, 1891-12-08

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE senate
galleries we're crowded with spectators to
witness the formal opening of that branch
of congress. There was an unusually
large number OF lew senator's to be sworn
in, the number being seventeen without a
senator from Florida. Neither the names
of Call nor Davidson was on the printed
list.
At moor the vice president took the
chair and the session was opened with
prayer by Chaplain Butler. After this
the vice president laid before the senate
credentials OF the new senators; the
resignation OF Senator Reagan of Texas,
and the appointment by the governor Of
that state OF Mr. Chiffon. Other creden-
tials we're those of FELTON, of California, to
fill the vacancy caused by Senator
Hearst's death; the resignation of Senator
Edmunds of Vermont, and the appoint.
ment of Proctor; the credentials of Call
and Davidson. each claiming to be a sena.
tor from Florida. After the latter two
were read. Senator Harris moved they be
referred to the committee on privileges
and elections, so the question might be
decided IN the light Of "a thorough %investi-
cation. ne asked they be laid on the
table.
Senator George said be would not OBJ
iect to this request, but that tomorrow he
would insist that the senate had both
facts and law before it and ought to pro-
coed at once to seat Call as the legally
elected member. After a few remarks
by Senator Hoar the matter went over.
When the credentials of Mr.. Brice, sen
ator-elect from OHIO were presented Sen
ator Sherman said: Before the oath of
office is administered to Mr.. Brice | desire
to say that a large portion OF the citizens
of Ohio contend that he was o an IN.
habitant of that state at the time OF his
election, and was therefore not eligible to
a seat in this body.
Upon the examining OF prccedents (of
which there are several in the history of
the government), and some of them the
most important, | am entirely satisfied
that Brice is entitled to be sworn IN on
the prima iacIe face Of his credentials,
which are regular IN form. | simply give
this notice, however, so his being sworn
10 may not be considered any waiver or
Misrepresentation or mlsconstruotiOn, it
the people of Ohio should assert and
prove to the satisfaction of the senate
that BrIce was not at the time of his
citCliOu du lulldbltdut VI Ohlus Jul L
make no objection to the swearing in OF
Mr.. Brice.
The swearing of newly elected Tor APP
pointed )senators was then proceeded with.
They were sworn in groups of four or
five. In the first group was Brice, who.
was escorted by Kenna. In the next
group we're Chiffon of Texas. Dubois of
Idaho, FELTON, of California and Gallinger
of New Hampshire. Hoar said as to
Chiffon there was a question as to whether
the governor OF Texas bad the power to
appoint before the vacancy actually &C.
CURED. He would afterwards move to
refer the case to the committee on privi-
leges and elections. Hale said he desired
to examine the credentials of Dubois and
asked that they lie on the table till to-
morrow. This was agreed to and the
other senators in groups were sworn in.
The name of Hill, senator elect from New
York was not printed on the list, nor
we're his credentials printed.
There we're but four members of the
senate not in their seats. These were
Jones of Arkansas, Jones of Nevada.
Stanford OF California and Vance of
North Carolina. Hoar submitted to a
motion for Call to be admitted to take the
oath as senator from Florida, and he said
he would let it go over till tomorrow.
CulIom made a like motion in reference
to Dubois. After the transaction of some
routine business the senate adjourned.