Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-07
RAKED FORE AND AFT,
Attorney General Hensel in
the Effort of His Life
Before the Senate.
0UTBURSTS OF LAUGHTER
Greet His Sallies of Wit Directed at
the Defense's Pleas.
OVER FIVE HOURS OF SOLID TALK.
Congratulated by His Opponents Upon
His Conclusion.
ADMITTED JURISDICTION IN THE CASE
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT,


charged with malfeasance in Office. Mr..
Hensers speech consumed nearly the entire
day. Thirty minutes of the morning hour
were employed by Mr.. Gilbert in conclud.
ing his speech on the facts in the case. He
was hoarse and he finished his talk with
apparent difficulty. He could scarcely
speak over whisper when he began this
morning, and his voice seemed to grow more
husky with each sentence.
1t was IL o'clock when the Attorney Gen.
eral was notified that the Senate awaited
him. Probably five .r:nutes later he en-
tered the chamber, bearing in his right hand
huge roll of notes and on his left arm a
half-dozen law books. He looked fresh and
pleasant. His well made suit fitted him
like q glove, and besides his suit he wore a
smile as broad as the mondays sun. Mr..
Hensel is a rather handsome gentleman. He
has a fat, full, cleanly-shaven face, over
which all the lines of his strong character
are positively marked. He is eloquent and
forcible 1t is his delight to make speech,
and he has probably made as many of them
in law and politics as any man in the State.
The Effort of Mr.. HensePs Life
He appeared to-day more eloquent than
ever before, and he seemed to have squared
himself about for the effort of his life. His
voice was clear as bell and while many of
his thrusts darted like poisoned arrows
through the chamber, his keen sense of
humor, flashing upon the pleas of the de-
fense, frequently caused outbursts of laugh
ter. not only from the Democrats. but from
the Republican side.
Mr.. HeEsel talked from II o'clock until
], and from 2:30 until 6, and during the en-
tire dav the galleries were crow ded, and
every Senator was in the chamber, in his
seat The smoking rooms and resorts were
abandoned, and the most marked attention
was given the Attorney General and his
effort.
AT the conclusion of his speech Senators
Of both parties crowded about the law Of
fcer of the State TO congratulate him. Sem
atcr Ross, whose recognized ability makes
him the undisputed leader of the Senate,
was among the first to grasp the Attorney
Generals hand. ''It was a mighty speech" ;"
MIR Ross said. Il have never had the
pleasure of listening to an abler effort. 1t
is unanswerable.
The Attorney Generals argument on the
question of jurisdiction was probably his
keenest work, and it is now believed that
the jurisdiction dodge will only be resorted
TO in the absence of any other plea to clear
the accused.
Boyer Willing to Go to Trial
Mr.. Boyer tonight announced to his at
torneys that he was opposed to their e1er-
cising the question of jurisdiction in his
case He believes himself innocent of any
crime of commission, and he objects to
lodging the crimes of omission. Mr.. Nc
Camant would indicate that the jurisdiction
dodge in the Boyer suit would best suit him
in this his hour of uncertainty and sus-
pense.
The Attorney General opened his speech
with reference to the Importance and dig
nifty of the occasion and proceeding,
whether they be viewed as a subject of
private interest to the accused, of grave
public importance, or from a professional
and parliamentary point of view as testing
the strength and meaning of the new con-
stltutional provision by a unique proceed
ing He again distinctly stated his rela-
tions to the case with which he was asso-
ciated, simply at the request of the Senate,
and not in the exercise of anv right attach |
ing 10 his Office nor any obligation imposed |
upon it, but he admitted it was his right |
and his duty, in view of certain attacks |
made upon the Executive, and of either |
misunderstanding or Misrepresentation of |
bis own position, TO recall to the Senate |
that when the Governor sent his communi- |
cation to that body, he had declared ''the |
responsibility of determining whether rea- |
sonable cause for removal exists rests with /
you. The public expects that it will be |
met and discharged without regard to |
partisan advantage or detriment, and with
a single concern for the good name and |
honor Of the Commonwealth"
He reminded the Senators that before he
had been called to their assistance, or his
aid or counsel had been invoked, they them
selves had deliberately resolved that thev
had jurisdiction and would exercise it.
They adopted rules for an investigation,
and the parliamentary leader on the ma
jority side of the chamber had said and re-
iterated, without challenge, that they were
here to try the officials, to inquire into
their misconduct, and if guilty, to remove
them. In view of this, il seemed to be idle
to discuss the question of whether or not
the Senate had jurisdiction. The doubts |
and fears that had since been excited or ex-
pressed as to the power of the Senate to
administer them, or to enforce the attend |
ance of witnesses, were mere idle cavil and |
of no immediate practical concern in view
of the fact that there was no dispute about
the testimony.
There were few, if any, disputed facts:
the veracity of no witness had been i'm
peached, nor had the manner in which anv
was qualified been assailed. No one sum-
moned had refused TO obey the process of
the Senate. The fact is that the Senators
themselves determined TO make an investi-
cation, entered upon, completed it in the
case of Treasurer Boyer to their own salts
faction, and it was only when the facts had
presented themselves in all their dimen.
sions that they agreed to hear, consider and
determine the question of jurisdiction.
Arguments of the Attorney General.
The Attorney General then took up sue
cessively and cited copiously the cases Of
Judge kirkpatrick, from the Senate Jour-
nal of 1885; of Sheriff Rowan, from the Sen
ate proceedings of 1887, and Alderman Gil
bride, from the Senate journal of 1888, and
showed that in each and all of these cases
he Senate of Pennsylvania had assumed
5he right of removal by address, and had
exercised the right TO take and hear evil
1ence, not even in open session of the Sem
ite, but through a committee detailed for
hat purpose
He showed that by Senator Robinson's re-
bort in the kirkpatrick case he had fully
committed himself to the doctrine that the
Senate had a right to address the Governor
or the removal of an official for moral tur-
,itude; that Senators Mylin end Osbourn
lad assumed to exercise the right to ex-
mine and report to the Senate the facts
pon which to remove county officer; that
he Senate had adopted their report and
Ommltted itself TO the doctrine that it had
be right TO ascertain, even through q CON-
1lttee, iacts TO justify an address for re-
lovali and finally citing the case of Alder 4