New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-03
weresATES OF THE SENATE.

1t wer uoSDA' '"n
ame OF Mr.. Gallup newly elected
11o Mr. being called
4Pinchback said that he held IN his
"u' protest against his being sworn IN,
httenSnpanicd with the atiidavits Of certain
awayens of the district that he claimed to
>. u,resent to the effect that he was a nom
ident. He thought that this was the
=. per time and place to bring the matter
More the Senate. and he, therefore, sui
ter,itted the papers for its action.
Ii, The action on Mr.. Gallup's case was pos.-
!, 5oned until after the swearing i'll OF the bal
uaance Of the newly elected Senators
st Mr.. Ray then called reading OF the
protest and affGavits.
The Secretary read them.
Mr. Lewis said that the presentation OF
these papers seemed to be out OF place: that
I MI. Gallup's seat in the Senate could be
contested in the proper committee. and his
right to that sea: tried before the Senate
and that if he was ineligible there was no
necessity for Il contestant TO appear. he.
therefore. moved that Mr.. Gallup be sworn
Mr.. Anderson said that he considered
that the Senate was compelled TO have Mr.
Gallup sworn in. According to the return
of the Board of Supervisors. Mr.. Gallup
had been elected by IL majority OF the votes
cast in his district, and he rad been so re
ported by that board to the Secretary OF
State. Until tue Senate declared him not
entitled 70 his seat, lie thought that Mr..
q Gallup was entitled to be sworn.
Mr.. Campbell here read an article OF the
constitution to show that, under the law.
the question could not be taken up. because
the duties of the Secretary Of the Senate
were plainly laid down. AS to the .GuaIit-
cations of a representative. he said that
the constitution declared they should he
the same as those of an clcctor: and those
qualifications were residence in the State
twelve months, and residence III the
parish from whence he comes ten days. He
thought the Senate could not prevent the
Senator from being sworn in. as there was
nothing to hinder any Senator afte,ward
from taking charge Of the papers, and try
ing the case before the proper committee:
Mr. Ray moved that the papers in the
case be referred to the Committee on Eiec-
tons.
Mr. Blackman remarked that there was
NO committee to which the matter could be
referred and the only course the Senate
could adopt was that proposed by Mr..
Campbell: the swearing in OF Mr.. Gallup.
The papers were laid on the table, sub
ject to call.
On the question of Mr.. Campbell's mo
ton that a committee OF five should he
elected, by ballot, to report rules for the
goyernment Of the Senate during ITS pres
ent session.
Mr.. Raw said: This being a motion ont
side Of the ordinary proceedings, must
ask the indulgence Of the Senate Ia making
some remarks. | believe that IT has oee!i
the uniform practice at the opening OF each
session of the Senate to adopt tie rules
which had governed the body at its prev
GUS session, leaving the Committee OF Ruies
to make any changes that they might think
proper during the progress OF the session.
do not recollect. during the legislative ex-
perience that have had, of a similar move
ment of this kind What surprises lne most
is the desire 10 take away from the Prcsl-
dent of the Senate the power OF appointing
committees, which he has enjoyed from the
first organization of the Legislature
in 1912 up 10 the present time. think
- can say. without fear OF contradiction that
that rule has never been departed from;
and why should We now depart from Ii!
No oerson is more cminently fitted to ap-
\ point committees for the transaction OF the
Senatebusiness than the Lieutenant Gov
e,nor, aI,d. ] ask any gentleman that sup,
Do.ts this rtSolutiOn 10 mention a good
reaon why this rule. so well estabiishcd
shcld be set aside. ] have had the
hotr of serving in this Senate since
Inc adoption of the last constitution
al pN State, and l ha,s never had any
re@pn2 complain Of the injustice or par
y tiN o::he presiding officer OF the Senate
COMMITTEES tees: ane o Siay reason th;a
rest"oa IN that in his opinion, the Pre-
sidR SnlAA of the Senate has not dis
chged lug Mites of his Office with pro
prty, % tArtiality. 1 think that the
rev. ID ed Mate will show that the
nnOissnr cG President Of the Senate
nm HIM iitees ma. has meyer rn" i, oe Jal
|eys Tc~,, IA i'll be the first time III
~ Mower Of electing
ansA the Senate that