The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-01-29
Majority Report Favoring Berry,
Republican, Gives Way to
Minority Report, Seating
Democrat Who
Contested.

ornOr Taylor in his seat. The fight came
on Che vote Of the house in the contest
brought bv II. ). Van Meter. Of Fay
cite county. for the seat heretofore held
by Henry $. Berry. Both sides realized
that the test OF the real strength would
be made on this issue. and every eitort
was made TO get out tho largest possible
vote There were before the contest hf-
tv-nine democrats. including Speaker
Trimble I'm the house, and forty-oue re
publicans The latter claimed confidently
last night that they would be able 70
swing at least fifty votes. with excel
lent chances Of two or three aqditlonal.
The democrats claimed to be certain o.
dfry-tyo votes The vote I'm favor OF
Van Meter was 81 to A.. Hays. republic
can. and Sledge. democrat were absent
Berry had no vote. because of his per
sonal interest in the contest Speaker
Trimble did not vote.
Majority Report Set Aside.
As soon a. the session began ". \.
Burkamp. chairman OF the committee
which had heard the evidence In the con-
test. rose to speak i'm behalf of the adop-
tiou of the majority report. which he had
prepared and presented Yesterday. n
der special rules of the house. adopted
Yesterday. each side was TO have no less
than twenty nor more than fiftv minutes
for arguments and the member present
ing a report TO have thirty minutes 70
speak for his cause. Mr.. BurkmaD made
an elaborate legal argument In support
M Berry. aud when he had consumed
his tlmo Representative G. A. Holland
spoke the full fifty minutes IN behalf OF
Van Meter He was stopped by the
speaker. his time having expired Mr..
Burkamp announced that he wished to
divid. his time with Representative Slack
the house leader of the republican MINOR
In a
vide his time with nobody. Mr.. Burkainp
then moved for a debate Of two hours,
one hour being to each side. II was over
ruled bv the speaker
Mr. Slack moved a recess then be taken.
Then the speaker declared the motion IN
troduced caused delay. saving he would
permit no dilatory tactic Mr.. Slack
-coicl tho fate - 49, l'u.1-ei-lp
Side Shows Thin Strength.
The vote was on the motion to substi-
tute the minority report in favor of Mr..
Van Meter I'm place OF the majority re-
port for Mr. Berry. ana the roll call then
proceeded. As the call proceeded Repre-
sentative Balri. who was considered
doubtful by both sides, declined 10 vote.
Cochran was the first democrat 10 vote
Tor Berry: Eghart followed him: then
came Order. Ilfferty, Orr, Hinton and
Wlllingham When tine roll call was read
The vote stood TO 49, several members
present not voting. Egbert changed his
vote. making it ~ to - IN favor OF Van
Meter on the Call for abseutees. Baird
sided with Van Meter. democratic cheers
greeting him as he announced his vote.
Three more democrats who had not re-
spouded 20 the call voted for the minority
report and the clerk announced the total
81 10 A. The majority report. as amended
by the minority report. was then adopted
and Mr. Van Meter was declared a mem
Der Of the house.
There was much wrath IN the repubH-
can ranks over the failure OF +. IL. Hays.
or Pulaski county. TO vote. lie failed
entirely to put IN an appearance at the
statchuuse and was seen at the depot
few minutes before "a train arrived. After
that the republicans saw no more OF him
nor could the members Of the committee
locate him. although they spent the ar
tcrnoon in search.
Admtant General Collier hurriedly Inn
pressed an engine on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad ana made a flying trip
TO Lexington i'm the effort to find HAYS
and bring him back ON reaching LeXlng-
ton he was informed that Hays had gone.
He was compelled 10 return without his
man
f. c. Sebree. the republican manager.
declared last night that the vote on the
contest today was q crucial test of
strength He had declared himself as
confident OF at least httv votes for Berry.
After the house had adjourned he said:
Admits a Knockout.
THEY knocked us ont. There IS no
doubt about that. / felt sure of 30 votes.
of course including Hays, and counted
on ten democratic votes for Berry. How
ever. this is not the vote for governor
although the seating Of Van Meter In
creases the odds against us. ! presume
the democrats Will decide the other con
tests now pending as this one has been
decided. We will fight ii out to the end.
however. The people may be sure of
that"
The democratic leaders. without excep-
ton. claim that the seating of Van Meter
foreshadows accurately ihe seating %
Goebel.
The house now stands 80 democrats.
including Van Meter ana Speaker Trim
bile. and 40 republicans The senate &c
democrats and - republicans.
The democrats on vote In the guber-
material contest can have but a possible
maximum vote of 81 as Goebel will haze
no voice and Senator Hill Goebel man
is incapactated by illness ana has never
qualified. Both sides admit the SENATE u
be very evenly divided. Seventy votes
are necessary on joint ballot to seat Goe-
bel as governor.
Bradley on Witness Stand.
This was the last day allotted the con
testees, Governor Taylor and Lieutenant
Governor Marshal. for defense in the
pending gubernatoral contest. The
boards adjourned promptly at 10 %. m
tonight TO meet Monday afternoon When
the arguments begin. Each side will be
allowed ten hours for arguments the
boards having fixed that time with the
agreement of counsel.
Governor Bradley took the stand TO
day Tie reviewed his political history
and his connection with the presence Of
troops at the last election In Louisville
Ne testified that he construed the sta.
yates as delegating the power to him H.
call out the troops for the maintenance
of peace and the authority TO coutro.
them. He said that he had reason 70
believe that the troops In the hands -
the mayor, sheriff or TALLER i'm Louis
willie last November would have added 70
the element Of danger then prevalent.