The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-04
oLMsTEAD's RESOLUTION.
Orders an Inquiry with View of
Reducing South's Representation.

Orders an Inquiry with View of
Reducing South's Representation.
Washington. Jan. 3.-Mr. Olmstead of
Pennsylvania to-day introduced the fol-
lowing resolution in the House:
Whereas The continued enjoyment Of
full representation in this House by any
state which shas, for reasons other than
participation in rebellion or other crime,
denied to any of the male inhabitants
thereof, being 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 direct violation of the four
teenth amendment 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 q years of
age in such state and is an invasion of
the rights and dignity of this house and IF
its members, and an infringement upon
the rights and privileges in this house
OF other states end their representatives;
aud
Whereas, Since the last apportionment
the states of Mississippi, South Carolina
''AO N-ONAoAaHd nave D9 CnduBeS 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 q
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
directories of the Fifty-second and Fifty
sixth Congresses, viz: In the seven dis
tricts of Mississippi, the total vote cast
for all congressional candidates in 1890
was 62,652; in 1898, 27.O45; in the seven dis
tricts of South Carolina the total vote
in 1890 was 1882, and 2S S31 in 1895 In the
six districts of Louisiana 1852 in 1890
and 49, 161 in 1898
zone member of the present House, rep
resenting ten counties in Mississippi, with
a population in 1880 of 184,297, received
only 2,0SS votes. One member of the pres
ent House, represe nting six counties in
South Carolina, with a popuIat ton in 1890
of 15SS51, received only 1,765 votes, and
one member representing thirteen counties
in Louisiana. with a population of 2OS, SO2,
received only 2.494 votes; and
Whereas, 1t is a matter of common ru-
NOR that other states have for reasons
other than those specified in the constitu-
ton or 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 presi-
Dental electors as well as executive and
judicial officers of said states and MEM
bers of the Legislatures thereof, and no
reduction has been made in the repre-
sentation OF any state in this House be-
cause of such denial; and
Whereas. The President of the United
states has by message recommended that
the Congress, at its present session. an
portion the representation among the sew
eral states as provided by the constitu.
ton. therefore be 1t
Resolved Section q. That the Com
mittee on Census shall be and is author
lied and requested either by full commit.
tee or such subcommittee or sub-com-
mittees, as may be appointed by the
chairman thereof. to inquire, examine ana
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 representa- tives in Con-
gress, the executive and judicial officers
OF state, or the members of the Legis-
lature thereof, is denied to any of che
male inha bitants of such states q years of
age and citizens of the United States
are in any way abridged except for par
ticipaton In rebellion or other crimes
and the proportion which the number OF
such male citizens shall bear to the whole
number of male citizens q years of age,
in each such state"