The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-26
MUKRAY's FIGHT IN CONGRESS-.
The House Committee Again Takes
Up the Petitions.

Washington, Feb. 25.-The House COM
mittee on elections of President, Vice
President and members of congress to-
day gave a further hearing on the pe-
titions presented to the House by Rep
resentative Murray of South Carolina,
making certain charges of fraud regard
ing the elections in that state under the
new constitution, and requesting a con-
Sresslonal investigation of the matter
Mr.. Wilson, dem, of South Carolina
spoke on the legal aspects of the case
holding that congress had no right to in
VeSuSate. The milk in the cocoanut he
Sald was that Representative Murray and
his co-contestants desired their testimony
TO be backed up by evidence collected by
congress. This they would use in the
contested election case of Representative
Murray when brought before the House.
He explained the requirements as to reg
lstratlon as being drawn in the interest
OF the llliterate. He did not approve of
the plan of investigation suggested by
Representative Murray. Under it the
House only would be considered and a
report would be made to it, This would
not be binding upon the Senate The
proper procedure would be to have a Joint
committee investigate.
Representative Murray followed Mr.
wilson. lie was not asking the investiga-
ton for his own benefit, but for the citi-
zens of South Carolina. He had made a
successful contest before the House here
tofore and his case for the next congress
was already made up. If time were only
given he would present to the House the
petitions of $4,000 citizens from all sec
tons of the state, praying for a republi-
can form of government, was guaran-
teed them by the constitution.
Mr.. Tucker, DEM, of Virginia, asked If
the people who had signed these memo
rails had been DISTINGUISHED.
Mr.. Murray replied that they had been,
and added that people who had passed
examinations for school teachers had
been treated in the same way, being class
ed with the illiterate. Under the present
state of affairs, thousands of negroes had
been refused registration. There was a
deep seated conspiracy to deprive a large
portion of the citizens of his state of the
right to vote. In his district alone over
10000 had been refused registration. The
only remedy was to apply to congress for
relief. The sufferers of the state thought
it the duty of congress to investigate the
matter, and if in it's power to remedy it
by legislation. No relief could be obtained
in the courts. If congress would make the
investigation il would satisfy all concern
cd, and they would accept the results as
final and binding.
A question was asked as to the taking
of the oath by the mem bers of the con-
SJltulIOndl convention ana representative
Murray requested eX-Congressman Smails
and member of the convention to answer
it,
Smalls said that when a portion of the
| delegates to the convention had taken the
oath, Senator Tillman held that it was I'M
necessary, and the roll call was suspended,
and the matter referred to the judiciary
committee. The committee reported that
it was unnecessary to take the oath.
The committee adjourned until to-mor-
row, when DR.. Pope. the Independent can
didate for governor, viii be heard.