The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-11
TIE THORP-EPES CONTEST.
A Spirited Preliminary Dlhate in thi
House.
GEN. WlLKER'S 5 ARBI RARY ACTION,
Epes' Friends Much outdone at Walkers
Apparent Effort to crowd the Com
testee-Ihe Minority Restrict
ed as to Time.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. lo.-spe-
cial.-A spirited preliminary debate took
/ place in the House to-day over the Thorp-
/ Epes case. Representative James A.
Walker chairman Of Elections Commit
tee No. 3. asked leave to present the re-
port in the case referred 20. the majority
] recommending that Thorp, the Repubh-
/ can contestant. be seated. lie asked that
/ the minority have until next Wednesday
10 Tile It's report. Representative Mlers,
the Democratic member OF the sub-com-
mittee asked that the time be extended
for ten days. He stated the facts sue
/ cinctly. This case was argued on jan
uary 10th.
Representative Bailey tried to get in
word. but the Speaker made him take
his seat.
Walker: We talked this matter over in
/ committee and endeaN ored 10 ac-
| comodate the gentlemen INTEREST
/ ed. but were unable 10 10
SO. one or the members (Crum-
| pockeD who is familiar With the case,
/ will be absent after next week for Two
weeks and. TO give this time would post
none the consideration Of the case.
SPICY DIALOGUE
Nlers: VIII the gentleman allow me
10 ask him a question?
Walker: Certainly.
Aners: II you will but hear my state
| ment-.
Walker: beg your pardon; 1 thought
| you had concluded.
NIiars fcontinuinO: / think you viii
withdraw any objection. As was about
TO state. this case was argued on Jan
/ nary lOth--a month ago to-day. rms
| committee has had seven hotly contested
| election cases in which II has heard drSu-
Misunderstanding five arguments IN hVe
| hour sessions Of the committee 80 tnd'
the time Of the committee mas been
largely taken up. and / have not had
! rouch time 10 give this case any thought
] In this particular case the chairman OF
| the committee OWalker) Mr. Crumpacker
! and myself were made a subcommittee
Now | want to make this statement As
| the Speaker knows, and members Oh the
Committee on Pensions know, we nave
/ had meetings OF that committee Two
I mornings every week. have Deen on tie
floor OF the House on two FRIDAY nish'S
| in the meantime so that | have not had
,ouoh time mo 10 this po.nt. / had posi-
/ tive engagement with the chairman that
/ | should have Friday and Saturday anu
! next Monday 10 be absent from TINS cily,
we agreed that whatever came up
/ should have those three days, not count
| ed i'm the time. Since that ! nave hdu
letter. requesting me to Keep tnat eh-
/ gagement. so 1t will be Impossible toF
/ M 10 be present until next Tuesday
morning.
AN IMPOSSIBILITN.
We have here a report by the majority
OF III pages OF closely type written mat
! ter. The record is a record q Z.OD pages.
Now Mr.. Speaker, IL seems 10 me tnat
! it Is unfair that | should be required III
one day 10 formulate the views OF the
| minority or a record Of 900 pages ana
! a report OF III pages. / simply ask that
! / may have ten days from this date
one week after / come back-tor the
purpose Of preparing the minority report.
| 1 wish 20 say Mr. Speaker that In the
| last month by reason Of the work OF
! this committee and other committee
work. ! have worked from thirteen 20
fourteen hours every day ! am willing
| to continue il until We get this report
| before the House 7 appreciate the ar
| eument on the other side. that hereto
fore there has been too much time con-
| sumed upon these cases. and I DO not
wish 10 consume any more time In this
case than seems 10 be absolutely neces-
sary.
simply want time 10 formulate the
views of the minority and place them on
fle and then ! shall not ask any more
time for its consideration than Is neces-
sary. I submit Mr.. Speaker. that this
| f. a question OF Importance. not only 10
| the gentleman representing the contest
ant and contestee. but II is a question
% great interest to this republic itself.
on the one side dishonest ballot and n
| dishonest election are charged. Can we
do better than take time and determine
whether that IS absolutely true?
STOP THIEF
II II IS true then the contestant ought
70 be given his seat. II II IS not true
II some gentleman has cried "stop
thief'-when he was possibly the thief
| himself. we ought 10 have an opportunity
to investigate that.
Representative Dingley arose and said
it seemed that this discussion was out
OF order.
Miers: II is TO meet these charges
that affect the contestant and the con-
testee.-that affects the very republic it.
self-whether we shall have honest cleo
tions or not
| Dingley: Mr. Speaker. what is the
question before the House7
Bailey: Mr.. Sneaker. the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Miers) is stating the
grounds why he asks for any extension
OF time and II seems TO me he is dong Il
| In a proper way.
Dingley; II Is unnecessary to go into
the merits Of the case.
The Speaker decided that Mr.. Miers
was within the rules
Mr. Miers then reiterated what ne had
said He did not believe the House would
be so partisan as 10 cut OF the right OF
the minority and not give II time
Walker: ] have no desire TO cut or
any gentleman.
Miers-Wil the gentleman from Vir-
ginla pardon me. an interruption? Did
We not have an agreement that 7 should
have Friday. Saturday and next Monday
TO be absent from the city?
IT WAS AN AGREEMENT.
Walker: Yes. | went sav IL was m
| agreement, but I will say that the gen
| tleman suggested that he wanted those
days. and | said Certainly" So far as
| | was concerned he could have them. and
! am willing now that he should have
! tfem.
Miers: Did not postpone my engage
mint last week TO that time with your
| consent?
walker: do not krow what the gen-
tleman postponed. I only know that the
gentleman suggested that he wanted the
/ tine.
Miers: DID not Judge Crumpacker say
! tfat he wanted thar time and I post-
poned nv engagement 80 as 20 accom-
modato him2
Walker: I cannot say. ( do not recoi-
! lec' all the conversations
I Waller then went on 10 emphasize tho
/ fact that this case was arrued before
/ tho rcnrniffCa tht-fv davs am