Evening star., 1902-01-28
ABUSE OF FRANCHISE
Split Among Republicans As to
Remedy,
PROPOSED CUT IN REPRESENTATION
Southern Men for a Strict Election
Law.
LAST HTS CAUCUS

There Is a split among the republicans of
the House over proposed methods of cor
rectfng abuses of the franchise in the south
Northern and western republicans are for
reducing the representation of the southern
states-letting the whole question of the
negro vote go by the board, but shaking
down the representation of the states in
Congress to a proportfonate basis.
Southern Republicans Opposed.
Southern republicans in the House are ex-
erting a very strenuous effort in the situa-
tion and are opposed to that plan. 1t would
wipe them entirely out of the equation for
if there were any reduction of representa-
ton, it would doubtless be arranged to hit
the lonely little group of republican repre-
sentatives from the southern states.
The southern republicans want a strict
federal election law instead-as near a.
force BILL it is said, as may be. without
subjecting the measure to that odous
term.
Last Nights Caucus.
At a caucus last night of southern repub-
licans in Congress steps were taken looking
10 the preparation of a measure to be in
troduced in both houses comprising an
amalgamatfon of the best features of the
bills already presented in the House by
Messrs. Bartholdt of Missouri and Gibson
of Tennessee for the enforcement of the
election laws. Senator Pritchard of North
Carolina presided, and after the matter
had been thoroughly discussed he desig-
mated Mr.. Gibson to prepare the proposed
measure, whose features were tentatively
agreed upon.
These, Senator Pritchard saws provide
for the honest enforcement of the state
election laws, give the right of minority
representation and means by which the
aggrleVed party contesting an election case
may be heard by the state canvassing
BOARD III he is disappointed with the re-
suit he is to have the right of appeal to the
district judge, who is clothed with power
10 hear and try questions of law and fact
de novo raised before the canvassipg board
and to issue the certificate of election to the
person having the highest number of votes
This is to constitute prima facie evidence
OF MS election. upon which he may be
sworn In by the House.
Against Crumpacker Bill.
There was some discussion of the Crum-
packer bill. which reduces the congressional
representation in the south on the basis of
the vote cast at elections, but the sentiment
of nearly all the members present was
against it. There were present at the meet
ing, in addition to Senator Pritchard. Sem
ator Eikins and Representatives BarthoIdt
GIBSON of Tennessee, BOering of Kentucky
,Moody OF North Carolina, Gaines of West
virginia, Dovener of West Virginia and
Ball of Delaware
Prospects of Legislation.
1t Is not considered likely that any Iegis-
iation looking to the restriction of existing
election methods in the south will be passed
by this Congress. \ federal election law of
the necessary stringency to be efficient is
the most unlikely of all the forms of legis-
lation, il is believed.
The advocates of the plan to reduce rep
resentation are growing lukewarrn. Repre-
sentative Crumpacker has up his sleeve
petition with signatures enough to call a
republican caucus op the plan but he has
not sprung it yet. Lack of enthusiasm at
'he W hite House over the proposition is
said 10 account for the backwardness of
the House republicans
The latest indication Of divided opinion
among the republicans is not taken as u
good omen