Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-30
The Idaho Senator's Creden-
tials Presented.
A Question Raised as to Their
Acceptance.
SenatOr-elect Shoup Sworn in Lit
tie Too Previously.
Hoar and Hiscock Speak on the Elections
Bill-Stewart Will Call Up the
Financial Bill.
Associated Press Dispatches.

met at noon and the Vlce-presldent laid
before it a communication from the
governor of Idaho, transmitting the Gre
dentials of senators-elect from that state,
George L. Shoup and William J. Nc
Connell. The credentials having been
read, Hoar stated that Shoup was pres
ent, and he moved that the oath of office
be administered to him.
Vance remarked that the new state of
Idaho appeared to have elected more
than it's share of senators, and he
thought their credentials should be re-
ferred to the committee ON privileges
and elections.
Hoar's motion having been agreed to,
that senator escorted Shoup to the
clerks desk where he took the oath of
office.
Harris subsequently inquired what
became OF Vance's motion, and said
Shoup was simply sworn on his prima
facie case.
Vance remarked that it was stated in
the newspapers that three senators were
elected in Idaho, and that the legisla-
ture had gone to the extent of assigning
should serve. That was contrary, he
said, to the rule of the senate and to the
constitutional provision. He thought it
proper, therefore, that the question be
determined by the proper committee Of
the senate.
Mitchell said that he had reliable in
formation that it was false report, so
far as the election of three senators was
concerned. He held that il was regular
and in order.
Hoar argued that the question was
very simple one. 1t was clear and I'M
questionable that one of the two SEN
ators whose credentials had just been
presented would go out on the 4th of
March, 1891, and the legislature (being
in SESSION. had elected a senator for the
term which would then begin. Beyond
all question, there would be vacancy
at that time, because one of those two
gentlemen would have to go out on the
4th of March, 1891.
Carlisle said the legislature of Idaho
had no right to assume lin advance of
action by the senate) that there would
be vacancy in the senate from that
state on the 4th of March, 1891. No
election OF senator to fill such vacancy
could take place until it was legally
known that a vacancy would occur.
After it was determined by the senate in
the constitutional way that there would
be vacancy after that time, the next
legislature OF Idaho (if in SESSION. might
proceed at once to choose a senator, and
if the legislature were not in session, the
appointment of a senator should be
made by the governor of the state. He
imagined that there had never been
case in the history of the country where
state legislature had chosen three SEN
ators at once.
Hawley-Is it not imperative, under
the constitution, that there shall be
vacancy after the 4th of March next?
Carlisle-I think so.
Hawley-Then how could the legisla-
ture of Idaho be any more certain Of that
fact three months hence than it is to-
day?
Carlisle said: 'Each one of these
gentlemen holds precisely the same
form of credentials. Now, ! want the
senator to state what the senate would
do In case all three of them presented
their credentials at the same time.
How would the senate determine what
two are legally arranged, and which
one OF them was not?''
The discussion was continued by
Stewart, Sanders, Cockrell, Spooner,
Reagan and Mitchell.
Spooner asked Reagan whether the
state of Idaho was entitled to two SEN
ators.
Reagan-Yes.
Spooner-The legislature of Idaho
adopted resolution to proceed to an
election to fill two existing vacancies,
and it elected Shoup and Mcconnell,
without specifying the length Of term of
either, leaving it to be determined by
the senate. How does that fact affect
the question of the legislature having
elected a third man whose term OF
office is to commence in the future?
Vance's motion to refer the creden-
tials of Shoup and Mcconnell to the
committee on privileges and elections
was then agreed to.
Carlisle introduced joint resolution
for the appointment of commissioners
to confer with commissioners of the
Dominion of Canada to consider the
trade relations between the two coun-
tries, and it was referred to the commit
tee on relations with Canada.
Aldrich offered his resolution for the
amendment of the rules, which he had
heretofore given notice of, and asked
that it be printed and laid over.
Cockrell asked whether it was now in
order to move to refer the resolution to
the committee on rules.
Aldrich replied that the motion would
be in order when the resolution
comes up.
Stewart gave notice that tomorrow
morning he would move to take up the
financial bill
German moved to take up the bill for
the adjustment OF accounts of laborers,
ETC., under the eight hour law, but Hoar
claimed the floor on the elections bill,
and German withdrew his motion.
Hoar yielded the floor to Hiscock, who
addressed the senate at length in sup
port of the bill.
At the conclusion of Hiscock's speech,
Hoar addressed the senate. In the
course of his remarks Hoar said the
struggle for the pending bill was strug-
gle for step toward establishing a
doctrine to which the American people
were pledged by their history, their
constitution, their opinions and inter
ests. They could not know in their cit
izenship slaves, vassals or inferior races.
1t was idle to debate theories
or PHILOSOPHERS in the presence
of an express provision of the
constitution. He repelled with all
tho indian tiop which tho calumnv de-