Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-12-02
VIRGINIA CONSTITUTION BE-
FORE CONGRESS.

a
Mr.. Tayler, of Ohio, chairman OF COM
mittee on elections No. |, in the House
yesterday offered resolution providing
for an inquiry as to the validity OF tne
election of Representative Carter Glass,
If the Sixth Virginia district: Mr..
Glass was elected in November TO
succeed Hon. Peter j. Otey, deceased,
and had been sworn in but rev
minutes before Mr.. Tayler offered his
resolution.
The election of the other Virginia
members will not be passed upon py
the present Congress, but any con-
clusion reached on the validity OF MI
Glass's election may establish prece-
dent likely to be followed when the other
representatives from Virginia present
their credentials at the opening session
of the next Congress.
The resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That the credentials this
day presented by Carter Glass, esq.,, as
representative in the Fffty-seventh Con-
rress from the Sixth district of Virginia
be. and they are hereby, referred TO the
committee on elections to inquire and
report with all convenientspeed, whether
they are based upon returns OF lawful
election for members of Congress held IN
Virginia, November 4, 1902; and upon
what character of registration lists and
under what color of constitution or ordi-
nance said election was held; and whether
at said election, the right of franchise
was accorded to all citizens of Virginia
alike, without regard to race or color;
and whether any citizens of the United
States who are entitled to vote for mem
bers of Congress at said elections, were,
under color of any constitution, law,
statute. or ordinance, unlawfully de-
prived oil their rights, privileges, and
immunities, secured to them under the
constitution and laws.
Resolved, That said committee be en-
powdered to hold its sessions at such
times and places, in or out of the State
of Virginia, as it may seem best, and to
summon before it and examine any and
all persons and papers which it may
deem necessary TO perform its business;
and the expense of such inquiry and in
yestigation shall be paid out of the con-
tingent fund of the House, on the voucher
of the chairman of said committee.
Mr.. Tayler had stated that the reso-
luton was privileged one, and the ex-
pectation was that he would ask for its
| immediate consideration. Mr.. Richard
son. the democratic floor leader, object.
ed to this. but withdrew his objection
when Mr.. Tayler announced that he
only asked that the resolution be referred
back to the committee that reported it.
Mr.. Richardson expressed the opinion
that the matter should go to elections
committee No. 3, to which Virginia
contests are referred, but Mr.. Taylel
again satisfied the democratic leader by
stating that in the eventan investigation
was ordered by the House no objection
would be made to having committee
conduct it. The resolution accordingly
was referred to committee No. l.
Speaking privately, after the session
adjourned, Mr.. Tayler disclaimed re
sponsibility for the resolution. He said
the matter of the Virginia election wai
brought formally to the committee s'no
tice by Capt. John S. Wise, who ha
been the legal representative before the
Virginia and United States circuit courts
of negroes alleged to have been dis
franchised by the new constitution, anC
who brought suit to test the validity o.
the November election in that State
The committee, he said, had merely per
formed its plain duty in presenting th'
resolution.
Mr.. Tayler has called a meeting o
elections committee No. for today, a
which time the resolution will be taken
up for consideration.
Members of the Virginia delegation
will appear before the committee anC
ask that they be given time to prepare
for presentation of the case. They vii
fight it before the committee, aud if they
lost there, they will carry the fight into
the House.
Members of the Virginia delegation
and other democratic representatives arr
not willing to accept Mr.. Tayler's dis
claimer on behalf of the committee of al
responsibility in the matter. They declare
it is the Crumpacker resolution in new
guise. The general tenor ofthe measure
is the same as that of the Crnmpackel
resolution now pending. Republican
members were reluctant to report the
Crumpacker resolution on account of the
feeling its consideration would engender
Mr.. Tayler's resolution has the sup
port of the republican leaders of thu
House. Mr.. Tayler introduced thu
measure after consultation with Speake
Henderson and his lieutenants.
The resolution, if passed, may have
an important bearing upon representation
on the floor of the House from the STATE
of Virginia in the future If it is de.
cided by the House that the elections
in Virginia are unconstitutional under
its new organic law, then Virginia viii
be held to be without representation in
the lower branch of Congress after thi'
Congress expires.
WANTED.