The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-05

test. During the struggle several efforts were
made TO elect Speaker pro tempore, even for
q few hours, but they were unsuccessful.
In 1888 is the only instance on record Of a
late Speaker entertaining any motion not strict
ly pertaining to the organization, and that was
i'll relation to contested seats, but when the Sem
ate proceeded to elect Speaker, Mr.. Penrose
vacated the chair. He was reelected on the
first ballot and stock the chair again.
In S55, on the fourth day, and on the
twenty-seventh ballot, Speaker was chosen.
The late Speaker was the successful candidate
He did not occupy the chair, nor attempt to
qualify the eleven new Senators present. They
were qualified by the Speaker elected, afteE he
was qualified himself
In every election of Speaker the clerks have
acted as seilers, except in 1914, when Scna-
tor was named 10 act as one of the tellers, and,
Judging from the Journals, they have conduct
ed the election as presiding officers.
In 1901, 1918, and 1919, the Speakers re-
signed their Offices near the close of the session,
in these words
'sThs Speaker reminds the Senate that in
case Of the death or resignation Of the Cover
nor, the Speaker Of the Senate is the person
appointed by The Constitution TO exercise the
Office of Governor until another Governor shall
be duly qualified; that .se time for which he
was elected Senator will expire Immediately
preceding the day of the general election !; and
that this Office Of Speaker win expire accord
ingly at the same time; that from consldera-
ton OF these circumstances, the propriety of
electing Speaker who may continue in that
office, until the meeting of the next General
Assembly in December next, is evident"
From this language, and'from the practice
Of these men who framed the constitutional
provisions referred to, it is very evident thatpo
Speaker, whether he held over, or was re-elect-
cr Of the Senate after the meeting Of the General
Assembly. t,e f.A
Every Legislature has been considered inde-
pendent of the preceding one, and has invaria-
bly, elected cts Speaker and other officers" rs
directed by The Constitution. 1t has been left
for the Republican Senators of this session to
make the discovery, that political necessity" 4"
under the cloak of perpetual organization, -
will justify an unprecedented and dangerous u
surpntion for the sake of a few petty Offices.
From this examination of the Journal, back
nearly to the date Of the adoption of the Con-
sitution, it is ascertained that the Democratic
Senator'S have all the precedents-nearly one
hundred in auuber--to justify their course in
this contest, whilst the Republican Senators
cannot point to single case since l794 tojus-
| tify theirs.
And in view of the constitutional require
ments referred to, and the precedents for so long
period in the history of the State, there is but
ono proper and incontestible course to be pur-
sued by Senators upon this floor, and that is,
to be guided by the law and the experience Of
the past, and resist all violations of the one,
and innovations of the other, firmly and fear
lessly to the end. os sm ~,
In conclusion, the undersigned beg leave to
renew, as basis upon which to organize
the Senate, the proposition made in open Sem
ate on their behalf by the Senator from Berks,
Mr.. Clymer, on the second day Of the session,
viz That the Republican Senators shall select
the first Office in the gift Of the Senate, The
Democratic Senators the second, and so alter