, 1890-12-30
THOSE SENATORS.
The Idaho Senatorial Case
Comes Before the Senate.
Republican Members Asked a
Few Puzzling Questions
Credentials Finally Referred to
the Elections Committee.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 29.-The senate
met st noon and the vice president laid
before that body a communication from
the go ,ernor OF Idaho transmitting the
credentials OF the senators-elect from that
state George L. Shoup and William j.
McConnell's credentials having been read.
Hoar said that Shoup was present and
asked that the oath of office be admins
tered to him.
Vance remarked that the new state OF
Idaho appeared to haze elected more than
its share OF senators and he thought the
credentials should be referred to the com
mittee on privileges and elections.
Hoar's motion having been agreed to.
hat senator escorted Shoup TO the clerks
desk. where he took the oath of office.
Harris subsequently inquired what had
become of Vance's motion, and said that
Shoup was simply sworn on his prima
facle case.
Vance remarked that it was stated in
the newspapers that three senators had
been elected in Idaho and that the legisla-
ture had gone to the extent of assigning
to each Of them the term for which he
should serve. That was contrary, he
said. TO the rule Of the senate and to con
stilutional provision. He thought il
proper, therefore. that the question should
be determined by the proper committee OF
the senate.
Mitchell said that he had reliable infor-
mauon that it was a false report So far
as the election of three senators was con
cerned he held it was regular and in
order.
Hoar argued that the question was a
very simple one. lC was clear and I'M
questionable that one OF the two senat DTS
whose credentials had just been presented
would go oct on the 4th of Marsh, 1891,
and the legislature (being in SESSION. had
elected a senator for the term which would
then begin. Beyond all question there
would be a vacancy at that time. because
one of those W gentlemen would have
to 90 out on the 4th of March, 1891.
Carlisle argued that the legislature of
Idaho had no right to assume (In advance
Of the action by the senatel
that there would be a vacancy in
the senate from that state on the
senator to ill such vacancy could take
PAoSS hobN ANkahD hbohh AhAL Tue
vacancy would occur. After il was de-
termlned BY the senate. in the constitu-
tional way. that there would be q vacancy
after that time. the next legislature of
Idaho at IN session. might pTeeceed at
atgrse SBs sss pe sb ii d'- Be- made s66S S s6s SOW
ernor OF the state. He imagined there
had never been a case in the history of
the country where a state legislature had
chosen three senator's at once.
Hawley-Is it not imperative under
the constitution, that there shall be a
vacancy after the Attn of March next?
Carlisle think SC.
Hawley-Then how could the legisla-
ture OF Idaho be n more certain of that
TACT three months hence than il is today?
Carlisle-Each of these gentle
men holds precisely the same
form OF credentials. Now, [ want
the senator to state what the senute
would do in case all three of them pre-
scented their credentials at the same time.
How would the senate determine what
two of them were legally elected and
which one Of them was not?
The discussion was continued BY Stew
art, Sanders. Cockrell, Spooner, Reagan,
and Mitchell. Spooner asked Reagan
whether the state OF Idaho was not en-
titled to two senators.
Reagan-Yes.
Spooner-The legislature Of idaho
adopted a resolution TO proceed to an
election to fill the existing vacancies, and
1t elected Shoup and Mcconnell without
specifying the length of the term Of
either. leaving it to be determined by the
senate. How does that fact effect the
question OF the legislature having elected
a third man whose term of office is to
commence In the future?
Yance's motion to refer the credentials
of Shoup and Mcconnell to the committee
on privileges and elections was then
agreed to.
Carlisle introduced a joint resolution
for the appointment OF commissioners to
confer with commissioners of the Domin-
ion of Canada to consider trade relations,
and it was referred to the select committe
on relations with Canada.
Faulkner offered a resolution, which