The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-04
MR. oLMsTED's RESOLUTION.
Committee on Census Asked to Examine Into
Curtailment of Suffrage.
(By The Associated Press.)


Washington, Jan. S.-Mr. Olmsted Of
Pennsylvania, today introduced the fell
lowing resolution in the House:
Whereas, the continued enjoyment of
full representation in this House by any
State which for reasons other than par
ticipation i'll rebellion or other crime, de-
MES to any male inhabitants thereof be-
ing q years of age, and citizens of the
United States the right to vote for Rep
resentatives in Congress, Presidential
electors and other specified officers, is in
direct violation of the Fourteenth amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, which declares that in such case
the basis of representation therein shall
be reduced in the proportion which such
male citizens bear to the whole number
of male citizens twenty-one years of age
in such State, and Is an invasion of the
rights and dignity of this House and of
its members, and an infringement upon
the rights and privileges in this House of
other States and their Representative
and
Whereas, since the last apportionment
the States of Mississippi, South Carolina
and Louisiana have made changes in their
constitutions and statutes of said States,
and for reasons other than participation
in rebellion and other crime, denied the
right of suffrage to male inhabitants p
years of age, citizens of the United States,
and such denial in each Of said States
extends to more than one-half of those
who, prior thereto were entitled to vote,
as appears from the following statistics
published in the Congressional Director
| les of the Fifty-second and Fifty sixth
| Congresses, viz.
In the seven districts of Mississippi
| the total vote cast for all Congressional
candidates in 1890 was 62.652; in 1898
27.045.
In the seven districts of South Caro-
lima the total vote in 1890 was 1892
and 1881 in 1898
:" In the six districts of Louisiana 74,j42
in 1890 and 33. 161 in 1898.
lone member of the present House,
representing ten counties in Mississippi,
with a population in 1890 of 1874, 1917 re-
ceived only 206S votes. One member of
the present House, representing six coun-
ties in South Carolina. with a population
in 1890 of 15S,851. received only 1,765 votes,
and one member representing thirteen
counties in Louisiana, with a population
of 2OS, 1902, received only 2494 votes and
Whereas, it is n matter of common
rumor that other States have for rea-
sons other than those specified in the
Constitution of the United States. denied
to some of their male inhabitants q years
old and citizens of the United States the
right to vote for members of Congress
and Presidential electors, as well as exc
cutive and judicial officers of said States,
aI,nee. 81 he nnrfO1 aft
and no reduction has been made in the
representation of any State in this House
because of such denial; and
whereas, the President of the United
States has by message recommended
that the Congress, at it's present session,
apportion the representation among the
several States as provided by the COnsti-
tuition; therefore,
Resolved, Section 1. That the Commit
tee on Census shall be, and is authorized
and requested either by full committee
or such subcommittee or sub committees
as may be appointed by the chairman
| thereof, to inquire, examine and report
in what States the right to vote at any
election for the choice of electors for
President and Vice President of the
United States representatives in Con-
gress, the executive and judicial officers
of State or the members of the Legisla-
lures thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such States, q years
of age, and citizens of the United States,
or in any way abridged except for parti-
cipation in rebellion or other CRIMES and
the proportion, which the member of such
male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens, p years of age,
IN each such State"