The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-12-30
SENATE PROCEEDINGS,
The Idaho Senatorship aiattcr Raises =
Important Constitutional Discussion.

'"'h''"A AVN AZ S'i oeEs 81 ue
Senate met at noon. Tho Vice President
laid before the Senate communication
from tho Governor Of Idaho, transmit
ting credentials OF the Senators.elect
from that State-Messrs. George l..
Shoup and WIN. J. Mcconnell.
The credentials having been read, Mr.
Hoar moved that, as Mr.. Shoup was
present, the oath OF Office We admins
terad 10 them.
Mr. Vance remarked that the new
State OF Idaho appeared to have elected
more than its fair share OF Senators, and
he thought that the credentials should
be referred 10 the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections.
MIR. Ioar SAID that, as he understood
there were only two Senators chosen
from that State, he thought his motion
took precedence oi Mr.. Nance's.
Mr.. Hoar's motion having been agreed
to, the Senator escorted Mr.. Shoup to
the clerks desk, Hhere he took the oath
OF Office and subscribed to it.
Mr.. Harris subsequently, inquired what
had became OF Mr.. Vances motion, and
aaid that Mr.. Shoup had been simply
sworn on his priIna tace case.
Mr.. Vance remarked that it WAS stated
in the newspapers that three Senators
had been elected in Idaho and that the
Legislature had gone to the extent OF
assigning to each OF them the term for
which he should serve. That was con-
tvary, he said, to the rules OF the Senate
and to the constitutional provision. He
thought it proper, therefore, that the
question should be settled by the proper
committee OF the Senate.
MIR. Mitchell said that be had reliable
information that neither the Legislature
OF Idaho, nor the Senators. had at
tempted in any shape, manner or form
to determine which OF them should have
the long and who the short term. That
Was lalse report. So far as the election
OF three Senators vas concerned he held
that that was regular and in order.
Mr.. Hoar argued that the question
was very simple one. 1t was clear and
unquestionable that one OF the two Sem
alors whose credentials had Just been
presented would go out on the 4.h OF
March, 1891, and the Legislature then
being in session. had elected Senator
Tor the term which would then begin.
Beyond all question there would BE- u
vacancy at that time, because one oil
those t%o gentlemen would have to 20
out on the 4th OF March, 1891.
Mr.. Carlisle argued tha, the Lesisla.
tnre OF Idaho had no right to assume lin
advance OF action) that there would be Il
vacancy iu the Senate from that State on
the ith OF March, 1891. No election OF q
Senator to ill such vacancy could take
place until it was legally known that the
vacancy would occur. Alter it had
been determined by the Senate in con.
stitutlonal way that there would be q
vacancy after the 4th OF March next, the
Legislature OF Idaho Gf in SESSION.
might proceed at once to choose a SEN
ator, and il the Legislature was not in
session the appointment OF Senator
should be made by the Governor of the
State. He imagined that there had
never been casein this history of the
country where State Legislature had
chosen three Senators at once.
MI Hawley-ls it not imperative un
der the constitution that thero shall be
vacancy after the 4th OF March next.
Mr.. Carlis.e-I think go.
Mr.. Hawley-Then how could the Leg.
islature Of Idaho be any more certain Of
that fact months hence than it is to. day
Mr. Carlisle-Each one OF these gen.
tlemen holds precisely the same form O.
credentials. Now | want the Senator tc
state what the Senate would do in case
Nil three Of them presented their credeu
tials at the same time. How would the
Senate determine that two OF them were
legally elected and that one OF them wa.
not?'
The discussion was continued By
Messrs. Stewart, Sanders, Cocktail
spooner, Reagan and Mitchell. Mr.
Nance's motion to refer the oredentiaii
OF Messrs. Shoup and Mcconnell to tht
Committee on Privileges and Election!
was then agreed to.
Mr.. Faulkner offered a resolution,
which went over till tomorrow, calling
on the Superintendent OF Census for in
formation as to the population OF eact
county in the State OF West Virginia.
Mr.. Aldrich offered his resolution TO-
the amendment. OF the rules. which b,
had heretofore given office OF, and aske,
that it be printed and laid over.
Mr.. Cockrell asked whether it was nov
in order to move to refer the resolution
to the Committee on Rules.
| Mr. Aldrich-No. now. That motor
vii be in order when the resolu;io,
comes up. It is no. now before tn,
Senate.
Mr.. Cockrell-Why is it not?
Mr.. Aldrich-By my asking that it g
} over.
:is. Cockrell-Then the Senator offer
the resolution sid then objects to it
asking that it 80 over.
Mr. Aldrich-That is the prac,ica
effect. 7
MIR. Cockrell-All right.
The resolution vent over.
=, Mr.. Edmunds moved that to-morro,
the Senate take up the Financial bill.
! The Senate resumed the consideration