Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-19
FEARED AN INVESTIGATION
Dodged by the Pennsylvania
Republican Senators.
BY PLEADING NO JURISDICTION
An Adjourning the Extra Ses-
sion Sine Die.
Thus Ends the FarcicaI Investigation OF
Pennsylvania's Encouragement and
Treasurer - Pattison's Appointments
Confirmed.

HARRISBURG, Pa, Nov. 11.-By a strict
party vote the senate to-day declared the
constitution of Pennsylvania unconstitu-
tional, and then adjourned sine die, thus
forever shutting the doors against any off,
cial investigation of the sworn charges
against the auditor-general or verdict in
the state treasurers case when the evil
dence has been heard and fully admitted
by the accused.
The summary of the whole session is
practically that the Republicans frittered
away four weeks to insure their political
salvation, and then refused to act because
even they dared not come out openly and
apply the whitewash brush.
The idea of passing resolution exoner-
ating State Treasurer Boyer had to be.
abandoned to-day. because some of the
Republicans were afraid to face their con-
stituents on that issue. Their only hope
was TO hide under a visionary interpreta-
ton of the constitution, and to do some
of the Republican senators justice they
are very sensitive under the lash which
whipped them into line in obedience to
orders.
When Senator Hall told them some
plain truths to-day they did not relish it,
clared that he believed, in fact, he knew,
that at the time his resolution to determine
the question of jurisdiction was offered ON
October 10Th, that the majority was going
to decide that the Senate had no jurisdic-
ton. Several of the Republicans took the
charge to themselves and protested possi-
bly, little too strongly Senator Hall
charged then that they dared not vote that
they had no jurisdiction before the election
and had therefore saddled all the expenses
of the prolonged session on the state when
they could have ended everything in the
first few day. He said he had no respect
for feelings which permit men to condone
felony and at the same time to call upon
Heaven TO witness the purity of their ac-
tions. During the completion of Senator
Gobin's argument Senator Rapsher called
him to task for misrepresenting the Gil
bride case. and he then read the report of
the, senate committe on that point, which
fully sustained the quorum of the senate
to act in cases like the presnt.
Senators Packer, Brown, Logan and
Sloan made brief arguments, but Senator
Hall said he could not improve on the ar
gument of the attorney-general for to at
tempt to do so would be like painting the
lily or gliding refined gold. Senator Porter
read short speech, in which he declared
that the whole proceeding was purely par
tisan from begiin'i1g to end. There was
also consideranl, other partisan discus
sion, and Senator Robinson in attempting
| to answer Senator Hall admitted that the
| Republicans dared not meet the issue of
| jurisdiction before the election, because he
said 1t would have placed the party in q
doubtful light before Tire people.
The resolutions declaring the offences
charged to be misdemeanors and that the
senate has no jurisdiction was passed by a
| strict party vote the only absentee being
Senator Mylin, who is i'll.
| With the announcement of this vote the
| work of the extra session was practically
| completed. A large batch of nominations
made by the governor since the adjourn
| mpnt oN md
| confirmed without opposition except in
the cases of a few notaries up the state,
| which were laid over at the request OF the
senators from those counties. The cori-
| mittee appointed to wait on the governor
having reported that he had no further
| business the senate was adjourned sine die.
THE FIRST CAUCUS.
The first caucus of the session was held
| by the Republicans last night to consider
the resolution to exonerate the state treas
urer.. While all the Republican senators
could be made to vote for mo iurisdic-
| tion," there were enough of them who
| would not vote in favor of the whitewash
to make the plan impracticable, especially
as an effort to get couple of votes on the
| Democratic side had utterly failed.
When the adjournment of the Senate
there was general rush by the members
to get away, and it was noticeable that,
although defeated, there appeared to be
more satisfaction at the result among the
Democrats than among the Republicans.
The minority had made a brave fight to
enforce the plain provisions of the consti-
tuition and vindicate the honor of the conf
monwealth, but had been blocked and
frustrated by the pure weight of numbers.
| The Republicans, except the more tin-
scrupulous showed clearly that they were
not proud of the record made by their
party at this session. AT the conclusion Of
the session to-day handsome gold watch
and chain and diamond stud were pre-
sented to Chief Clerk Smiley by the sena-
tors and employees.