Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1889-01-25
A Warm Debate.

ST. PAUL, Jan. G2.-Ile Judiciary COM
mittee this morning reported back to the
house a number of bills, among them being
one to make slander a felony, which was
reported adversely, the others being recon-
mended for passage. A number of local
bills passed. Bills were introduced to
amend the law for the preservation of
game; to amend the law for the adoption
of children; to amend the law for bounty
for the destruction Of wolves; to amend the
law for killing gophers. After considera-
tion in committee of the whole a bill for
the regulation of district courts was then
taken up, and at IL O'clock the question of
election of United States senator came up
in regular order. A warm debate arose
over the matter, it being held on one side
that vote was required to-day by the con-
stitution, while the opposition claimed the
house could not in all honesty pro
ceed with the vote until the COM
mittee reported. The committee re-
ported briefly but the report gave
no idea of whether anything criminal had
been discovered. The two sides were we'll
led and gave pretty parliamentary fight,
in which those wanting postponement won.
Motions to recommit, to take recess, to
adjourn and to vote were interspersed with
points of order. After the debate had con-
tinued for some time, and various motions
had been voted down, motion to recon-
NIT resulted in tie vote-48 to 48-and the
speaker voted in the affirmative. A motion
<ok AL 70
then carried by vote of 50 to 48. The
chief portion of Washburn's strength was
devoted to securing vote to-day,
although some of the Washburn
leauers voted to postpone, they
claiming an investigation was simply a
scheme to prevent the election of the eau
Gus nominee.
In the senate the first move for reap
portionment was made to-day in The form
to look into the matter. A large number
OF minor measures were introduced and re-
ferred. The most important measure was
memorial to congress requesting the pas
sage of law pensiOning all union soldiers
who were in rebel prisons at the rate of
$l2 per month, with So for each day they
were confined in prison. Several local
measures were passed and recess taken.
After recess the senate went into executive
session to hear the report of the investlga-
tiOn which was yet incomplete. When the
doors were opened the senators adjourned
till 8 O'clock. The secret session was q
stormy one during the entire two hours it
lasted. The report of the committee was
received so far as ready and was rather in
definite. One man had been promised
government position by Sabin; another of
fered a thousand dollars, while third had
been made drunk by WashDurn men and
he didn't know whether they gave him
money while drunk or not. Ward an
nOunced that he would not vote for either
Washburn or Sabin, as the investigation
thus far showed that neither was as pure
as he should be. Buchanan said the wit
nesses were not all truthful and he would
stand by the caucus. The committee con-
tinued in session during the afternoon.
The senate met and continued in eXecu-
tive session from O'clock. The report of
the investigating committee and the attend
ing discussions of the same lasting until
11:l5. At that hour, the doors thrown open,
the pending question being the election of
a United States Senator.
From speeches made in the course of the
vote it appeared that the senate had heard
all the report and concluded there was no
corruption. Senator Daniels, the caucus
president, nominated Washburn, but the
democrats made no nomination
and refrainpd from voting, as also did sew
eral republicans. Many explained their
votes and there was a vigorous denuncia-
tlOn Of what was termed an attempt to
smirch the character Of pure man
Senator Edwards calling the report "a mas