Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-01-28
The Situation in the Ohio Senate.

During the last week, the most dis
graceful and stormy proceedings ever
known in the Ohio Senate has been IN
progress, growing out Of decision OF
Lieutenant Governor Kennedy, on the
report of a committee to investigate the
election of the Hamilton County Sena-
tors. The real question Of disagreement
is: Whether or not the Hamilton county
contested election cases sh1ll be investi-
gated in open Senate. and whether or
not the four members whose seats are
contested shall vote On questions leading
to the question of their right to their
seats.
The title to four seats in the Senate is
in doubt, and the persons in possession
admit that their title is clouded, but they
define to vacate, and shield themselves
behind arbitrary rules which they helped
to make, and which could not have been
made but for their votes. Now, the
President of the Senate decides that the
rules they virtually made are not bind
ing on him, and that they have no right
to "vote Oh the final decision, nor on any
preliminary question affecting their title
TO seats"
On Thursday, amid the greatest disor-
der, the chair maintained his position
against q prescriptions Democratic
clerk, who backed by bis party attempt
ed to usurp the power of the presiding
officer until the Democrats left their
seats to force an adjournment. Not be
ing able to accomplish their purpose, the
Democrats have seeded according to
democratic custom. and have been hold
ing little Bourbon Senate each day
since. The situation this week, briefly
stated, is as follows:
The seventeen Republican Senators
met at ten o'clock Monday, to which
hour they adjourned on Saturday. The
Democratic Senators, Clerk, and Ser.
geant-at-Arms were absent, and no busi-
ness was transacted. The Republicans
remained in their seats until o'clock
in the afternoon, when the Democratic
gang, frauds and all, came in and took
their seats, pursuant to their adjourn
ment of Friday. The Democrats de-
manded the reading of the journal of
FRIDAY, in their effort to make it appear
that there had been no session of the
Senate on Saturday. while the Republi-
cans insisted upon proceeding to the
regular order of the day as fixed by the
Republicans, namely, the trial of tbs
Hamilton county contested cases. Tht
President decided in faver of the regB'
lar order, and the Democrats appealed
from bis decision. The President or
dered the Clerk not to call the names o
the four Hamilton county Democrat
from the vote, and decided that the chai
had been sustained by vote of II t.
l6. a motion to adjourn until o'cloeI
Wednesday was then made by the Dem
ocrats, but not entertained by the Presi
, dent The Clerk, however, put the ques
\ 1 llOu~ huQ Cd1lS0 sdC AOlig AOOAoAthS Va
motion carried. The Democrats agai
left the chamber at 5 80 o'clock, but til
Republicans remained in their seats
Lieut.. Gov. Kennedy refusing TO recog
nize the announcement of the vote OF
adjournment. A resolution introduce
by Senator Pavey Republican,, fx1n
? rules for the government of the trial @
. the Hamilton county contests, was the
= read by the President himself and de
n clarsd adopted. all the Republicans Sen
ators having voted for it. The Republ
. cans then adjourned till the followin
10 morning.
,r On Tuesday the situation in the Sci
- ate was not materially changed. Su,
. gestions came from both sides leokiu
10 to a compromise, but nothing defnit
was agreed upon. The Republicans claiI
to be firm in their position and that the
2 will agree to nothing except it include
immediate proceedings under the rule
A. they adopted for tn" disposition of ii
W |
it Senate. The Democratic Senate is cree
is tied with proposition that speci
,f committee be appointed. Of equal mem
le bership politically, for the hearing of tt
IN contest cases. The Republicans 50
r they will not entertain this suggest io
to even if it should come in regular form
le The Democratic Senktors met in ca
Of Gus at 10 O'clock, and were in sessiC
for several honrs. The Republican Sc
ate met at 10 with the Lieutenal
u Governor in the chair, all the Republ
u can members present and none of IL
~ Democrats. Tue journal of the day pr
vious was read and declared approve
They adjourned till 10 a. N. Wednesda
The Democratic caucus accomplisht
i nothing, exce7t to resolve on a sol
10 front and to meet in the Senate chan
u at p 10. Wednesday, the time to wRit
le they adjourned.
To dZzszzR..zzz7a.81R
lg Important Decision.
nd Judge Brewer ef the U. S. Circu