The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-28
licans and I'll their places with two

licans and ell their places with two
Democrats.
In the former case Governor Hill re-
fused to honor . requisition made by
Governor Buckley. on the ground that
the latter is not entitled to the ONCE of
governor Of Connecticut. and he (Hill)
would not recognize him as such by COM
plying with his reqnisition. 1t is to be
regretted that Buckley responded in dis
courteous terms to this discourtesy, but it
cannot be denied that the aggravation was
great. In effect Governor Hill has assumed
to decide question which neither the
legislature nor tho supreme court of Con-
necticut nave yet disposed of.
The Senate Of that state-or the narrow
Democratic majority in that body-have
declared Morris elected. The House has
found 70 the contrary. The constitution
declares that the General Assembly, COM
posed of both houses in joint session,
shall ascertain and declare the result, and
in case no candidate has majority of the
polls. the General Assembly shall elect,
and in the meantime the incumbent holds
until his successor is elected and quail
fed. Several efforts have been made, and
one is pending. to get the question before
the supreme court for decision.
Morris, who has been declared by the
Senate elected, and who has taken the
oath Of Office pro fornd. contented himself
with demanding the Office. has made no
pretcnse of exercising its functions, and
thus far has declined to institute quo war-
ranto proceedings against Buckley, and
thus appears less tenacious of his rights as
governor Of Connecticut, and more modest
in asserting them than is the governor of
New York. II Hills position be tenable,
then the tenure of governor in no state
can be considered secure until the govern
ors of all the other states have passed upon
it, for which newspaper reports will be
more reliable than official declarations
within the respective states.
The Michigan case adds emphasis to the
contention, based upon multiplied recent
events, that the arbitrary power of legis-
lative bodies to pass upon the election and
qualification of their members must be
modified. In this case far-reaching in
lduiy, CuihpdIcQ Will WHICH Tile IucIc
larceny Of two seats in the state Senate
palcs into insigniticance, is contemplated
and may be effected. This includes an
apportionment of the state into congress
sional districts which will be unchange-
able for ten years, an superintendent of
legislative districts in the interest of the
Democrats, and the passage of a law max
Ing presidential electors elective by con-
gressional districts.
If there were any means of making
legislatures amenable to the constitutions
which their members are sworn to support,
or to cover the alternative of their failure
to do so, the Connecticut complicati on
would have been of short duration, for
the constitution of that state requires the
two houses to meet in general assembly,
and to canvass and declare the result on
state officers on the second day of the
legislative session. And it goes without
saying-no right minded person can or
viii deny--that the Michigan example
can be extended to cover any imaginable
infamy, to the subversion of all honest
government, and to an unlimited reten-
ton of power by dishonest means. The
situation is becoming serious Legislative
omnipotence must be circumscribed.