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Show C9CKRAN RESOLUTION NOT PRIVILEGED WASHINGTON, April 27. Speaker Cannon ruled today that the Cockran resolution for an investigation of the Dalzell charges that Cockran had campaigned cam-paigned for McKInley for "hire" In 1S9G was not a- privileged matter. In an elaborate opinion the Speaker said he was warranted in taking Judicial Ju-dicial knowledge of tho fact that tho offenno set forth was charged against Mr. Cockran, "If committed at all was committed while tho gentleman from New York was neither a member nor a member-elect of this House." He read a number of precedents, dating as far as 1796, and said that insofar the House was concerned In but one case had the House assumed to punish a member for acts committed prior to the time he was elected to the House. "The chair," he said, "feels Justified In taking cognizance of the affairs that are alleged to be charged constitutes no crime." At most, he said, tho only question was one as to the proprloty of the conduct of a private citizen. The House, he declared, could not rightfully right-fully punish if It desired to do bo. He then ruled "that the chair holds that the resolution may not be entertained is a question of privilege." Mr. Williams (Mississippi) appealed from the decision of the chair, und Mr. Payne moved to lay the appeal on the table. Upon this the yeas and nays wero ordered. By a parly vote, 169 to 125, the Speaker Speak-er was sustained in his ruling. |