St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-08
LIFE IN The SENATE.
The Upper Branch Of Congress
Enlivened Slightly by
Contests.
Senator Brice Sworn In and
Seated After Sherman
Explains.
Calls Seat Is Contested by
DaVidson--Hill Not Pres
ent.
Flowers, Fun and Adjourn
ment After Roll Call in
Flowers, Fun and Adjourn
ment After Roll Call in
the House.

morning I'LL aDOuG noon, WDen unere
was slight clearing up of the weather,
the senate galleries were crowded with
spectators eager to see the opening of
the Fifty-second congress. The presl
Dental and diplomatic galleries were
unOccupied, but the reserved sections
were well filled with ladies, including
the wives and daughters of senators.
Here and there throughout the cham
Der the desks of the senators who were
to take their seats as senators for the
first time, were marked by baskets of
flowers, and the vice presidents desk
was distinguished in a like manner.
There were an unusually large number
of new senators to he sworn in, count
ing up seventeen without the senator
from Florida. Neither the name of Mr..
Call nor that of Mi. Davidson were on
the printed list of senators.
At noon the vice president took the
cNair, and the session was opened with
prayer by the chaplain, Rev. j. q. But
lei. The vice president welcomed SEN
atOrS to the resumption of their official
duties, and called the senate to order
Mr.. Morton then laid before the senate
the
Credentials of New Senators
and the letters of resignation received
by him during the recess. These pa
pers were read, the first being the letter
of resignation of Senator Reagan, of
Texas. and the appointment by the gov
ernOr of that state of Mr.. Chiffon in his
stead. The next credentials read were
those of MIR. FELTON,, of California. to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of Mr..
Hearst, and the next were the reSigna-
ton of Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont. and
the appointment OF Mr.. Proctor in his
stead.
The next credentials were those of
Mr.. Call and Mr.. Davidson each claim
ing to be senator from Florida After
they were both read Mr.. Harris eX-
pressed the opinion that the proper
course to be pursued with them WIS to
refer them both 10 the committee on
privileges and elections. SO that the
question might be decided in the light
OF thorough investigation. He asked
that both credentials be laid on the table
for the day, and said that be would
probably tomorrow name their refer
ence to the committee OH privileges and
elections.
Mr.. George said he would not now OBJ
Ject to that request. He had. after a
very careful examination, both as to the
law and the facts, found that there was
no controversy as to the facts, and there
fore there was no necessity for an in
VeStigatiOn of them by the committee.
AS to the law, it was plain and had re-
celved the judicial determination Of the
senate. so that there. remained neither
a question OF law nor question of fact
for the attention of the committee. The
Equality Orthe States
ought not to be interfered with for a
single hour, when therewas no serious
question about which there could be
any difficulty among senators. How
eueT. in Difference to the SanatOr from
Tennessee. he would make no objection
TO letting the matter go over Till tomor-
row. but lie gave notice that he would
then insist that the senate had both the
facts and the law before it, ard ought
to proceed at once to seat Mr.. Call. the
legally elected senator from the state of
Florida.
Mr.. Hear said that he had received
and carefully examined the statement
of the governor of Florida, and that it
presented $50 far as he could discover
simply the conStltutiOnality and con-
structiOn of the existing law of congress
as to the election of senators. That
question had been frequently before the
senate and had always been decided in
the same way. He agreed with Mr..
George as TO the constitutional right of
of each state to be equally represented in
the senate, and it occurred TO him that
after the oath had been administered
to all the new senators he should move
to take up the Florida case. The latter
could then 20 over till tomorrow
MI George added some further re-
marks to the effect that the governor of
Florida had undertaken TO uSurp power
IN appointing a senator after one had
been elected. Both credentials were
then placed on file.
Senator Brice's Case.
The credentials of Mr.. Brice as sena-
tor-elect from Ohio having been pre-
scented and read. Mr.. Sherman said /:
Before the oath Of Office is administered
to Mr.. Brce. desire to say that large
portion of the citizens of OHIO contend
that he was not an inhabitant OF that
state at the time of his election. and was
therefore not eligible to a seat in this
body. On examining the precedents
(Of which there are several in the history
of the government, and some of them
most lmportant), / am entirely satisfied
that Mr.. Brce is entitled to be sworn in
on the prima facie case of his creden-
tials, which are regular in form.
81 simply give this notice. however,
so that his being sworn may not be con-
Sldered any waiver, or any misappre-
hension or mscOnstrucliOn, if the peo-
pie or the legislature of Ohio should
assert and,prove to the satisfaction of the
senate that Mr.. Brice was not at the
time of his election an inhabitant of
Ohio. l think that'thiS statement from
me is proper and necessary; but |
make no objection to the swearing in
of Mr. Brice."
The swearing of the newly elected (or
appointed senators was then proceeded
with. They were sworn in groups of
four or FIVE. in the first group being
by Mr.. Kenna. In the next
group were Mr.. Chiffon, of Texas
Mr.. Dubois, of Idaha; Mr.. FELTON,
of California, and Mr.. Gallinger, of New
Hampshire. Mr.. HOar said that as tC
Mr.. Chiffon there was question as to
whether the governor had the power Il
appoint before the vacancy had actually
occurred. He would make no objection
to the oath being administered to MIR
Chiffon now, but he should afterward:
move TO refer the case to the committee
Oh privileges and elections.
Mr.. Hale said that he desired to ex
anime the credentials of Mr.. Dubois
and asked that they lie Oh the table til
tomorrow. That was agleed to, anC
the other senators in the group were
sworn in.
Hill Not in Sight.
The name of Mr.. Hill, senator-elec
from New York, was not presented OF
the list of senators, nor were his ere
dentials presented.
There were but four members in thu
senate who were not in their seats
These were Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas
Mr. Jones, of Nevada; Mr.. Stanford, O
California. and Mr.. Vance. of Nortl
Carolina. Mr. Hoar submitted a mo
ton that Mr.. Call be admitted to taxi
the oath as senator from the state O
Florida, and said that he would no
press the motion nov, but would let i
70 over till tomorrow. Dir. CullOm
made a Ike motion in reference to Mr.