The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-30
In the Senate,

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-The Senate met
at noon and the Vice-President laid before
the Senate communication from the gov
ernor of Idaho transmitting the credentials
of Senators elect from that state George L.
Shoup and William j. Mcconnell. The
credentials having been read Hoar asked
that as to Shoup, VINO was present, the oath
of Office be administered to him.
Vance remarked that the new state of
Idaho appeared to have 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,
that Senator escorted Shoup to the clerks
desk, where he took the oath of Office.
Harris subsequently inquired what be-
come of Vance's motion, and said Shoup
was simply sworn on his prtmd fdcie case.
Vance remarked it was stated in the
newspapers that three Senator's were
elected in Idaho and that the legislature
had gone to the extent OF assigning each of
them the term for which he should serve.
That was contrary, he said, to the rule of
tie Senate and to constitutional provision
He thought it proper, therefore, that the
question should be determined by the
proper committee of the Senate.
Mitchell said that he had reliable infor-
nation that so far as the election of the
three Senators was concerned, he held 1t
regular and in order.
Hoar argued the question was Very
! simple one. 1t was clear and unQuestion-
able that one of the two Senators, whose
credentials had just been presented, would
go out on the 4th of March.
! 1891, and the legislature ''being in
session." had elected Senator
for term which would then begin. Beyond
all question there would be a vacancy at
| that time because one of those two gentle
men would have to go out on the 4th of
| March, 1891.
| Carlisle argued that the legislature of
Idaho had no right to assume, in advance of
action by the Senate, that there would be
a vacancy in the Senate from that state on
the 18th of March, 1891 no election of a
Senator to fill such vacancy could take
place until it was legally known that a
vacancy would occur. After it was deter
mined by the Senate in constitutional
way that there would be a 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 there had never been a
case in the history of the country where the
state legislature had chosen three Senators
at once.
Hawley-Is it not imperative under the
constitution that there shall be a vacancy
after the 4th of March next?
Carlisle think so.
Hawley-Then how could the legislature
of Idaho be any more certain of that fact
three months hence than it is to-day?
Carlisle-Each one of these members
holds precisely the same form of creden-
tials. 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 deter
mine what two of them were legally ar
ranged 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 entitled to two Senators
Recognizes.
] Spooner = The legislature of Idaho
adopted a resolution TO proceed to the cleo.
tion to fill the two existing vacancies, anC
it elected Shoup and Mcconnell without
specifying the length of term of either
leaving that to be determined by the Sen
ate. How does that fact affect the ques
, ton, the legislature having elected a thirC
, man whose term of Office is to commence il
! the future.
Vance's motion to refer the credential
} of Shoup and Mcconnell to the committe,
on privileges and electlonS was then agreed
so.
Carlisle introduced joint resolution foI
, the appointment of commissioners to con
fer with commissioners of the Dominion
l of Canada to consider trade relations be
tween the two countries, and it was re
ferred to the select committee on relation
with Canada.
Faulkner offereda resolution, which wen
over till tomorrow, calling ON the superin
tendent Of the census for information as t
the population of each county in the stat
of West Virginia.
Aldrich offered resolution for tn
3 amendment of the rules which he had here
: tofore given notice of and asked that it b
, printed and laid over.
Cockrell asked whether it was now il
order to move to refer the resolution to tn
i committee on rules.
. Aldrich replied that the motion would b
Y in order when the resolution comes up.
s Stewart gave notice that tomorrow
L morning he would move to take up tn
: financial bill
t German moved to take up the bill for tn
adjustment of the accounts of laborers
Q etc, under the eight hour law but Hoa
S claimed the floor on the elections bill an
q German withdrew his motion.
f Hoar yielded the floor to, Hiscock who az
; dressed the Senate at length in support {
g the bill At the conclusion of Hiscock
) speech Hoar addressed the Senate. In til
course of his remarks HO2r said til