The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-08
OPENING OF CONGRESS-.
CREDENTIALS OF NEW SENATORS
UNDER DISPUTE.

SANDGAN O40A ~ A6s
Senator Sherman Int,mstes That
There May be Some objection to
senator-elect Brice sitting for Ohio.
The Contest From Florida Sent TO the
Committee oa Privileges and Elec-
tions.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Tin defiance Of the
rain which prevailed from early morning
until about noon. when there was slight
clearing up Of the weather, the Senate gall
leries were crowded with spectators, eager
to witness the opening of the Fifty
second congress. The presidential and
diplomatic galleries. were unoccupied,
but the reserved sections were well filled
with ladies, including the wives and daugh-
ters OF senator's Here and there through
out the chamber the desks of senators who
were to take their seats as senator's for the
nrst time wore marked by baskets Of flow
ers and the Vice Presidents desk was is.
ungulshed IN like manner. There was an
unusually large number Of new senators TO
be sworn In, counting up seventeen without
the senator from Florida, neither the name
OF MIR. Call or Mr. Davidson being on the
printed list Of senator's.
OPENING OF THE SESSION.
AT noon the Vice President took the chair
and the session was opened with prayer by
the chaplain, Rev. j. G. Butler. The Vice
President welcomed the senators 10 a re-
sumption OF their official duties and called
the Senate to order. He then laid before
the Senate the credentials of the new sena-
tors and the letters of resignation received
by him during the recess. These papers
were read, the first being the letter of
resignation Of Senator Reagan of Texas
and the appointment by the governor of
that state OF Mr.. Chiffon 20 his
stead. The next credentials read
we're, those of Mr.. FELTON, Of Calf
fornin, TO fill the vacancy caused by the
death OF Mr.. Hearst; and the next were the
resignation Of Mr.. Edmunds of Vermont
and the appointment of Mr.. Proctor In his
stead. The next credentials were those Of
Messrs. Call and Davidson. After they
wore 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 aud elections so
that the question might be decided in the
light of a thorough investigation. He asked
that both credentials be laid on the table
for the day, and said that he would proba-
bly, tomorrow move their reference to the
committee on privileges and elections.
MR.. GEORGES CLAIMS.
Mr.. George said he would not now object
to that request. He had after very careful
examination both as to the law and facts
found that there was no controversy as to
the facts; and therefore there was no neces-
sity for an investigation of them by the
committee. AS to the law, it was plain and
had received the judicial determination of
the Senate, so that there remained neither a
question Of law nor fact for the attention
of the committee. The equality OF the states
ought not TO be interfered with for single
hour, when there was no serious question
about which there could be any difference
among the senators. However. in defer
ence 20 the senator from Tennessee, he
would make no objection to letting the
matter go over until tomorrow, bat he
gave notice that he would then insist that
the Senate had both the facts'eni the law
before it and ought to proceed at once 10
seat Mr.. Call, the legally elected senator
from the state Of Florida.
HoAR AGREES WITH GEORGE.
Mr.. Hoar 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
constitutIonality aud construction of the
existing law of congress as to
tion had been frequently before the
Senate, and had been always decided
in the same wal. He agreed with Mr..
George as to the constitutional right of
each etate to be equally represented in the
Senatee and it occurred to him that after
the oath had psen administered to all the
new senators he should move to take up the
Florida case. The matter could then 20
over till tomorrow.
Mr.. George added some further remarks
to the effect that the governor of Florida
had undertaken to usurp power Ia appoint
ing senator after one had been elected.
Both credentials were thee placed on file.
OBJECTION TO BRIcE.
The credentials of Mr.. Brice as senator
elect from Ohio having been presented aud
read. Mr.. Sherman said: Before the oath
of Office is administered to Mr.. Brice de-
sire to say that q large portion Of the citi-
IONS of Ohio contend that he was not an in
habitant of that state at the time
of his election and was there
fore not eligible TO seat in this
body. In examining the precedents, Of
which there are several in the history of
the government, and some Of them most
important, l am entirely satisfied that Mr..
Brice is entitled TO be sworn in on the
prima facie case OF his credentials, which
are regular in FORM / simply give this
notice, however. 30 that his being
sworn may not be considered any waiver of
any ul5appTBueublOu OF InlsCOQSLTuCtlOD. IL
the people 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.
think that this statement from me is proper
and necessary but make no objection to
the swearing In of Mr.. Brice"
SWEARING THEM IN.
The swearing Of the newly elected or ap-
pointed senators was then proceeded with.
They were sworn ir groups or four or five,
in the first group being Mr.. Brice, who was
escorted by Mr.. Keuna. In the next group
were Messrs Chiffon Of Texas, Dubois Of
Idaho. FELTON, Of California and Gallinger Of
New Hampshire.
Mr.. Hoar said that as to Mr.. Chiffon
there was question as to whether the gov
ernor Of Texas had the power TO appoint
before a vacancy had actually occurred.
He would make no objection to the oath be-
ing administered to Mr.. Chiffon now, but
he should afterward move to refer the case
10 the committee on privileges and cleo
tions.
A QUESTION AS TO DUBOIS.
Mr.. Hale said that be desired to examine
the credentials of Mr.. Dubois, and asked
that they lie on the table till tomorrow.
That WAS agreed 10, and the other sena-
tors in groups were sworn In.
Mr.. Hoar submitted motion that Mr.
Call be admitted to take the oath as senator
from the state or Florida and said he would
not press the motion now, but would let it
go over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Cullom made like motion In refer
ence to Mr.. Dubois.