Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-19
THE 54'TH CONGRESS.
REPUBLICAN CONTESTANT SEATED
IN SPITE OF ADVERSE REPORT.
NEW P0STAL-CARD SYSTEM,
Proposition 10 Adopt the West yir-
Ginia Idea Accepted without Ex-
congregational Notes.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., February 18-
In the contested case OF Hopkins Re-
publican VS.. Kendall DemocraO, from
the Tenth Kentucky District. the
House to-day. for the first time this ses-
sion, on a direct issue of fact, reversed
the decision Of It's Committee on Elec-
lions, and seated a contestant whom the
committee had declared not elected. The
case turned upon the action of the County
Clerk Of Clark county, KY, who. with
out proper authority, had substituted
what was called in the debate IAN odious,
thieving coon" on the official ballots, in
place Of the eagle, the chosen emblem
Of the Republican party of Kentucky.
1t was admitted by the committee that
this was a transparent fraud" and
that 1t was done with intent to deceive;
but 1t was contended that the number
of colored votes lost in this manner was
not enough to overcome the sitting men,
ber's majority Of 253 over his contestant.
The minority report contended that fraud
Initiated everything, and that the entire
vote Of the county should be thrown out.
After an exceedingly animated discus
sion, the House sustained this view by
a vote Of 197 to 81.
On the only previous occasion in this
Congress when the Elections Committee
received a setback. Representative VIII
liam II. Moody, of Massachusetts. who
led the forlorn hope in to-day's debate.
i'm support of the majority report, was
the successful assailant. He made a
minority report of one in the case of
"Rinaker VS.. Downing" from the First
Illinois District, not in favor of seating
Rnaker, but of having a recount of the
vote. In this the House sustained him,
and on a recount Rinaker was seated.
In the division to-day, Of the ten
Republicans who voted TO sustain the
majority of the committee, three were
from Massachusetts, which led Mr..
Hardy Republican). Of Indiana, to re-
mark that Massachusetts, had stopped
over too much" an insult to Massachu-
sets which Mr.. Moody Indignantly re-
scented.
The rest Of the session was given up
to the passage Of bills by consent. which
led to consent to a speedy adjournment,
and, at 1870, the House adjourned until
tomorrow.
The general deficiency bill was report
ed to the House from the Committee on
Appropriations. with notice that it would
be called up tomorrow. The bill carries
an appropriation Of sS,43S937 Among the
items I'm the bill are the following:
To enable the Secretary Of the Treasury
to restore the compensation of en-
ployees at the ports Of Baltimore. Buff
falo. Plattsburg, Cincinnati, Cleveland
Cedar Keys, Detroit; Kansas City, Mo-
Mobile. Newport News, New Orleans
cola l.f a
n. D., and Philadelphia, whose salaries
were reduced in order to avoid a de-
fciency I'm the appropriation for collect
ing the revenues, 81 .3Sl.
Continuing improvement Of the Missis-
sippi river from head of Passes to the
mouth of the Ohio, $4,000.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The Senate passed to-day. without a
word Of explanation, a bill which, If II
becomes q law. will introduce a new
postal-card system. Its title is, "A Bill
to Extend the Uses OF the Mail-Service. .
1t was introduced in the early part OF
last session by Mr.. Villas. and was re-
ferred to the Post Office Committee. from
which it was reported back with amend
ments. on the 18th of last month. A
week ago an attempt was made to have
| II passed by unanimous consent, but OBJ
! lection was then made by Mr.. Allen who
| said that, from the reading Of the bill, II
appeared to propose the comforting of a
monopoly. Mr.. Villas admitted that II
| did confer a monopoly; but said that. as
| the company concerned owned the patent
! for the invention, there must necessarily
| be a monopoly Mr.. Allen promised tC
/ look into the matter, and when Mr.. Villas
| asked unanimous consent to-day for the
| passage Of the bill, and said that Mr.
! Allen was satisfied with it, no objec
| ton was made. and the bill was passeC
without it's being even read, except by
title. It's purpose is TO allow the circu
| lation by mail of the pOstal-cards anC
envelopes. with coupons attached, patent
! ed and owned by a West Virginia cor
poration at regular postal-card and let
ter rates, paid on presentation Of th'
| coupons from the said cards and en-
velopes when detached at the office o.
delivery" The Postmaster-General /!
10 test the practical operation of the plar
in one or two more cities, and to sus
pend its operation If the test proves un
| favorable There are nine sections e
the bill. but they do not convey very
clear idea of the plan.
| The Senate had spent only twenty min
| utes in legislative session, when. on mo
tion of Senator Sherman. the gallerie,
were cleared and the doors closed. ant
the consideration Of executive business
was entered upon. At 6:35 =. NJ. thu
Senate adjourned until tomorrow.
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