Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-02-07
SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE.


at lq o'clock this morhing, and It was an
exciting session, only surpassed by that OF
this afternoon. Tho galleries were PACKED
as they have been at every session since
the first vote on senator last Tuesday. Tho
honse at once went into committee of the
whole for the further Consideration Of the
Lawrence county contest cases. Mr.. Mar
tin, attorneys for the contestoes, presented
their side of the case in q speech Of an
hour and ten minutes covering nll the
points of these elaborate cases 80 that
they were perfectly clear and plain. 1t
was highly creditable effort worthy of
his reputation as a speaker and lawyer.
The effect upon the members seemed fa-
vorable to his plea, but the strength of the
combine swept away oil arguments, and
Mr. Parker's ten minute speech in closing
was skillful affair and accomplished it's
object of arousing the prejudces of the
members. The vote being taken for the
committee Of the whole to report an indefi-
mite postponement of the matter, IL was
lost By "A vote o. 6i TO g. Contestee Graham
voting, whose vote when the matter was
before the house this afternoon was not
allowed. The majority report was then
adopted.
The chief law point of these cases is
whether the clerk of courts has the right
TO 20 outside of his Office to issue NATURAL
zation papers. Martins plea took tho
ground that he had such q right and Of
ferod in case of doubt TO refer the matter
to the supreme court The irregularities
In Whitewood precinct were ackuowl.
edged by both sides as slight.
At 4 o'clock, on motion of johnson of
Dawson, the rules were suspended anl
the report of the mmtt,e of the whole
on the Lawrence county cases came up.
Mr.. Converse stated that although in.
huences had been brought TO bear upon
him, that "a question in which he was In
terested would lie defeated unless he
voted certain way, he should vote against
seating the contestants.
Mr.. Kelley, of Moody, stated that there
were other influences at work; that
he had been offered 81 90 to vote for Mr.
Moody for senator, and would disclose
the name OF the party to the proper com
mittee. This created a decided sensa-
tion.
Mr.. Buchanan demanded the name
Mr.. Hall stated that he had been offered
bribe of s,0JO by prominent demo
crat to keep out of the republican eau.
cuses and could produce witnesses to the
same.
Mr.. Walker, of the committee on brib-
cry, stated that the COMMITTEES would have
alerort ready on these cases for the next
session.
A vote taken on the seating of Burns In
place of Graham resulted 63 in favor and
60 against. Graham did not vote on his
own case, Jillson not voting and GODDARD,
Gleason and Converse voting with the re-
publicans. The question was reconsldcred
laid on the table.
Mr. Burns was then sworn in az a mem.
ber of the house In place of Graham.
motion was made for the seating OF the
next contestant, Wilson, in the order of
report and il was interrupted by a mo-
tion by Mr.. Gardner TO have the speaker
appoint committee TO investigate the
charges of bribery made on the floor ID
day. This was referred to the present
committee on bribery.
PIERRE, S. d., Jan. s6.-The celebrated
Lawrence county contest cases came upon
"a resolution by Mr.. Buchanan citing the
fact that the members could not be un.
seated without taking into consideration
the votes thrown out by the illegal natur-
alizations claimed by the contestants IN
that county.
After much discussion from both sides,
the opposition claimed that the resolution
did not emboly all the points In the case,
the resolution WAS adopted by a vote of
81 to 60, the speaker and Messrs. Bowell
and Converse. independents, and Messrs.
GODDARD and Reagan, democrats, voting
with the republicans, aud Jillsan, inde-
pendent, did not vote.
If the republicans threw a bombshe!l
into the house this morning by carrying
their resolution 20 refer the Lawrencs
county contest cases TO the supreme court
in the teeth of a seeming triumphant com
bine, IL was firecracker as compared TO
the mine that the combine sprung un ler
the hopeful republicans in the afternoon
session when Mr.. Bowel moved "a recon
sheraton, which was carried by vote of
81 to 5S.
A motion to suspend the rules for the
sI,e ,,.ft h. ,l,, -.l,
tive to the seating OF the Lawrence county
contestants received "a vote of the ma iori,y
of the mem bers present AMI was carried.
Mr.. Buchanan openly gave notice Of diia-
tory tactics on the part of ths republican
Tar' as IL rererreu 10 tns seating or Mr..
Blake in place of Mr.. Fowler to 10 to
morrow morning it was lost by vote Of
81 to ~. The previous question was Sec
onded upon motion of Mr. Norton, and
there was n call OF the house with the pros
pect of its being fought to the bitter en1
and lasting good share of the night.
The call of the house continued inter
mittently with motions to al journ aud the
like until Q o'clock, whom u vote was finally
reached on the main question of seating
Mr.. Blake in place of Mr.. Fowler, whici
carried by a vote Of js to 81. There were
five pairs and Messrs. Jillson and Fowler
did not vote. Mr.. Fowler rose to "A ques-
on of privilege and pathetically described
his political decapitation which he regret.
ted as a stain on his good name, but fore
saw that it would eventually be the down.
fall of the party perpetrating it. His al |
dress made a deep impression on the
house. Mr.. Blake was declared legally
elected to the seat held by Mr.. Fowler !
BY agreement al diournment was then Sc
cured until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
The time OF both houses today was
largely devoted to political questions and
how to elect a senator by unseating the op.
position Little other business was at
Some unimportant bills were
introduced in both houses. The commit
tee on bribery announced that its report |
was not yet completed. Mr. Johnson, of
Dawson, introduced a bill to abolish the
grand jury.
In the senate the point Of the Lawrence
county cases came up as to its effect on |
the contest being made for Washabaugh's |
seat.
PIERRE, s. D.. jan 2S.-The senate this
concurred in the house amend.
ment to its delinquent tax bill, which pro-
vides penity of per cent. per month |
from the time Of de'in Iuency after Febru-
ary /. The governor will probablv sian