The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-12
Mr.. TH0RP is SEATED
C0NTESTEE EPPES FROM VIRGINIA UN-
SEATED BY THE HOUSE.
Indian Appropriation Bill Carries So, 600, 900.
Senator Aliens Resolution as to Editor
HearstS Yacht, Bucc

Washington, d. c., Feb. 1.-THE ma
jority report i'm the contested election
case of Thorp vs.. Eppes from the Fourth
Virginia District, filed in the House yes
terday. reyerses Eppes's plurality Of ,,
621, and gives Thorp Il plurality of 81.
The returns from nineteen rejected
precenicts in Petersburg and Lunenburg
county, where it is alleged the returns
were successfully impeache,l, precincts
at which Democrats Were judgds of
elections, increased Th0rISs plurality
in the precincts carried by him to 2,191.
Corrected returns from other precincts
in Petersburg. Mecklenburg. Prince Ed
ward, Brunswick and Prince George
counties, where it is contended that part
Of Ihorp's voters, who were at the polls.
were prevented from voting. reducing
Eppes's vote G23. These, together with
other reflections and revisions still furth-
or reduced Eppess pluralities 613, leay-
ing Eppes's total pluralties in the pre-
cincts carried by him 1928, or a net pllI-
rality of S12 for Thorp. The report
maintains that the Virginia election law,
requiring the choosing of judges of cleo
tion,s from persons known to belong to
different political parties, each of whom
disrcgardcd for the purpose of defeating
the will of the people. The fact that
the district contains an excess of color
ed voters of 4.J63 is also put forward
as presumptive evidence OF fraud. and
the previous history OF the district
which in twenty-five years has only
once been represented by a Democrat
whose seat was not contested, the re-
IN Ila. icin
10 cast suspicion on the honesty of re-
turns that give Eppes 2G2l plurality.
The fact that tine name of another
Thorp--J. L.-was printed on the official
ballot, and who received 491 votes, is,
the report says. II badge of fraud
FRAUDS, ill5galities and irregularities
are alleged to have been perpetratcd in
many precincts. Iliterate Republican
voters. says the report, were instructed
by public speeches, and by hand bills
not to rely on themselves. but 10 ask
Judges to mark their ballots so as 10
enable them to vote for Mckinley, Ho-
bart and r. r. Thorp. Yet it is not de-
ned that 1907 ballots cast by duly
qualified voters were improperly pre-
pared. and 491 votes were returned for
j. J.. ThOrp. showing practically that
were yitiatpd.'
THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington. Feb. 11.-Considera-
ton of the Indian Appropria ton bill
| was resumed by the Senate today, and
after being amended to some extent, the
measure was passed The most i'm
portant amendment to the bill was that
offered by Mr.. Pettigrew, (South Da-
| kota). as follows:
THAT all settlers under the homestead
| laws of the United States upon the
| public lands acquired prior to the pas
sage Of this act by treaty or agreement
| from the various Indian tribes, who have
| or who shall hereafter reside upon the
tract entered in good faith for the period
| required by existing law, shall be en-
| titled to a patent for the land so en-
| tered upon the payment to the local
| land officers Of the usual and customary
| fees, and no other or further charge of
any kind whatsoever shall be required
| from such settler to entitle him to n
| patent for such entry and pay for said
| lands. i'm the option of any such settler.
and in the time and at the prices now
| fixed by existing laws, shall remain in
| full force and effect: Provided, how
ever. that all sums of money so released,
which. If not released would belong to
any Indian tribe. shall he paid to such
Indian tribe by the United States"
The amendment was adopted.
The bill carries appropriations aggrc-
eating nearly $S000,0OO.
Mr.. Allen (Nebraska), introduced n
resolution directing the Committee on
Foreign Relations to inquire whether
the Yacht Buccaneer, owned by VIM. II.
| Hearst, has been seized and is being
held by the Spanish government. The
resolution was agreed to.
The Senate went into executive session
at $40 o'clock, and at ) p. III. adjourned
| until Monday.