Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1890-04-09
CONGRESSIONAL DOINGS.
THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON. April 3.--Mr. Edmunds,
from the judiciary committee, reported
back to the senate the antitrust bill in
the form of substitute. The bill was
read and Mr.. Edmunds said that the bill
would be called up as soon as the Mon
tana election cases were disposed Of.
Mr.. Hale's resolution to rescind the
resolution fixing the hour of meeting of
the senate at IL a. M, was agreed to, to
take effect on Monday next.
After the conference report on the ur-
gent deficiency bill was presented and
agreed to the senate proceeded to the
consideration of the Montana election
cases, the majority report being in favor
of Wilbur +. Sanders and Thomas
Power, and the minority being in favor
OF William A. Clarke and Martin Ma
ginnis.
WASHINGTON, April An the senate,
after the consideration of routine busi-
ness and the selection of Mr.. Ingalls, to
act as president pro tempore during the
coming absence of Vice President Nor
ton, the Montana election case was taken
up and Mr.. Gray finished his argument
in support of Clark and Maginnis, the
Democratic claimants The matter then
went over until Monday.
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The senate
passed the following bills: House bill to
provide for town site entries in Oklahoma
with proviso that the certificates men,
toned therein shall not be taken as evil
dence in favor of any persons claiming
lots who entered upon them in violation
of law or the presidents proclamation;
to authorize the conveyance of certain
absentee Shawnee Indian lands in Kan
sas; authorizing pontoon bridge across
the Missouri river at Lexington, Mo-,
and the Edmunds bill providing for in
spection of meats for expectation, pro-
food
WASHINGTON, April Sat 2 o'clock
the Montana election cases were taken
up in the senate, and Mr.. Vance, a men,
Der of the elections committee, pro-
ceeded to make an argument in favor of
the minority report, declaring Clark and
Maginnis, the Democratic claimants, en-
titled to seats. After giving some anec-
dotes to illustrate the fallacy of the posi-
ton held by the Republicans, he de-
clared that he had never heard title to
a seat in the senate based upon such
slender. technical, trifiing grounds. He
had never known tbs public will Of q
community to be thwarted and trampled
under foot on such fimsy pretexts.
Mr.. Spooner, also a member OF tbs
committee ON privileges and elections,
made an argument in favor of the ma
iority report, that Saunders and Power,
the Republican claimants, are entitled
to the seats. A senator, he said, could
of course only be elected by
state legislature; and therefore, in or
der to seat man in the senate, he must
have been chosen by a legislature organ-
lied within the meaning of the constitu
ton. But it was not necessary, in his
opinion, to go beyond what might be
called prima facie evidence; and that
prima facie evidence was found in this
case, in the certificates of the board of
canvassers, consisting Of the chief JUS
tice, the governor and tbs secretary of
the territory. Mr.. Spooner then rscited
the facts and circumstances connected
with the canvassing of the votes and
with the organization of the two houses
which elected the two Republican claim
ants, and insisted that in the exercise of
conceded jurisdiction it was the right
and duty of the canvassers to reject the
vote of Precinct 81 as false and fraudu-
lent. Without finishing his argument,
Mr.. Spooner yielded for a motion to pro-
coed to executive business, and after an
executive session the senate, at 500 p.
H., adjourned.