1871 to 81 TO order
a vote by ayes and noes and confirmed
Mr.. Swauson's right to his seat by a
unanimous viva voce vote.
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