Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-03-18

PLEDGES AkE BROKEN.
Violations 81 Faith by Democratic seaa-
tors and the Lieutenant Governor.
Several weeks ago when members were
talking about the committees going TO the
upper peninsula some one said 1t was q phys-
ical inpossibilty for some Of The committees
TO 60 and return within the tine allotted to
them under the arrangements made for the
regular recess. During their absence some
political questions might come up which
would be settled upon party lines and some
understanding should be arrived at. Senator
wisner, who was the aeknowledged Demo
cratic leader, arose In his place and said,
speaking foi the Democratic members Of the
senate, that DO advantage should be taken
OF the absence OF members aud that none OF
the disputed questions should he acted upon
in the Sbsence Of any considerable number of
members, nor icstd0gs due notice being gssea.
Several other Democrats arose aud indoIsed
what Senator Nisner had said. Finally the
licutenant-goyernora arose and said that What
Mr.. Wisner had just stated WAS the proper
thing and he knew that none Of lsOse
questions tnosad be acted upoa srifhos1f due
notice gspe' 10 ehen they sootsid come up.
To the propositions thus made from the
Democratic side the Republicans assentei,
aud IL was upon the understanding thus ar
rived at that they felt at liberty TO attend the
convention 81 Jackson. They have been
blamed for thus giving opportunity for the
political knsvery which followed. But they
had no reason 10 suppose that the whole
Democratic contingent in the senate would
violate their agreement, break down all pre-
cedents, ignore the rules of the senate, over
ride the rights OF the minority, receive and
act upon lying reports and mutilAte and
fasify the records IN order TO carry out
petty partisan scheme. They knew that In
all legislative bodies one member who breaks
| q pair is regarded by his fellow members
with contempt, and they did not expect that
q whole party IN the senate would place It
| seN upon this degrading level Above ALL
they did not think that tho lieutenant-gov-
ernoy. after the solemn assurances given
from .he chair would lend himself to any
such disreputsble scheme.
But thsy knew the acknowledgements
better on the evening OF the 18th
than they did on the morning OF the oath.
and they learned still more OF him on the
26 b. Earlier In the session when the matter
Of re6istricting tho state was under consider
atiou the acknowledgements proposed TO sp
point an arportionment COMMITTEES with q
Democratic majority, 90 that congressional,
senatorial and representative gerryman0er
could be made. The Republicans and Patrons,
seeing what the scheme wac, decided to take
away from the governor the privilege Of ap-
pointment and to elect the reapportionment
committee In tho senate, where the Republic
ans aud Patrons had q majority. The lieu
tenant-goyernor, seeing that his scheme would
fail, begged that the humiliation Of taking
the privilege of appointment from him be
not inflicted. lie promised TO appoint q
committee composed of four Republicans,
four Democrats aud tho three Patrons Of To-
dustry, insuring the Patron OF Industry bal
ance OF power In the committee just ss it ex-
listed in the senate. Upon this specific agree
ment with Senators Bastone (P. OF -, Brown
tP. Of ~, Wilmington tkep.) and Wheeler
(Rep.), representing the members OF the
Republican and Patron caucus, President
Strong was allowed the courtesy OF making
the appointments. He kept his word then,
when be had 10, but he did il in way look
ing toward the action of Feb. 70. He said to
Senator Wheeler that he would not announce
the committee until the Republican members
mad been conferred with. The Republicans
decided upon Senators Wilmington. Mines,
Flesbiem and Taylor. However, the lieutcn-
aDt-governor never conferred with them AMI
the frat thing they knew the committee was
announced with Senator Taylor's place taken
by Senator Horton and Senator Milues' by
Senator Gsrvelink. On Feb. ~
after Mr.. Morrow had been fraudulently
placed In Senator Horizons seat the lieutsn-
ant-governor announced that he had mace
certain appointments, among them that OF
Mr.. Morrow. the political tramp" upon the
committee on appoT,iOnmert in place OF Sen
ator Horton. This gave the Democrats i've
members OF the committee instead OF the
four agreed upon. This at once created an
uproar. Republican and Patron senators de-
nounced the action as q violation Of the
agreement previously made and cries OF
''Shame Disgrace. Dishouorr' were heard
In the hall. Senator Mines stated clearly
the character CT the agreement. Senator
N 40 s,xt 49, ,.yta frf..
such an agreement and tina, 'tne president
OF this senate was party TO it,"
"lou mustn't say that | was party to
it." exclaimed the president, when Senator
Wilmington replied, with emphasis, 81 do
say you were party to 1t, aud now reiter-
ate it,"
Senator Wheeler. with whom the president
bad made the agreement and whom he had
asked not to do the presiding officer the dis
courtesy OF taking from him the privilege OF
appointing the committee. walked toward
the presidents chair aud shouted, 81 was q
witness TO the agreement on your part and
you know It."
Mr.. StroIg, who had previously so hum
bled himself as to beg that the appointing
power be not taken from him, and who has
since made himself conspicuous for bis iguor-
snce Of the rules aud for n supercilious dis
regard OF the rights Of members. now pre-
scented pitiaple spectacle OF modification
and chsgriu.
Senator Mines moved that the announce
mept OF the president be approved except
that portion which referred TO the appoint
ment of sr. Morrow upon the committee on
spportionment. Tue Democrats here came
tn the Presidents rescue with points OF
order against the motion, and the president.
according to biz custom. declared the points
we'll taken. Senator Mines appealed from
the decision Of the chair. saying that he did
90 because after repeated proof OF unfair
rulings he had now lost all respect for the
president Before vote upon the sppesi