The Washington times., 1901-11-27
TWO HOUSE SEAT
CLAIMANTS DEAD.
CONTESTS WILL BE CONTINUED.
Only Eight Cases to he Considered
by the Election Committecs-A
Successor Named to the
Late j. W. stokes.

There arc fewer contested election
cases scheduled for consideration by the
election committees OF the House this
| coming Congress than has marked he
/ record OF any preceding Congress.
/ There are three election committees OF
| the House. and there are but eight CON
| tested seats of members to be divided
| among the three
The following is the official record Of
/ contests. the names Of contestants and
the contestees that have been filed with
/ the Clerk OF the House:
Alabama Seventh district, y. b.
Spears VS. John l. Burnett
Kentucky-Third district, J. Mckenzie
Moss Us. john s Rhea
Missouri--Twclfth district, William NJ
Horton vs. James J. Butler
| North Carolina--Thlrd district. John Z.
Fowler rs. Charles X. Thomas.
/ uhio-Twelfth district, John J. Leutz
vs.. Emmett Tompkins.
| South Carolina Seventh district. \. D.
! Dantzler vs.. J. William Stokes.
Virginia-Fourth district. c E. Will
son vs.. Francis p. Lassiter; Ninth dis
trict. James 4. Walker VS.. William F.
Rhea
Since notices of contests we're filed
there have been two deaths among the
parties interested.
Gen. James A. Waller, OF Virginia, died
soon after all the testimony in his case
had been takeh. Representative ]. VIII
Iiams Stokes of South Carolina died after
his testimony had been forwarded to the
Clerk Of the House.
The death OF Representative Stokes and
the fact that his successor was but re-
Gently elected viii not interfere with this
contest however. II was said yestei lay
that the case will be proceeded with just
the same as though Mr.. Stokes had not
died. II the Election Committee should
report in favor of Dantzler. and the re-
port be adopted by the House then Dantz-
Ter would be seated and the recent cleo
tioa Of 4. i. Lever would be declared null
and void on the ground that no vacancy
existed.
In the case of General Walker. OF Vir-
ginia, there is considerable difference, as
the prosecution OF the case viii rest with
the Election Committee to which il is
referred. Should the committee find in
favor Of the deceased contestant and the
committees report be approved by the
House, the result would be TO declare the
seat now held by Representative Rhea va
cant. And this. OF course. would necessi-
tate another election in the Ninth Con-
gTessionai district OF Virginia.
In this connection it is interesting to
note that General Walker in the last
Congress contested Judge Rheas seat
precisely on the same grounds upon which
his contest in this Congress is based. And
Election Committee No. !, that heard the
last Congress contest, reported in favor
Of Judge Rhea. But the Congress ad-
journed without the House ever disposing
Of he report.
The case Of Horton vs. Butler. OF Mis-
souri,. is peculiar in this that the notice
Of contest was not served within the time
limit fixed by law, ana no testimony has
been printed. But thc case, however. is
Included in the list given out b. the Clerk
OF the House.
As the Republicans have more than a
working majority Ia the House this Con-
grees, there viii be no occasion to un-
scat The Democratic members for purely
partisan purposes. such as was done in
the Fiftyfrst Congress.