The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-04
1TTEMPT TO STEAL
SEATS OF DEMOCRATS
penublicans Spring a Scheme in the House to Re-
duce the Representation Of the South.
pint Fails Temporarily After Vigorous Battle, Number
of Republicans Refusing to be Parties.

I mittee on census shall be and is au-
/ thorized and requested to either, by full
! committee or such subcommittee or
/ subcommittee as may be appointed
] by the chairman thereof, to inquire, eX-
J anime 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 congress, the eXecu-
! tive and judicial officers of a state or
] the members of the legislature thereof,
| is denied 10 any of the male inhabit-
ants of such states p years Of age and
/ citizens of the United States. or 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 y years of age
in each such state"
Furry Among Democrats.
The reading of the resolution caused
a furry on the Democratic side. Be
fore it had proceeded far Mr.. Richard
son of Tennessee, the minority leader,
jumped TO his feet and interrupted the
reading to ask whether the resolution
required unanimous consent.
1T does not, replied the speaker.
1T is offered as a matter OF privilege
L make the point that the resolu-
ton does not constitute a matter of
privilege" said Mr.. Richardson.
The reading has not proceeded far
enough to determine that point, re-
piled the speaker.
Mr.. Richardson took his seat, but be
fore the clerk could proceed Mr.. IN
derwood of Alabama was on his feet.
I make the point that there is no
quorum present said he.
The speaker glanced about the house
Evidently there was no quorum pres
ent.
The chair viii count" he said.
The house was counted, and when the
speaker announced III present-not a
quOrum-MT. Underwood Immediately
moved an adjournment The ayes and
noes were demanded and obtained upon
this motion. During the roll call there
were hurried consultations on both
sides of the house.
The Democrats decided to flibuster
against the resolution to the last ditch.
The motion TO adjourn was lOsJ-ayes,
60. nays. 50. answering present, but not
voting, "A; not present.; total, ltS.
The speaker included himself IN order
90 make Up the quorum
Claims Constitutional Privileges.
The speake. thereupon- directed the
clerk to proceed with the reading Of the
resolution When il was concluded MIR.
. Richardson again brought forward his
+ point of order that the resolution was
/ not privileged. Mr.. Olmstead in reply
. matters affecting the reappOrtiOnment
/ of representatives were of the highest
+ constitutional privilege, and cited Opin-
/ ions of Spea keTs keiffeT and Randall
+ IN support of his position. The house,
/ he argued. could not act intelligently
. unless it was advised in what states
/ and to what extent ne suffrage Of citi-
. zens had been abridged. Mr.. Olmstead
+ said the resolution touched the dignity
I of the house itself. If the suffrage
{ had been abridged in certain states,
I then members were unjuStly and un-
/ constItutiOnalIy holding seats upon the
I floor. and this constituted an invasion
/ of the dignity of the house The mat
/ ter dealt with by the resolution might
also affect the election Of a president
of the United States, matter held 10
be d matter of high privilege But
Mr. OImstead was willing to rest his
case upon the plain mandate Of the
constitution
THE resolution clearly recites that
in certain states suffrage had been
abridged without reduction of repre-
SeutariOu' interDOSed Mr.. OlmStead.
90 Whereas makes such an allega-
ton replied Mr.. Richardson, but the
resolution is simply one OF inquiry.
How can we appOrtion constitution
aIly2' asked Mr.. MahOn tPa.), II we
do not know the facts2 How can we
ascertain the truth of the allegations
are disfranchised2
An investigation can be made re
piled Mr.. Richardson, but il must be
made in the regular way.
Speaker Helps Bid.
The speaker then announced that the
/ question was clearly settled by sec
| ton of article IA Of the constitution,
which he instructed the clerk to read
I It related to the reduction Of repre-
sentatiOh in states where the suffrage
was abridged. The resolution and Its
/ preamble said the speaker, alleged that
/ certain conditions existed which the
/ constitution explicitly prohibited and II
must be passed upon by higher rule
/ than those of the hOuSe-the COnSt1tu-
/ tion of the United States. He said he
! never expected to pass upon question
/ more simple lie ruled the point out
. of orGe-
! Mr. Underwood Immediately raised
J the question Of consideration against
/ the resolution on "a rising vote II
] stood Ayes, 50: noes, 90 The ayes
! and noes were demanded and ordered.
! The speaker announced the vote 81 to
. consider the resolution 50 against and
Z . present but not vOtlnE-nOt "A quorum;
! He directed a call of the house, pend
. ing which Mr. Underwood again moved
an adjournment which was carried
/ = To 75-and accordingly at O'Clock
/ the house adjourned.
Shattuc Has Similar Bill.
Representative Shattuc of Ohio to-
day introduced the following TesOlu-
ton
Resolved by the house of represent
atives, That the director Of the census
be directed To furnish this house al
the earliest possible the following in
formation:
.-First-The total number of male
citizens OF the United States Over
twenty-one years of age in each Of the
several states of the Union.
s'Second-The total number of male
citizens of the United States over
twenty-one years of age, who, by rea-
son of state constitutional limitations
or state legislation are denied the right
of suffrage, whether such denial ex
lists on account of ilIiteracy. pauperism
pOlygamy or property qualification OF
for any other reason.
D Resolved further, That the speaker
OF the house OF representatives be au.
thOrized and directed to appoint a Sc.
lect committee of five members. who
shall investigate the question of al
legged abridgment of the elective fran
chise for any of the causes mentioned
in all the states of the Union in which
constitutional or legislative restriction.
N ar' .I,5