The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-08
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I'm defiance of the
rain, the senate galleries were crowded
with spectators today, eager to witness the
opening o he Fifty-second congress. There
was an unusually large number OF new
senators to be sworn in, counting up sew
enteen without the senator from Florida,
the name of neither Call nor Davidson be-
ing on the printed list.
At noon Vice President Morton took
the chair and the sen te was opened with
prayer by the chaplain. The vice presl-
dent welcomed the senate to resumption
OF their official duties and called the sem
ate TO order. The vice president then laid
before the senate the credentials of the
new senators and the letters OF resignation
received by him during the recess. These
papers were read, the first being the letter
of resignation of Mr. Reagan of Texas, and
the appointment by the government of Mr..
Chiffon in his stead. The next credentials
read were those of Mr.. FELTON, of Calltor-
MIA, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Mr.. Hearst. The next were the
resignation of Mr. Edmunds and the ap-
po.ntment of Mr.. Proctor.
The next credentials read were those of
Messrs. Call and Davidson. each claiming
to be senator from Florida. After the
credentials OF both had been read, Mr..
Harris expressed the opinion that the
proper course to be pursued with regard
committee on privileges and elections, so
that the question might be decided in the
light Of a thorough investigation. He
asked that the credentials of both be laid
on the table for the day and said that he
would probably tomorrow move their
reference 10 the committee on privileges
and elections.
Air. George gave notice that be would
tomorrow insist that the senate had both
the facts and lhe law before it, and ought
to pr ceed TO seat Mr.. Call, as the legally
elected senator
Mr.. Hoar said that the question had
been frequently before the senate and had
been always decided in the same way.
After the oath had been administered to
the new senators he would move TO take
up the Florida case.
The credentials were then placed on file.
The credentials OF Mr. Brice, as senator
elect from Ohio, having been presented
and read. Mr. 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 not
an inhahitant OF that state at the time of
his election and, therefore, is not eligible
to seat in this body. On examining the
precede. Is | am entirely satisfied that Mr.
Brice is entitled to be sworn in on the
prma facie case of his credentials, which
are regular in form"
Inc swearing In OF the newly elected
Cor appointed) senators was then pro-
ceeded with. They were sworn in in
groups Of four or five, and in the first
group was Mr.. Brice. In the next gronp
were MesSrs. Chilton of Texas, Dubois If
Idaho, FELTON, of California, and Gallinger
OF New Hampshire.
Mr.. Hale SAID that he desired to examine
the credentials OF Mr.. Dubois and asked
that they lie on the table until tomorrow
This was agreed TO and the other sena-
tors in the group were sworn in.
The name of Mr.. Hin, senator-elect from
New York, was not on the printed list, nor
Were his credentials presented.
Mr.. Sherman offered the usual reSolu-
tion for the appointment of two senator's,
TO join like committee on the part of the
house, to wait on the president and inform
him that "A quorum of each house had as
embed ana that congress was ready to
receive any communication he might be
pleased 10 make.
The resolution was agreed to and Messrs
Sherman aud Harris were appointed
Mr.. Hoar moved that the committee on
privileges and elections oe directed to in
gulre into and report upon the circum-
stances and validity OF the appointment Of
Mr.. Chiffon from Texas. Agreed to.
Resolutions were offered anu agreed to
fixing noon as the daily hour of meeting
and directing the secretary to inform the
house of representatives that the senate
Was ready TO proceed TO business.
Adjourned