Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-26
57TH CONGRESS,
House Unseats Rhea and Seats
Moss Of Kentucky.
Money Makes a Warm Attack on the
OIeomargarine Bill.
Cabinet Talks Over the Transfer Of
Cuba to It's People.

Washington, March 25.-The House,
today, by majority of 10. unseated
Rhea, KY, Democrat and seated in
his place j. Mckenzie Moss, who. was
formerly Democrat, but who, accord
ing to his brief. is in accord with the
Republican party on the dominant is
sues. The Republican majority in the
House is 43. While only two Republic
cans, Hamburg and Vreeland of New
York. voted with the Democrats,
enough Republicans remained away or
declined to vote to reduce the majority
to 10. The conclusion of the debate
on the case was rather spirited, Rhea
making an eloquent defence of his
right to the seat.
After the vote the House began con-
sideration of the army appropriation
bill with the understanding that gen.
eral debate should continue for 10
hours. Scarborough of South Carolina,
discussed the Southern election laws
and Gaine, Tenn, the Philippine stu
alton.
The consideration of the contested cleo
ton case of Moss VS.. Rhea from the Ken
lucky district, was resumed when the
House met. Only two hours of debate
| remained. The first hour was occupied
by the contestee, Rhea. in concluding the
argument begun by him, yesterday, in
| defence of his right to seat He re-
| ceived close attention from both sides of
the House. Senators Blackburn and De-
Doe of Kentucky, were on the floor and
listened to Rhea's speech.
The House, he said, was asked to vote
that ''the state of Kentucky had set its
seal upon a lie.''
Just before Rhea had concluded, he
made severe arraignment of Moss, the
contestant, charging that although he
| now called himself a Republican that
| two weeks before the election he had reg
istered as Democrat and pledged him
self if elected to go into the Democratic
caucuses. With impassioned words he
| challenged the contestant or his friends
to deny this statement IF it is denied, :
said he, Il will prove him to be the poor,
| miserable creature know him to be-
Mann (Rep., ILL, who was in charge of
the case, called Rhea to order for this
language, but subsequently Withdrew his
point of order and soon afterward Rhea
concluded.
Mann Qll.) closed the debate in a speech
in favor of the contestant and the vote
was then taken on the substitute resolu-
tion offered by the minority, which de-
clared that Rhea was entitled to retain
his seat. The resolution was lost, III to
49,
Hamburg IN. " was the only Republic
y1n Vy<Nfn 6 fnr tha A
number of other Republicans did not
vote. This reduced the Republican ma
jority from 43 to 10. The resolution de-
claring Moss entitled to the seat was
then adopted without division. the de-
mand for a roll call being withdrawn at
the request of Rhea.0 There was round
of applause from the Republican side as
Moss came forward to take the oath.
which was met with Kisses from the
Democratic side.
A joint resolution was then adopted
providing for the appointment Of the fol-
lowing as members of the board of mana
gers of National Homes for Disabled Vol
unteer Soldiers: Henry E. Palmer, Neb. !;
George w. Steele, Indiana; Walter r.
Brownlow, Tenn.;~T. ]. Henderson, H..
and J. M. Browne, Me.
The House then went into committee
of the whole and entered upon the con-
sideration of the army appropriation bill.
1t was agreed that detailed debate should
be run for 10 hours Hull Rep., la.
who was in charge Of the bill, explained
its provision briefly. 1t carried $50, $780,
1874, being $11. O25,O05 less than the esti-
mates.
Scarborough (Dem., s. c. discussed
the proposed investigation of Southern
election laws, protesting against revival
of Southern election laws and against al
revival of sectional strife and bitterness.
So far as the state of South Carolina
was concerned, he declared that her cleo
ton laws would stand the most rigid in
vestigation, but the Southern people OBJ |
jected to an investigation by partisan,
prejudiced committee. The negro ques-
ton in the South. he said, was socio-
logical and not a political problem, and
the revival of sectionalism could result
only in making it's solution more difficult.
Gaines Dem., TENN submitted some
relative to the necessity Of main
tanning a large standing army in the
Philippines. He read a statement from 4
prominent United States army officer
who served in Cuba and the Philippines"
but whose name he. declined to disclose. |
which declared that the Philippines could
not be held except at the point of the
bayonet unless the natives were assured
that ultimately they should have inde-
pendence.
At 4.20, the House adjourned.