Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-30
IDAHo's SENATORS.
Their Admission Provol>es short Discus
sion in the Sennie.


WA>HINGroN. December 29.-The |
Senate met at noon. The Vice PreSi- |
dent laid before the Senate commu
IRON the Governor Oi idaho,
transmitting credentials of the Sena-
torS-elect from that State, MeSSrS.
George l.. >houp aud Wm. j. Neon
nell. The credentials having been
read. Mr.. Hoar moved that aS Mr..
ShOup was present, the oath Of office be
administered 10 them.
Mr. Vance remarked that the new
State of Idaho appeared 10 have elect
ed more than its fair share Of Senators,
aud he thought the credentials should
be referred TO the Committee on Priyil-
eyes and Elections.
Mr.. Hoar said that as he understood
there were only two Senators chosen
from that State, he thought his motion
took precedence Of Mr.. Nance'S.
Mr. lloar'S motion having been agreed
to that Senator escorted Mr.. Shoup TO
the Clerks desk where he took the oath
OF Office and subscribed to IT,
MIR. Harris subsequently inquired
what had become of Mr. Nance's mo-
ton, and said that Mr.. Shoup had been
simply sworn on his prina iacle case.
Mr.. Vance remarked that 1t was
stated in the newspapers that three
Senators had been elected in Idaho and
that the Legislature mad gone TO the cx-
tent OF assigning u each of them the
term for which lie should serve. That
was contrary, he said, to the rules Of
the Senate and to the constitutional
provision He thought il proper there
fore. that the question should be deter
mined by the proper committee Of the
Senate.
Mr.. Mitchell said that he had reliable
information that neither the Legislature
OF Idaho, nor the SenatOrS-elcct had at
tempted in any shape, manner or form
% determine which Of them should have
the long and who the short term. That
was a false report. So far aS the elec-
tiOn Of three Senators was concerned he
held that that was regular and in order.
Mr. lIOar argued that the question
was a very simple one. 1t was clear
aud unquestiOnahle that one of the two
Senators whose credentials had lust
been presented would 90 ont on the 4th
Of March, 1891, and the Legislature
then being In session. had elected 4
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
90 out on the 4th Of March, 1891.
Mr. Carlisle argued that the Legisla-
ture Of Idaho had no right to assume in
advance of the action OF the Senate,
that there would be Il vacancy In the
Senate from that State on the ith OF
March, 1891. No election OF Senator
TO nm such vacancy could take place
until il was legally known that the va
cancy would occur. After il had been
determined by the Senate in cOnStitu-
tiOnal way that there would o. a "a
cancy after the 18th of March next, the
Legislature OF Idaho (if in session.
might proceed at once to choose Sena-
tor. and If the Legislature was not in
session an appointment OF q 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 Stale Legislature had
chosen three Senators NJ once.
MI. iidhlts Is u 4ol NiptiuNifi Nh-
der The constitution that there shall be
a vacancy after the ith Of March neXte
Mr.. Carlisle think so.
MIR. Hawley-Then how could the
Legislature OF Idaho be any more GER
tain of that fact months hence than it is
to-day?
AR Garlisic-kach OF these gentlemen
holds precisely tie SGne form Of creden-
tials. Now want the Senator to state
what the Senate would do in case all
three OF them presented their creden-
tialS at the same time. How would the
Senate determine that twoof them were
legally elected and that one of them was
not?
The Discussion was continued by
MeSsrs. Stevar;, Sanders, Cockrell,
Spo0ner, Reagan and Mitchell. ~
Vance'S motion TO refer the credentials
of MeSSrS. Shoup and Mcconnell to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections
was then agreed TO.