Birmingham state herald., 1897-02-04
'AICARAGUAN CANAL BILL Encounters a Strong FiIibuster-
 ing Opposition. TALKING AGAINST TIME Is the Tactics Adopted by Villas, Who Has Been
 Speaking Three Days. DUBOIS, OF IDAHO, IGNORED Swanson, of Virginia, Despite Strong op- position, Is Accorded Seat in Congress Over Contestant Cornell-Oratorical
OF IDAHO, IGNORED

Washington, Feb. 3.-The two resolu- tions offered last week by MT. Allen (pop. Neb.), looking to the impeding or prevent ing of the sale of the Union Pacific rail- road property under a judicial decree of foreclosure, were today discussed at much length by MT. Thurston (rep. Neb). He argued in contradiction of MT. Allen s contention-that the right of the at- torney-general to appear for the govern ment in the foreclosure proceedings was absolutely beyond question. He also de- clared his belief that the people of the United States were not, and never would be- ready to enter upon government ownership and operation of railways. He showed that under the law and under various decisions of the supreme court, the lien of the government did not cover the Omaha railroad bridge and ap- breaches and only applied to the portion oe the Union Pacific road on which sub sidy bonds were issued; and he favored strongly the acceptance of the offer of the syndicate to bid on an upset price of $40000000 for the governments interest in the road Qncluding the company's sinking fund.-, which would net to the government about $29, 900, 900, or some 57 per cent. of it's claim against the com pany.
 The Nicaraguan canal bill was before the senate for the remainder of the days session. MT. Villas occupied the floor all the time in the delivery of his third days speech against the bill. The speech was varied with roll calls to enforce the pres ence of quorum, and as 1t was apparent that Mir. Villas was talking against time,'' the friends of the bill made a rather feeble effort to "sit it out" but eventually yielded to the inevitable and agreed to an adjournment, which took place at 5:20 D. m.
 An enormous floral structure, consist ing of two tall columns of white roses, connected on top by a bar of white chryS- anthemums on which the word Honor" was marked in purple and with a pro- fusion of large red roses scattered along it's base stood upon the desk of MT Du- bose trep. Idaho), who had just returned from his unsuccessful campaign for re- electi,in, and who was warmly welcomed back again by senators from all parties.
 IN THE HOUSE.
 The discussion of the contested election | case of George W. Cornett vs. Claude A. Swanson from the Fifth district of Vir- ginia, occupied nearly the whole of the days session of t.e house and by an overwhelming vote MT. Swanson's title to the seat was confirmed by the house. The committee on elections No. re- ported that Swanson was entitled to hold his seat; the minority-Messrs. Thomas, Walker and Overstreet-hold that neither Cornett nor Swanson was entitled to the seat. Briefly stating the case, MT Me Call (rep. Mass.), chairman Of the com mittee, said that Swanson received the certificate of election upon return giv- ing him majority of 2,300 votes. If every precinct concerning the vote of which any testimony whatever was presented to the committee, were thrown out of tha count, MT Swanson would still have alt hcfl Int al m 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 unconstitutional, and therefore no valid election was held. As to this, he desired 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 delegation held their seats by virtue of the operation of that law.
 MT. Jones (dem. Va.) made an elab- crate argument in support of the com mittee's report. Referring to the election law, he said 1t had been declared to be constitutional by the unanimous decision of the supreme court Of the state. Ana the committee had concluded tfHt if all the provisions of the law attacked by the contestants were invalid or unconstitu- tional, there still remained undisturbed and unaffected enough of the law to make the election perfectly valid.
 MT. Jones then went into the matter of the votes in dispute, setting forth the details and claimed in confirmation Of MT. McCall's statement that the rejection of all the votes attacked by the contest ants would still give MT. Swanson over 1,500 majority.
 views of the minority. He said that four questions arose in consideration of the case.
 1. Sufficiency of the notice of the con- test.
 2. The right of the house to inquire into the validity of the election law of Vir- ginia.
 3. The constitutionalfty of the Walton
 4. The effect of the operation of that law upon our system of popular govern ment.
 He devoted most of his time to the two latter propositions. An analysis of the Walton law was given by MT. Thom- as, from which he declared the law to be a perversion of the Australian bal lot system.
 MT. Thomas asserted that the case in which the supreme court of Virginia had decided the law to be constitutional was collusive proceeding, and by the admission of the court itself, the consti- tutionality of the law was immaterial to the determination of the questions sub mitted to 1.-two reasons which made the Judgment as to the constitutionality Of the. law of no binding force or effect.
 In conclusion, MT. Thomas said
 I champion today the cause of 100000 Virginia voters, bound hand and foot in political bondage, with no outlook or hope for the future. If my contention shall fail, a republican form of govern ment will cease to exist in Virginia. If a mode of election can be contrived that will embarrass and disqualify one class 7 of voters, then 1t is possible for some mode of election to be devised that will dis qualify any class to whom the constitu- ton has extended the right of suffrage.'
 It is well that this contest. should take place on Virginia soil. Here. where the first English settlement in America was planted here where Henry sounded the first notes of liberty; here where the au-