Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-10
vice.presidcnt,s desk was distinguished in


the stand. The session was opened with
prayer by the Chaplain Rev. j. q. Butler,
after rendering thanks for abundant har-
vests and for continued peace and
prosperity mot granted so richly
TO other people" The chaplain prayed
for continued favor for the nation and
for blessings on the President, Vice-presi-
dent, cabinet and both houses Of Congress.
Ho prayed also for the old Jewish people
the descendants of Abraham and Jacob
now prosecuted and scattered and so 10
animate the hearts and heads of those in
power everywhere that justice and right
BUSINESS may prevail throughout the earth.
The Vice-president welcomed senators to
the resumption of their official duties and
called the Senate to order. The Vice-presi-
dent then laid before the Senate the ere
dentials eli new senators, and the letters of
resignation received by him during the
recess.
Those papers were Tead, the first being
the letter Of the resignation of Senator
Reagan of Texas, and the appointment by
tho governor Of that state of Mr.. Chalton
in his stead.
The next credentials read were those Of
Mr.. FELTON, of California TO fill the vacancy
caused by tho death of Mr.. Hearst, and the
next were the resignation of MIR. Edmunds
OF Vermont and the appointment of Mr..
Proctor in his stead.
The next credentials read were those OF
Mr.. Call and Mr.. Davidson, each claiming
to be senator from Florida. After they
were both read, Mr.. Harris expressed the
opinion that the proper course to be pur-
sued with them was to refer them both to
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 he would
probably tomorrow move their reference
70 the committee on privileges and cleo
tons.
Mr. George said he would not now object
to that request. He had after very care
full examination, both as to the law and
the facts, found that there was 40 contro-
versy as to the facts, and therefore there
was no necessity for an investigation OF
them by the committee. AS to the law it
was plain, and had received the Judiciary
determination Of the senate. So that there
remained neither Il question OF law nor Il
/ question of fact for the attention of the
committee. The equality of the states
ought not to be interfered with for single
hour when there no serious question about
which there could be any difference among
senators.
However, in Difference to the senator
| from Tennessee, he would make no objec-
| ton to letting the matter 90 over till to-
morrow; but he gave notice that he would
! then insist that the Senate had both the
| facts and the law before it, and ought to
| proceed al once To seat Mr.. Call. the legally
elected senator from the state of Florida
/ Mr.. Hoar said that he had received and
carefully examined the statement of the
! governor Of Florida, and that il presented.
| $50 far ~ he could discover" simply
| the constitutionality of the existing
| law of Congress MS 10 the election
of senators. That question had been fire.
| quently before the Senate. and had been
always decideds in the same way. lie
agreed with Mr.. George as to the constitu-
tional right of each state to he equally rep
resented in the Senate, and it occurred Ia
! him that after the oaths had been admins
tered to all the new senators he should
move to take up the Florida case. The
matter could then go over till tomorrow
Mr. George added some further remarks
! to the effect that the governor Of Florida
had undertaken to usurp power in APP
pointing "A senator after one had been
elected. Both credentials were then placed
on file.
The credentials of Mr.. Brice as senator.
elect from ohio having heen presented
and read, Mr.. Sherman said: Before the
nnths of office is administered to Mr.
Hrice, desire In say that q large portion
of the citizens of Ohio contend that he wa.
not an inhabitant Of that state at Tho
time of his election and was therefore
not eligible To Il seat in this body. On
examining the presidents, of which there
are several in the history Of the govern
inent, and some of them most important
! am entirely satisfied that Mr.. Brice il en-
titled to be sworn in the prima facie case ol
his credentials, which are regular in form.
simply give this notice. however, so that
his being sworn may not be considered
any waiver, or any misapprehension oi
utts1t,,
lature Of Ohio should assert and prove I,
the satisfaction of the Senate that MIR
lirioe was not at the time of his election ar
inhabltant of Ohio | think that thi,
statement from me is proper and neces
sary. But make no objection to tn
swearing in of MIR. Brice."
The swearing in of the newly-eleced
cor appointed'O senators was then pro
cecdel with. They were sworn in groups
Of four or five. In the first group, bein,
Mr.. Brice, who was escorted by Mr.
kenna In the next group were Mr.
Chiffon of Texas, Mr.. Dubois of Idaho, Mr.
FELTON, Of California and Mr.. Gallinger O
New Hampshire.
Mr.. iioar said that as to Mr.. Chiltor
there was a question as to whether tn,
governor Of Texas has the power to ap
point before the vacancy had actually &c
Cured. He would make no objection /,
the oaths being administered to Mr. Chill
ton now. but he should afterwards NOV
TO refer the case to the committee on priv
eges and elections.
Mr. lloar submitted a motion that Mr.
Call be admitted to take the oaths ms sena
tor from the state of Florida and said tina
he would not press the motion, but woul,
let it ga over till tomorrow.
Mr., Cullen made like motion in refer
ence 10 Mr.. Dubois.
MIR. Hale said that he desired to examine
the credentials Of Mr.. Dubois, and aske,
J that they lie on the table till tomorrow.
That was agreed to and the other sena
tors in the group were sworn in.
There were bat four members of tn
Senate who We're not in their seats Thes
We're Mr.. Jones Of Arkansas MIR. Jones o
Nevada, MIR. Stanford of California, an,
Mr.. Vance of North California.
As soon as all the new senators wer
sworn Mr.. Sherman offered the usual reso
luton for the appointment of two senator
TO join like committee of the part of tn
House to wait on the President of tn
United States and inform him that
quorum of each house was assembled am
that Congress was ready to receive an
, communication he might be pleased /
make. The resolution was agreed to an
, Messrs. Sherman and Harris were al
: pointed.
Mr.. Hoar moved that the committee d
privileges and elections be directed to ii
qulre into and report upon the circuu
stances and validity of the appointment 4
Mr.. Chalton from the state of Texa,
: Agreed to.
Resolutions were offered and agreed t
fixing on | o'clock as the daily hour q
Z meeting and directing the secretary to ii
T form the House Of Representatives tn.
!. the Senate was ready to proceed to bus
ness, and then at l.80 o'clock the Senal
adjourned.
The name Of Governor Hill, senate
} elect from New York, was not presente
: on the list of senator's nor were his or,
dentials uresented