Evening journal., 1891-01-21
CONNECTICUT'S CRISIS.
DR.. Alsop Not Present in the
Senate Chamber.
GEN. mERWIN MAKES A SPEECH.


he Presided Briefly as Chairman in the
Senate Despite the Fact That the Demo
Gratis Have Declared His Successor Elect
ed-Tho Deadlock stn Very Stubborn.
HARTFORD Conn, Jan. 21.-The Repub-
licaus scored point over their Democratic
opponents in the senate chamber yesterday.
J. w Alsop, the alleged lieutenant COVER
nor, presided over the senate at its last
meeting, and proposed, at that time, to
continue doing So
Lieutenant Governor Merwin called the
senate to order, and just outside the door
was u sheriff's posse Of a dozen men to
help him keep order. After a brief ad-
dress he called Senator Reed (Rep) to the
chair, and vacated, having asserted his
authority The only thing done in the sen
ate was the preliminary ballot for United
States senator. The members formally
cast a majority vote for Carlos French, Of
Seymour The senate then took a recess
until next Monday
Mr.. Platt's Candidacy.
In the house a ballot for senator was
held and Orville II. Platt received 1874
votes, every Republican vote, while the
combined Democratic candidates received
12s votes. Thomas M. Waller leading with
30 Every Republican voted for Platt, and
az the Republican majority in joint session
is 9, Mr.. Platt is practically assured Of a
return to the national senate. The settle
n lAa
as far from finish as ever.
Gen. Merwin's Speech.
To the senators Gen. Merwin said: "Cir.
cumstances over which have no control
kept me in Office as lieutenant governor
for a longer period than had anticipated
Feeling that some Of you or Of my fellow
citizens might think me negligent Of pub
lie trust in not having assumed my duties
as presiding officer over your honorable
body, it appears incumbent upon me to
explain to you my position.
mo one was ever placed in more deli.
cate situation than T find myself As a
candidate for governor it seemed proper
that | should refrain from taking part in
yonr proceedings for q reasonable time
Thinking this delay might be OF longer
duration than any Of us have anticipated.
am before you to say that if it should
continue to period when it appeared to be
my duty to again take up the gavel will
not shrink from it, No one will more
cheerfully welcome DR.. Alsop as my sue
cessor than myself when the general as.
sembly has declared him lieutenant gov.
ernor. Senators, let me hope that the
clouds of the early part Of our session will
bring an evening Of sunshine and good
deeds done
Politically find the senate of 1891 the
reverse Of 1889; but let me hope before the
close of the present session, we shall find
but one party, as we did then. and
that party solid for law and order. and
ever ready to defend the fair name of
Connecticut Senators, if / am called
again 70 preside over your deliberations.
let me ask OF the majority only the same
courtesy that ! tried to extend to the mi
nority two years ago
Democrats 0isgusted.
After his speech Gen Merwin left the
capitol and started for his home in New
Haven. That he was permitted to do this
without protest from the Democratic
senators caused expressions OF both sur.
prise and disgust from the Democrats out
side, who could not understand why these
seventeen senators sat idly by and allowed
the general to act in his official capacity
after they had duly sworn in and recog-
nized another lieutenant governor and
president Of the body. The senators say
that a courtesy extended to the former
presiding officer of the senate harmed
them in no way and did not weaken their
position or their claims, at least until
after the returning board Of the house
is heard from.
So DR.. Alsop was not on hand to try to
prevent Gen. Merwin from making his lit
tie speech, but Bulkeley and his men had
prepared for his coming, and on the first
occasion since the present session OF the
general assembly was begun the doors
leading to the lieutenant governors room
both from the senate chamber and the
public corridor, were locked and guarded.
il is said. Gen. Merwin and his counsel
were alone allowed to enter, though the
rooms have been common to all senators
heretofore
Deputy sherins on Hand.
1t is asserted by the Democrats that
Governor Bulkeley had in the state capitol
not only Sheriff SpRlding, Of this county.
and batch OF his deputies, but the sher.
ifs Of Middlesex, New London and Wind
ham counties, all Republicans, and had
ordered them TO protect the Republicans
now in possession Of the state offices at all
hazards Il is also said that dozen spe.
cial deputies were sworn in to prevent the
Democrats from taking possession Of the
offices, but especially 70 prevent the Dem.
ocratic lieutenant governor-elect, DR.. All.
sop, from presiding over the deliberations
Of the state senate.
FALL RIVER, Mass. Jan. 2l.-George II.
HnthaMRv Mns fOnnd drntrnnl In Rieacll.