Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-01-26
Mr.. SHERMAN TALKS.

WIN
lie Deprs ciates the Dual Condition of
Things nj Columbus Nineteen Votes
Necessary to Constitute n Quorum and
Transact Business
WASHINGTON, January 25-l called on
Senate. -nermau last night.
TIE Sena or at once anticipated that
my visit had reference to the unfortunate
condition Of affairs at Columbus.
at has sole reference TO that" | said
Now, Senator | added, you are recog
nized as the leader Of the Republican
party in your State. ANY expression you
may give, therefore, will be OF exceeding
value
t. this IT, Senator said meditatively:
Il am tree to say that believe it better
t. avert biuH rather !han have it struck.
| appreciate that wise craftsmanship
should govern all legislative proceedings
rather than ne prejudices Of passion.
With this vie | frankly say TO you that |
exceedingly 'egret the dual situation of
affairs new existing at Columbus. be.
licve that tie Democrats have nigifed
"a desire TO have the va
lidily Of the Cincinnati election fairly
tested was 50 told while at Columbus,
and since my return | go read. Now,
upon he question of the right Of the
Hamilton coulty Senators 10 vote upon
the validity Of heir own election, ON Of
the decided opinion that the Lieutenant
, Governor, as the presiding officer of the
Senate, Is clearly right in his decision that
they have 10 sach right. | have always
held this to be s. correct principle. When
was candidate years back for the
Spcaker:bip Of me House Of Reprosente-
lives against Mr.. Bocock, and the
ballots had aeer protracted, Henry
Winter Davis, Of Maryland, came to
me and gave m to understand that i! J
would vote for n yselC | could have hisvo'e
| only lacked ,hyee votes Of an election
| believed then had no right to vote for
myself and did not In Parliament The
rule is that contestants are not Gll,wa3 to
vote on matters affecting their titles to
seats or questions collateral thereto. Hence
| cay Governor Kennedy wes right in hi
ruling that Hamilton county Senators have
no voice as to the legality Of their own
election
"Elt, added the Senator, the situation
Otherwise is one Of gravity. Tas spectacle
Of a Gu J Legislature in such an eu!is hNn
Cd Srgto as Ohio t., most untortGnste ]
believe that order rather than possession
ahnuld prevail. aat in the end think it
viii
asked Mr.. Sherman, the Senate being
composed Of lhiI,rseyen members, how
many votes ii rcqr red TO make q quorum
Of the body.
With som5 hesitancy, the Senator said;
4 dislike very much TO be put in the light
# one giving advice end mofeoy er, would
got want 10 ePPsar that / had any desire
- sit 10 judgm 2nt upon Governor Ken
npdy's rulings. However as you have
asksd the blunt question, | will make aE-
5wer from NY point Of view. Upon mo
;iuu 10 adjourn or for call OF the Senate
said the Senator, two votes would even be
-utlicieut for such purpose, but upon any
othe. question do not see how there could
he affirmative action without o majority
vote Of he jojY."
And Senator, to get back to the place
ofbeginning, said, how many votes DO
you consider legal majority Of the
body2'
Nineteen" he replied promptly. In Il
body of thirty 'tyen members nineteen is
majority.
"Aud, / added, you would not oons!l
er that the ao, OF any number less th@n
nineteen was legal or Of binding iorce2
~ would not, he said, save, as | BE-
fore stated, upon motion 10 adjourn or
er q call Of the Senate.
The Senator again took occasion 70 de.
precate the condition OF affairs, and ex'
pressed the hope thai there would be no
revolutionary proceedings or any hct
which would tend 10 bring discredlt upon
the State. He then, in desukory conver
sation, syoka OF alibuEterlng proceedings
! in the House Of Representatives being
drawn ont upon the query US to whether
a presiding officer had the power to count
a member Of Legislative body as present
| if he refusodto vote The Senator thought
he had no such light, and recalled the re
ply Speaker Blaine made when th1 very
question Was put tC him. when tLe Demo
Gratis refused 10 vote. SO ca 10 break ono
rum on the Force bill. "Nou can bring o
horse to The water said Speaker Blaine,
but you can not make him drink.
Next | had pleasant chat with the
Senator touching his reelection to the
Senate. tell him that thought | was
in q rostion to know il there had been any
scheme TO dsiest him by q combination OF
Democratic votes with three or more he
publicars. | gave it as my Judgment that
such O proceeding certainly was not pro
Dogei by Democratic leaders, but that the
Que and CRY raised wa5 by Republicans,
ahom though; had more selfish than hon
e.t mo';ye5 in making it so sppear.
TO this the Senator replied that he was
coryiacad from The h-o.nGiag ihEt 10
such combination could be made "toF tae
reason" he added, Il knew OF Democrats
who would no, v5te f4r any Republican,
no matter whether !; involve imy defeat OF
not.
As bais him good right the Senator
said: "1oero y one tniDS all lall men
: in both p.T;;es ohan)d labor Ior and Il
ia to have the Legislature ohoseL
r from sipgle dsrics We wluIc
= have 10 change our Constitution. For
j tunately we elected in that way. For IN
t stance, take Hamilton county: lnsteld o.
E eleatirg all The members Of the Legislature
on ore ticket, let the county be dinde(
up iUto ten districts and four SerAtons
G districts. let tie rsof,o o. each dist:ic
i vote separately tCr tk5ir Representative
G snd Senators. Ii the EsmiIton conui.
g Senator'S had been SO elected each conteis
would then have stood alone, aud w'ul'
r then hold that in the pending controverS
e the three Senators could vote on ne gues
Z ton affecting tie validity Of bic colleague
D! case. As the matter now is al! have I
,e stand or t.lI together, because all wTeE
or voted for in cumulative way rather ina
n separately
rs ! asked the Senator if be found the Pt
m sit;ou Of President OF the Senate an agree
C able one to his taste. =,
So "Oh, yes" be qaid, % well order ID BOD
n as the Senate is not at oil eIactiny TO u
ey presiding officer ,.
D viii it deter you from participating