The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-01-20

tors should be adjusted at the earliest POS
sibie moment, aud when the Republican
side OF the Senate scoff al any compromise
they must submit TO the laws and prece-
dents which have directed all past organi-
zaiions OF this body, or be regarded as usur-
Pers of place and power-disrega-din
alike the acts of their predecessors, the or
ganic law, and the best interests of the
State
The ninth section of article first OF the
Constitution says, "each 9onse shall choose
Speaker and other officers.n This is i'm.
peratiye and has never been disregarded
until now by this attempt OF the Repnbli-
can officers to hold over. The words teach
| house" are repeated in the Constitution
several times, aud mean each branch OF the
Legislature. The '.housen is composed OF
old and new members, and it was not in
tended by the trainers OF The Constitution,
nor claimed by any previous Senate, that
old officers should preside over a new Sen-
! ale and new members. The Constitution
does not say that teach house" sh all choose
its Speaker annually, but that is is mean
ing and such has been the practice under it
for seventy odd years.
To divest this novel plea OF perpetual
organization" OF every pretense of right or
custom on the part OF it's authors, the Sen
ale Journals have been carefully examined
back to the year 1874, and the result of The
examination is stated briefly as follows:
| From 1894 10 1864 no late Speaker has
ecer attempted 10 qualify new Senator'S and
no ne.r Speaker has administered an oath to
any Senator elect until qualified as Speaker
himself. At every annual meeting of The
Senate, all the officers were elected or re-
elected and qualified in due form by The
new Speaker.
From 1894 10 1864, the chair icas a,caps
Uoeanf dt'ing bailotings for Speaker, and the
Journals show that the successful candi-
date '.took The ahair," or was ''coadueted to
iF' by other Senators, made his acknowI-
edgments and invited some old Senator TO
qualify him.
From 1874 to 1864, all the the Senator's
voted for Speaker iu alphabetical order,
without the official designation, except in
late Speaker :" but he was no: a candi-
date for re election.
From 1874 10 1925 in The Journals made
up during The annual organizations of The
Senate, he is designated as 'late Speaker -
and from that time TO the present he is des-
iQna,ed as Speaker" until the motion to
proceed 10 elect Speaker prevails, when
he Is referred 10 as '.having vacated The
chair"
In several instances there were a num-
Der OF ballots for Speaker, some oil which
were tie, the chair always vacant and the
late Speaker voting with other Senators in
alphabetical order. ia 1912, there were
thirty five ballots for Speaker, and much
time consumed by The contest Daring the
struggle, several efforts were made 10 elec,
Speaker pro tsmpsrs, even for few hours
but they were unsuccessful.
Ia 1888 Is the only instance or record OF
late Speaker entertaining any motion noI
strictly pertaining 10 the organization and
that was in relation TO contested seats, but
when the Senate proceeded 10 elect
Speaker, MIR. Penrose vacated the chair. He
was reelected on the first ballot, and s.look
the chair 7tagain.
Ir 1855, on the iih day and on the TWEEN
" seventh ballot, Speaker was chosen-
The late Speaker was the unsuccessful can
didaie. He did not occupy the clair, nor
attempt to qualify the eleven new Senators
pfesent They were qualified oy the Speak
er elected, after he was qualified himself
In every election of Speaker The clerks
! have acted as telIers; except in 1914 when
Senator was named 10 acI one OF The lei
lers, aud, judging from the journals. they
have conducted The elections az presiding
Offices
In 1901 1919, and 1919, The Speakers re-
signsd their offices near the close of The
session, in these words:
The Speaker reminds the Senate that in
case of death or resignation OF The Governor,
the Speaker OF the Senate is The person ap-
pointed by the Constitution 10 exercise the
Office OF Governor until another Governor
shall be duly qualified thai the time Tor
which he was elected Senator will expire
immediately preceding The day of the gem
era election and that his office of Speaker
viii expire accordingly a: the same time );
that from consideration of these circum-
stances, the proprieiy OF elecling Speaker
who may continue in that office until the
meeting OF The next General Assembly in
December next is esideniv
From this language, and from the prac-
tice OF those men who framed the conslitu.
tional provisions referred to, it is very evil
den' that no Speaker, whether he held over
or was re elected :or the vacation, has beeu
or can be the Speaker OF the Senate after
the meeting of the General Assembly.
Every Legislature has been considered in.
dependent of the preceding one, aud has
invariably elected otis Speaker and other