The age-herald., 1902-02-18
Republicans Hold Caucus With
 a Sparse Attendance
A RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
Provides for Appointment of Commit. tee to investigate the Conditions in the South and See What Voters
 Are Really Franchised.

Washington, February 17.-The Repub- lican members of the House of Represen- tatives held a third caucus tonight to consider the question of Southern elec- tions. The attendance was not as. nu- merous as at former gatherings, Speaker Henderson not attending and only eighty six Republicans out of a total of 199 be- ing present. This was short of a quo rum, but the meeting proceeded with speedy and definite results, a resolution being adopted asking the House commit tee on rules to report resolution for a special Investigating committee of eleven members to consider questions relating to the disfranchisement of voters.
 Dick Offers Substitute.
 Representative Dick of Ohio presented the following resolution, as substitute for that of MT. Crumpacker, heretofore introduced:
 Resolved, That 1t Is the sense of this caucus that the committee on rules report a resolution as a substi- ute for those pending in said commit tee, providing in substance that a se- Iect committee be appointed by the Speaker, consisting of fifteen mem- bers, whose duty it shall be, and who shall have complete power and au- thority, to investigate and inquire into the validity of election laws and the manner of their enforcement in the several States, and whether the right to vote of male inhabitants of any of the States. 21 years of age, and being citizens of the United States, Is denied or in any manner abridged, except for crime, and such committee shall re- port the result of Its investigation at as early date as practicable"
 The debate was brief and was entirely tion.
 MT. Dick supported 1t on the ground that it was simply a preliminary stei with view to ascertaining facts, leav- ing the question of remedy to be determ- ined when the committee was in posses sion of all the facts. MT. Crumpacker concurred in this view and readily ac- cepted the resolution in lieu of the one he had first introduced which proposed not only an investigation but also fixed the remedy, namely, reduction of represen- tation in Congress proportionate to the extent of disfranchisement.
 Grosvenor Closes Debate.
 MT. Grosvernor of Ohio closed the de- bate by a speech in support of the reso- lution. He pointed out that asTthis was step merely to ascertain facts, there was no danger of creating the public impression that the republican party pro posed to enact any drastic legislation on the subject.
 Without a dissenting voice the resolu- tion was agreed to.
 The caucus thereupon adjourned.
 It was stated by members of the caucus that the unanimous action by eghty-s'x members would undoubtedly he accepted by the committee rules, notwithstand- ing the absence of quorum and it was pointed out by these members that the S6 affirmative votes would have been majority if a quorum had been present. It was also stated by those who had been most instrumental In framing the resolu- tions that the investigation could be conducted here in Washington, probably without any necessity of making per sonal investigation In the South or else- where.