Helena weekly herald., 1889-12-19
THEY COME IN.
The Eight Democratic Senators Take the
Oath of Office and Enter Upon
their Duties.
Democratic Bumpers Serve Republican
Representatives with Invitations"
to Join Blakely's House.

That something of moment was expected
to transpire in legislative circles this morn
ing was apparent from the large crowd of
peopIe who gathered at the Court House at
10 o'clock, the hour set for the meeting of
the Senate. The corridors were well filled
for half hour previous to the time by
prominent men from all parts of the State,
who grouped themselves at different points
and discussed the situation. A few minutes
before 10 O'Clock a rush was made for the
Senate chamber, which was soon filled,
floor and gallery. Among those present
were nearly all the members of the lower
House, without regard to party. In the
list of guests were also Col. w. F. Sanders,
Hon. w. A. Clark, Ex-Governor Hauser,
Hon. A. J. Seligman, Superintendent OF
Public instruction Cannon and other prom
inent citizens.
CALLED TO ORDER.
Promptly at 10 o'clock Lieutenaut-Gov-
ernor Richards called the Senate to order,
and asked Temporary Clerk Gilbert to call
the roll. All the Senators, Republicans
rnd Democrats, answered to their names,
Senator Brown having got up out of a sick
bed to attend.
Rev. G. K Berry, temporary chaplain,
then offered the following prayer:
"Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee
that Thy protecting care has neen over US,
and that our lives have been Ared to the
present time. We invoke Thy blessing to
rest upon this Senate, met for the purpose
of transacting business. May peace and
harmony prevail Pardon all that we
have done amiss in the p ,st and guide US
during the future, aud finally save US all,
for Christ's sake. Amen"
The minutes of the previous days meet
ing we've read and approved.
Lieutenant Governor Richards then said:
There are present this morning the usu ii
number of Senators, together with the
eight Democratic Senators who have here
tofore been absent from our meetings. l
will therefore ask these gentlemen if they
are ready to take the oath of Office.
Voice from the Democratic side-"We
are"
The Lieutenant GOvernOr-"Then l will
appoint Senators Hedges and Parberry a
committee to wait on Chief Justice Blake
and request him to visit this chamber to
administer the oath to those senators who
have not yet qualified"
The committee retired and in few
moments returned with the Chief Justice,
who took his stand near the Presidents
desk and administered the required oath
Becker, Baker, Hoffman, McNamara, Par
berry, Hennessey. Thornton, and kedd.
A recess of fifteen minutes was then
IL nrn
in subscribed to the oath. On resuming
session Chief Justice Blake reported this
fact and departed to file the subscribed
oath with the Secretary eff State.
Olds moved to adjourn till tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock. Seconded by Bah
cock and unanimously carried.
A DEMOCRATIC MOVE.
As soon as the Senate adjourned Miles
Finlan, the pseudo sergeant at arms of the
pseudo House, appeared in the corridor
with an armfull of formidable looking pa
psrs which he began ''serving" right and
left on all Republican members of the
Lower House within sight. He let no man
escape save and except the five members
from Silver Bow county, to whom the
Democratic county clerk did not Issue GER
UlHCaU0S OI ciccUiOu. 1uooo pnpoiS' WuiCu
were prepared and distributed under the
semblance of official formality, are nothing
more than copiously worded invitations
to those of the Republican Representatives.
whom it is the gracious (?) pleasure of the
Democrats to recognize" to come to the
Court House, join the men whom Governor
Toole said were duly elected Representa-
tives and proceed to organize that COM
bined assemblage into the legal Lower
House of the Legislature While this move
bears resemblance to the legal process
adopted last week by We Republican
minority of the Senate to compel the at
tendance of the Democratic absentees, it is
widely different. The papers distributed
by Mr. Finlan are merely written request
from Speaker" Blakely and "Chief Clerk"
Pond addressed to the Republican members
inviting them to join the Democratic
blouse" There is no provision in it
authorizing the Sergeant-at-Arms, so-called,
or any one, to compel the attendance Of the
Republican members, and no doubt no at
tempt will be made to enforce the accept
ance of the invitation.