Evening journal., 1890-12-30
In the senate.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-In the senate a
communication from the governor of Idaho
was presented, transmitting credentials Of
the senators-elec from that state--Messrs
George L. Shoup and William j. McCon-
nell. The credentials were read and Mr.
Hoar moved that as Mr.. Shoup was pres
ent the oath Of Office be administered
TO him. Mr. Vance remarked that the new
state Of Idaho appeared to have elected
more than its fair share Of senators, and he
thought the credentials should be referred
to the committee on privileges and elec-
tions. Mr.. Hoar's motion was agreed TO
and that senator escorted Mr.. Shoup to the
clerk desk, where he took the oath OF Office.
Mr. Vance said that it was stated in the
newspapers that three senators had been
elected ia ldaho and that the legislature
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 70 the constitution.
He thought it proper therefore that the
question should be determined by the
proper committee Of the senate.
Three Senators from One State.
Mr. Hoar argued that it was clear and
anQuestionable that one of the two semi
tors, whose credentials had just been pre-
sented, would 70 out on March 4, 1891, and
the legislature, being in session, had elect
ed a senator for the term that would then
begin Beyond all question there would
be vacancy at that time. because one Of
those two senators would have 10 30 out
on that date.
Mr. Carlisle said the legislature Of Idaho
had no right to assume lin advance of ac-
tion by the senatel that there would be
vacancy ia the senate from that state on
March A, 1891. No election Of a senator TO
fill such vacancy could take place until IL
was legally known that that vacancy
would occur, He imagined that there
never had been case In the history OF
the country where state Legislature had
chosen three senators at once. Mr.. Hoar
moved to lay on the table Mr. Vance's
motion 10 refer the credentials TO the COM
mittee on privileges aud elections. The
vote resulted-yeas, p; nays, 10 tno quo.
rum) Then MIR. Hoar withdrew his mo
tion to lay on the table, and Mr. Vance's
motion to refer the credentials Of Messrs.
Shoup aud Mcconnell to the committee
on privileges and elections was agreed to-
Hiscock on the Elections Bill
Mr.. Aldrich offered his resolution for
the amendment OF the rules which he had
it be printed and laid over. The senate
then resumed consideration Of the elections
bill. and Mr. Hiscock spoke at length ID
favor Of the measure. lie said that on the
purity Of elections depended national
health and perpetuity alike. The gravity
Of this question surpassed that Of any
other question before the senate. If Il
were not for the gravity Of the situation
the arguments made on the other side
would excite only mirth. He asked on
what ground the Democratic party lai1
claim to the virtue and patriotism which
il claimed in this controversy
Mr. Aldrich said he would not invade {
state TO oppress or disfranchse her people
but where congress had the constitutions
power 10 alleviate the wrong or to secur,
rights more perfectly in cooperation Will
state authorities, the senate should no
hesitate to accomplish it. He said tha
testimony Of igauds and the defeat Of thi
public will has accumulated during thi
debate and still the other side did not pur
pose to correct this monstrous evil, bu
rather it was in the air that measures O
obstruction might be resorted to to con
tinue it. NOT only had these senators &
whom the constitution was dear failed q
propose a remedy for these evils, but the,
had refused to unite with the Republicans
either in the senate or in committee, t
frame measure that would secure tina
result The conclusion was irresstibl
that the Democratic party was conten
with the present order Of things and pun
posed to resist its improvement.
Speaking Of the frauds against the ballo
in New York city, Mr.. Hiscock said that
fact ihat somewhat prepared the publ
mind for the Democratic opposition to thi
bill was that at the time of these grea
frauds Samuel J. Tilden, who had bee
oanonixed by the Democratic party, wa
the chairman of the Democratic state con
mittee and was himself resident of tt
city when the daily papers were replei
with information about false registration
Referring to the colored men in the soutl
ern states, Mr.. Hiscock asserted that 1t WI
the open and undisguised purpose of Il
Democratic party by violence and discrir
mating laws 10 disfranchise these peopl
The attempt to point at provisions Of Il
nsnding measure that wara too harsh AZ