Evening journal., 1897-03-02
WILLIS RuMP WORK

WILLIS RUMP WORK.
The refusal of Congressman-elect
Handy to recognize the validity Of the
proceedings at Georgetown yesterday
will commend itself to all persons who
have any knowledge of the law affect
ing such contests. This present at
tempted renewal of the Willis contest
for the seat to which Mr. Handy was
elected by one of the largest majorities
ever given a congressional candidate in
this district, is nothing but a mere
rump contest, having no more standing
in law than the rump Legislature which
Addicks set up. In fact, it is an echo
of that rump Legislature, and
probably intended not for the purpose
Of really contesting Mr.. Handy's seat in
Congress, but for the purpose Of trying
to bolster up Addicks' own claims to the
seat in the Senate now occupied by Mr..
Kenney.
Mr.. Willis practically, and in law,
abandoned his contest. The United
States statutes are very explicit. They
require the contestant to serve notice
Of contest within thirty days after the
vote has been canvassed. They require
the contestee to serve answer to that
notice within thirty days after it is
served on him. Then the time for the
taking Of testimony at once begins. All
the testimony must be taken within
ninety days after the answer to the no
tice Of the contestant is served. During
the first forty days Of this ninety days
the contestant must take the testimony
In support Of his contest. Within the
succeeding forty days the contestee
must take his testimony for his side of
the contest. In the remaining ten days
of the ninety days the contestant may
take testimony in rebuttal only. Dur
ing these ninety days the statutes OF
the United States give the contestant
and cOntestee ample powers for com
pelling the attendance of witnesses, the
production Of papers and all other evil
dence, and for the taking of testimony
in any and every portion Of the con-
gressional district. But outside of that
ninety days, fixed and limited by law,
neither contestant nor contestee has
any power whatsoever, or authority for
taking any testimony. The proceedings
which Mr.. Willis is now attempting
are without the least authority. There
is no warrant of law for them. The Of
ficer who is taking testimony has nc
jurisdiction; subpoenas that he may is
u,tca hava No .,o1flffx- opd 4bo ,rhoIo
thing is a mere rump and usurpation
They have no right certainly, to open
any ballot-boxes as they are doing.
Mr.. Handy will not recognize the pro-
ceedings. Had he gone down to George
I town and attended the hearing it would
have cured any defect in the proceed
ings set up in such a lawless manner al
the instance of the Addicksites. Hi.
} objection is not a techinal one. 1t vi.
] tally affects his rights in the premises
If Mr.. Willis had taken his testimony
as he had the right to do, in the forty
days Immediately following the service
= Of Mr.. Handy's answer, the Democrati,
e cOngressman-elect would within tn,
e succeeding forty days have been quail
/ fed with ample powers to secure hi
I testimony, but Mr.. Willis is beginning
o. now to take his testimony If Mr.
Handy would permit him I,
put 1t in. it would leave him with n,
I powers under the statute to compel tn
e attendance Of witnesses or the produc
s ton Of papers in support of himself.
q Mr. Willis contest can only be re
4 garded in the first place as frivolous
q vexatious and hopeless. It's only prob
a able effect will be to run the Unite
o States to heavy expense for costs, an
a since he has abandoned his contest b
q failing and negleccing to take test
mony at the proper time. it is onl
- proper and due to the consideration G
,s economy to refuse to recognize this al
legged renewal of the contest. or 10 sad
die any more expense incident theret
upon the Treasury of the United State