Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-16
News by Telegraph.
FitO.sl MAINE.
GEN. cIlAMnErLAfx ACTING covERxor.

FKOH MAINE.
GEN. CHAMBERLAIN ACTING GoNEENoE.
Augusta, Jan. 10 Major General Cham
berldIn Yesterday issued q general order stat
ing that i'll view of the extraordinary sltua-
ton now presented at the seat of govern
ment he would assume command and protect
the public property and institutions Of the
state, in trust for the people, until the gov
ernor's successor had been legally elected
and duly qualified. BY this order Chamber
lain assumes temporarily the office Of COVER
nor and commandment The entire
police force ut the state house was changed
men selected by,Chamberlain taking the place
of those that had been drilling there for
several weeks. Gen. Chamberlain will not
recognize an order from any one not legally
elected governor. The present house was
not legally elected and they cannot, in con-
junction with the senate, elect 4 governor
that Gen. Chamberlain will recognize as a
legally elected governor State Treasurer
White has refused TO honor ths warrants
passed by the house for mileage and pay
which have been demanded. Hence the
fusionists can convene at the state house and
amuse themselves with bogus legislation as
long as they please, but they have got to
come to terms, for no one will recognize their
acts.
THE HOUSE.
In the house, when called TO order this
morning. there were but "a men in the seats,
the republicans all being absent Visitors
were admitted by ticket from Gov. Cham
berain's office. AT twenty minutes past nine
the house adjourned until Monday at ten
O'Clock. No business was transacted.
a CHANCE FOR A CONFkICT
New YORK, Jan. 11.-An Augusta despatch
says Lawson, the president of the senate, no
longer doubts that he is acting governor of
the state, and on Monday he will notify the
republican members elect that he is ready to
qualify them If Gen. Chamberlain refuses,
as Blaine says he will, to recognize Lawson
as governor, there will be 4 conflict and
military dictatorship.
GEN. CHAMBERLAIN ISSUES An oRDEE
Gen. Chamberlain has issued an order an
nouncing that he is charged with the duty
of protecting the public property and insti-
tutiOns Of the state until governor is legal
ly elected and duly qualified. lie calls par
ticular attention to the law rendering it un-
lawful for any body of men other than the
regularly organized militia, without authori-
ty expressly given, to associate themselves
as Il military organization or TO parade in
public with arms. Gen. Chamberlain says
''All authorized military organizations will
understand they are to report to me for or
dcrs until they are otherwise ordered by or
through me"
corr D ETAT BY THE EEPUBLICANs-TIIE
TAKE POSSESSION OF THE STATE HOUSE
AND ORGANIZE THE LEGISLATURE.
At twenty minutes to six this evening, the
republican members of the Senate and House
proceeded to the house for the purpose of or
ganizing the legislature. The movement
was entirely unknown to the fusiOnists and
but few republicans outside the immediate
members were aware of the position of af-
fairs. The news that the republicans had
taken possession of the state house spread
rapidly and caused great rejoicing among
| republicans who had been impatient to have
| lust this result brought about. Lamson.
president of the senate, when he saw the
people assembling proceeded 10 Gen. Cham
| berlain's headquarters and cxcItedly said: Il
protest against these men coming in The
| General informed LamsOn that he should
| permit the men to come in and stay as long
| as they pleased There was no forcible re-
sistance whatever. The halls were lighted,
the minor officers of the previous legislatures
familiar with the premises taking hold
and lending their assistance In the Senate
jeremiah Dingley, Jr., called the meeting to
order and Austin Harris was called to the
chair. Prayer was offered by the Rev. DIR.
| Butler member of the House. Charles
Turner, assistant secretary of the last Sen
ate. called the roll and eighteen Senators
responded to the call. A quorum was an
nounccd present, all being republicans. who
proceeded to qualify, the oath being admin
| istered bv VIM. Stratton. Andrew Smith
! ,l.a r.I 81 | ippqln
ty on the face of the returns. Joseph Locke
was chosen president, receiving all the votes
thrown-19 Charles Tilden was chosen
secretary The following resolution was
passed at is ordered that a committee
| consisting of three members of the senate be
appointed by the president to report to the
/ senate for its action, whether the senate shall
call upon the justices of the supreme court
for their opinion touching the legal Organiza-
ton of the senate for the 59th legislature. and
report for the action of the senate sucl
questions as the law and facts require in tho
premises
The members of the house were called Il
order by Hale. Wentworth Of kittery was
made temporary chairman, and Ormanda
Smith, clerk, who called the roll of mem
bers elect. All the republicans responded
but the fusionists did not. Eighty-iive mem
bers of the house responded to the call and
! were qualified by VIM. StrattOu, clerk of the
court of kennebec county. Subsequently
| six members who were not by the face of the
returns elected, on account of defects which
were amended under the law of 1877,
were admitted by resolution submitted by
Stroui. George Weeks of Augusta was
elected speaker. After the organization
| Hale offered L similar resolution to that
passed by the Senate, calm" for the appoint
mcnt OF II committee To request the opinion
of the supreme court rs 10 the legality OF the
organization of the House. In offering the
resolution, Hale spoke Of the extraordinary
| circumstances under which they met. He
said the object of the organization was to
settle vital objections affecting the organiza-
ton of the legislature and state government.
Iiale's resolution was adopted unanimously
and the committee duly appointed
The house will obey the decision of the
court.
THE ALLEGE DBEIBEEY BUSINESS.
The house committee To investigate the
charges of attempted bribery met in Repre-
sentative Hall. H. Il. White was summon
cd but did not respond. He declined To recog-
niZe the authority of the committee. Swan
and Hartman reiterated the substance
of their ailidavits and statements
in the house with some additional particu-
lars. Swan said he first learned of the bribery
through J. o. White, Il relative of ii. X.
White. Scion Chase testified that Swan
called upon him at midnight on the fifth
instant and consult ed him in regard TO the
transaction and drew up the statement that
he was going to take ) 900 and promise TO
do what he was asked 10 for the sake of ex-
posing the transaction. Chase advised him
al. d o,,.araI No nj h.4r nal
witnessed the transaction in either case.
Hartman testified that he at first hesitatcd
about going into the business. but after con-
sulting the governor and others concluded to
do so. The investigation will he continued
tomorrow.
SWORN IN.
Augusta, Me Jan. 49, joint conven-
ton was formed. yesterday, and in the pres
ence of the secretary of state and several
members of the council, John ID. Lamson
took the oath and was proclaimed the acting
governor of state But 90 members were
present in the house, and it adjourned with
out transactins any business.
THE EErUBLICAS corr D'ErAT.
The organization of the legislature by the
republicans is declared TO have been Il we'll
considered project on the part OF the repub-
lcans and was decided upon rs most prac-
teal and feasible way of getting an opinion
from the supreme court upon all parts of the
State and elsewhere. The fuSionists are not
Respondent and assert that Gen. Chamber
lain promised that they will not be prevented
from entering their respective chambers in
the State House to-day. The republicans
held the fort last night, many of them
sleeping upon desks in the Senate and
House chambers ready TO begin work
1t is hoped the supreme court will con
vcnc on Wednesday, in which event
an answer is looked for by Friday or Satur-
day. Rumors Of various kinds are in clrct-
laton, not among the least interesting of
which is report that acting Governor Lam
son will endeavor to have Gen. Chamberlain
arrested by the militia forces for his action
in Designating the protest of the former pre-
yious to the aSsemblagr of the regular lcgis
laturc.
LNusnN To CnAMBEELAIN - CHAMBERLAIN =
EErLN.