The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-03

The House Of Representatives reconven-
ed at noon today after the holiday yaca-
ton Between 10 and u o'clock there was
more activity in the galleries than on
| the floor While there were few occu-
pants Of the semi-circuler rows of cane
| back chairs the grey and yellow benches
in the galleries were black-dotted with
spectators
When the Speakers gavel had fallen the
Chaplain offered prayer
After the reading and approval OF the
journal of the last session of the House
Mr.. OImsted sent to the Clerks desk a
resolution which he claimed was a matter
! OF privilege. bearing upon the Limitation
placed upon tie suffrage by the States of
Mississippi Louisiana. North Carolina.
and South Carolina The resolution fol-
lows:
Whereas the continued enjoyment of full repre-
SentatIon IN this House b any STATE which has
for reasons other than participation in rebellion
OF other crime. denied TO any Of the male in
habltants thereof being tHeUJy-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 direct
violation OF the Fourteenth Amendment 10 the
Constitution OF the United states which declares
that in such case the basis OF representation
therein shall be reduced IN the proportion which
male citizens twenty-one years OF age IN such
State and l. invasion OF the rights and dig
nifty Of rhls House and OF its members. and
infringement upon the rights and privileges in
this House Of other States and their representa-
ti"es.
snd whereas since the last auportionasent the
States OF Mississippi South Carolina and Louisi-
/ ana have, by changes IN their constitutions and
statutes of said states and for other than
participation IN rebellion and other crime. de-
MED the right OF suffrage TO male inhabitants
rf f7f5z Of tho Fq1~l
States. and such denial in each Ct said States
: extends 10 than oHe-half Of those who prior
I thereto were entitled to vote, d appears from
the following statistics, published IN the Con-
ercsSiOnal directories Of the Fifty-seCoud and
Fif;y-si&th Congresses namely:
In the seven districts 5f Mississippi the total
vote cast for ali Congressional candidates III Is3J
was y go; IN 1895, POS ia the seven districts
Of South Carolina the total vote in 1880 was
3 - and . 81 in lo9S- In the six districts Of
Louisiana = 81 II 1850 and 23-lGI IN 1895
One member Of the present House. representing
ten counties IN Mississippi with population IN
. 1870 OF Is4-Zg.- received only 2.J5s votes One
member OF the present House. representing six
counties ~ south carolina with population M
$50 Of I5S-o5l- received only /. 80 votes. and
one member. representing thirteen counties in
Louisiana with population Of 21s,sJ2- received
And whereas il s q matter Of common rumor
thai other States have for reasons other than
those specified IN the Constitution Of the United
States denied - some u their male inhabitants
tweuJy-0ue years old and citizens OF the United
States the right 90 vote for members OF Con
gress and Presidential electors as well eXecu-
tive and Judicial officers Of said states and
bcrs af The Legislatures thereof ana reduction
has been made IL the representation Of any State
IN This House because OF such denial:
and whereas the President OF the United States
has hv message recommended -thar the Con
gress Al H. present session. appoTuoH The repre-
ssntatiOn among the several states provided by
the Constitution
/ Therefore. Resolved. section I. That the Com
rnittee on Census shall be and Is authorized and
/ requested, either by full committee or such sub
committee or sgliconInjttees as may be appoint
/ cd b. the chairman thereof. 70 enquire, examine
and report IN what states the right 10 vote az
anv election FOR the choice Of electors for Presi-
dent aud Vice President Of the United States,
Representatives IT Congress, the executive and
judicial officers OF a State, the members Of
the Lcgslatures thereof. Is denied 10 any of the
male inhabitants Of such States. Jwentv-One years
Of age and citizens Of thu United States in
| any way abridged. except for participation in
rebellion or other crimes. and the proportion
which the number Of such male citizens shall
bear TO the whole number Of male citizens TWEEN
ty-one years Of age, in each such State.
Before the clerk had completed the read
ing Of the preamble, Mr.. Richardson Of
Tenn essee raised the point of order that
the resolution was not privileged
Speaker Henderson said he could not
rule upon that till the resolution had
been read
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama arose and
startled the House by saying
Mr.. Speaker, I make the point that
there is not a quorum present"
The SDea ker. after q count. announced
IA members in attendance-not quorum.
Mr. Woodward then moved that the
House adjourn. On the viva voce vote the
Republicans answered no, and the Speak
CT ruled that the noes had it.
Mr. Underwood demanded q division and
Nj OIms-ed called for thu ayes and
noes which we're ordered. The vote re-
suited. ayes IS, noes g., present 16-l19-a
quorum The clerk then resumed the
reading Of the OImsted resolution.
At it's conclusion Mr.. Richardson re-
neved his point that the resolution was
not privileged. arguing that there was
nothing In the rules or Constitution war
raining the resolution as privileged He
thought the resolution should be referred
20 committee
Mr. Clmsted took issue ss-ing that the
same point vas made and tie same qEes-
ton involved during the Forty-seventh
Congress. He said that Samuel J. Randall
had ruled that similar resolution was a
matter of the highest privilege
Mr. Olmsted asserted that Speaker Reed
had ruled that matters relating to ap-
portionmsnt are privileged. The resolu-
ton pending was to enable the House
to perform its duty under the Constitu-
tion. Il was a notorious fact, said Mr..
Cimsted, that several States were en-
joyiug unconstitutional representation
in the House Of Representatives and in
The Electoral College.
Mr.. Richardson, replying, said that the
pending resolution was merely a resolu-
. tiou Of enquiry, and was therefore not
privileged. What Mr. Richardson con
tended for was that the resolution should
be referred. AE. Olmsted interrupted
that Speaker Carlisle had ruled that a
resolution Of enquiry might be priyi-
legged.
The Speaker directed the reading Of the
Fourteenth Amendment - the Coustitu-
ton. and ruled that Mr.. OImsted's resolu-
JioH was privileged.
Mr.. Underwood raised the question OF
consideration. The question being
put. the ayes had il ana on
division being called for by Mr.. Under
@o5d the vote was % for consideration
and 20 against MIR OImsJed demanded
the yeas and nays and a sufficient num-
Der Of Republicans arising the rollcall
was ordered
The result was yeas 81, nays So, present
r. The Speaker announced no quorum"
and directed a call Of the House.
Mr. Underwood moved that the House
adjourn The ayes having the decision
Mr. OImsted demanded division result
+ ing Tor adjournment Il. against adjourn
ment 81 Mr. Olmsted demanded the yeas
t and nays and a Republicans sustaining
him The rollcal was ordered. This re-
ri