Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-03
HOUSE STIRRED UP
Question of Southern Representation
Agi.ated
IR. OLMSTED'S RESOLUTION
Opposition Shown and anAdiourn-.
ment Taken.
BILL IN THE SENATE

present. 1t had been arranged before the
House met that the consideration of he
reapportionment bill was to be entered
upon today. Immediately after the reading
Of the journal Mr.. Olmsted CPa) sprany a
surprise by Offering as a matter Of piivi-
lege a resolution reciting the alleged
abridgment Of the right to vote in Louis
lana. Mississippi. South Carolina and North
Carolina. and instructing the committee on
census to inquire into the subject and re-
port the facts to the House.
The resolution follows:
Whereas the continued enjoyment # full
representation in this House by any state
which has. for reasons other than -arlici-
patton In rebellion or other crime, denied
to any of the male Inhabitants Thereof be-
ing twenty-one years of age and citizens Of
the United States the right to vote for
representatives in Congress. presidential
electors and other specified officers is In di-
rect violation of the fourteenth amen iment
of the Constitution of the United 'tates.
which declares that in such case the basis
of representation therein shall DC reduced
in the proportion which such male citizens
bear to the whole number of mai. 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 in
fringement upon the rights AMI privileges
resentatVeS;
And whereas since the last npportion-
ment the states of Mississippi. south Caro-
lima and Louisiana have by chanSSs In
their constitutions and statutes OF said
states and for reasons other than partici-
patton in rebellion and other crime denied
the right of suffrage to male inhabitants
twenty-one years of age citizens or Inc
United States, and such denial III eac.2 Oh
said states extends to more han one-haf
of those who prior thereto were entitled to
vote, as appears from the following statls-
tics published in the Congressional tDtrec-
tories of the Fifty-second and Fifty-siXth
Congresses. viz: In the seven districts OF
Mississippi the total vote cast Tor all con-
gressional candidates in 1880 wa, 62Co2
in 1893, q, 7,O4j. In the seven districts OF
South Carolina the total vote IL $50 was
10, SO, and 49, S31 in 1898. In the six dis
tricts of Louisiana, H,5i2 in 1880 and Blu
in 1898. One member of the present House
representing ten counties In Mississippi,
with a population in 1880 of lS4..JI. received
only 2,06S votes. One member OF the pres
ent House representing six ccunties IN
of 15SS51, received only l.!65 votes. ana
one member representing thirteen counties el
in Louisiana, with a population of 2oS,sO2'
received only 2.494 votes:
And whereas 1t is a matter or common
rumor that other states have. for reasons
other than those specified in the Constitu-
ton of the United States, denied to some OF
their male inhabitants twen1yrone years
old and citizens of the United States, the
right to vote for members OF Congress no
presidential electors. as we'll as executive
and judicial officers Of said states, ana
members of the legislatures thereof, ana
no reduction has been made in the repre-
sentation of any state in this House De-
cause of such denial
And whereas the President OF
United States has, by message, recon-
mended that the Congress at It's present
session apportion the representation among
the several states as provided by the Con-
sttutiOn: -,
."Therefore, resolved, Section 1. That the
committee on census shall be and is au-
thorize6 and requested either by tull COM
mittee or such subcommittee or supcom-
m:ttees as may be appointed by the chair
man thereof. to inquire, examine ana -e-
port in what states the right to vote at
any election for the choice OF electors 10.
President and Vice President of the United
States representatives in Congress, Tie
executive and judicial officers of state or
the members Of the legislature tnereoI:
il denied to any of the male inhabitants 7
such states twenty-one years OF age ana
citizens Of the United States. or in any way
| abridged except for participation In re-
bellion or other crimes, and the proportion
| which the number of such male citizens
| shall bear to the whole number OF male
| citizens twenty-one years OF age. In each
| such state.
FURRY Among the Democrats.
The reading of the resolutions caused
| furry on the democratic side. Before II
proceeded
the minority leader, jumped to his feet and
| interrupted the reading to ask whether the
| resolution required unanimous consent.
| "It does not" replied the Speaker. IL
| is offered as matter of privilege
| II make the point that the resolution
| does not constitute matter of privilege,
| said Mr.. Richardson.
| 1.-The reading has not proceeded far
enough to determine that point, Responded
Mr.. Richardson took his seat. but before
| the clerk could proceed Mr.. Underwood
| (Ala.) was on his feet. Il make the point
that there is no quorum present, he SAID.
| The Speaker glanced about the House. Evil
| IDENTIFY there was no quorum present The
| char will count" he said. The House was
counted. and when the Speaker announcea
TAI present-not a quorum-Mr. UNDERWOOD
Immediately moved adjournment Tns
| ayes and noes were demanded and obtained
| upon this motion. During the roll call
there were hurried CONSULTATIONS on poth
sides of the House.
MANY of the republicans were taken as
| much by surprise the democrats The
latter were greatly agitated ana dec,aed 10
ditch The motion to adjourn was lost
| ayes 6S; noes, 95; answering present put
| not voting. a. noted present, 2: total. l1o.
The Speaker included hlmsei1 IN oroer 10
| make up the quorum
| The Speaker thereupon directed the clerk
| to proceed with the reading OF the resolu-
| ton When 1t was concluded MI Richard.
son again brought forward his point OF
| order that the resolution was not prfvi-
| legged He argued that the resolution should
| take the course of all other resolutions and
| go to q committee
A Matter of Privilege.
Mr.. Olmsted. in reply. argued that under
| the Constitution matters affecting the re-
apportionment Of representatives were OF
| the highest constitutional privilege, and
| cited an elaborate opinion Of Speaker Keifer
| in the Forty-seventh Congress In support
| Of his position.
Speaker Randall, he said. had also held
| that an apportionment bill was a matter Of
| the highest privilege. His resolution. he
contended. seeking as 1t did to determine
| the constitutional basis OF representation.
| was equally privileged. The House. he
argued, could not ect inteiiigently unless It
was advised In what states and to what
extent the suffrage of citizens of the Ented
States had been abridged Mr. O,msted said
the resolution touched the dignity Of the
| House itself. II the suffrage had been
abridged in certain states, then members
were uniustiy and unconstitutionally hold.