The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-08

Fifty second Congress. The Presiden-
tial and diplomatic galleries were I'M
occupied, but the reserved sections wero
we'll filled with ladies, including the
wives and daughters of Senators. The
desks of Senator's who we're to take their
seats as Senator's for the first time we're
marked by baskets of flowers, and the
Vice Presidents desk was decorated in
a like manner. There was an unusually
large number Of Senators to be sworn
in, counting up seventeen without the
Senator from Florida, either the name
of Call or Davidson being on the printed
list of Senators.
At noon the Vice President took tho
chair and the session was opened with
prayer by Chaplain Rev. j. G.. Butler
The President welcomed the Sena-
tors to the resumption of their official
duties and called the Senate to order
The Vice President then laid before the
Senate the credentials Of tho new Sena-
tors, and letters of resignation received
by him during the recess. Those papers
were read, the first being the letter
of the resignation of Senator Reagan,
of Texas, and the appointment by the
Governor of that State of Mr.. Chiffon
in his stead
<hlUCt tutN WCIC DOGIl Tcuu MT. IIaTrlS
expressed opinion that the proper course
to be pursued with them was to refer
them both to the committee on privi-
leges and elections SO that the ques-
tion might be decided on the light of
thorough investigation. lie asked that
Mr.. Cobb'S credentials DO laid on the
table for day, and said that he would
probably tomorrow move their reference
to the committee on privileges and cleo
tions. Mr.. George said he would not
now object to that request.
He had after Il very careful eXamina-
ton, both as to law and facts, found
that there was no controversy as to
facts and therefore there was no neces-
sity for an investigation of them by a
| committee. AS to the law it was plain and
had received tho judicial determination
| of the Senate, SO there remained neither
| question of law nor fact for the atten-
ton of the committee. The equality of
! the. States ought not to be intcrfered
| with Tor single hour when there was
no serious question about which there
could be any difference among the.Sena-
tors. However, in Difference to the
Senator from Tennessee, he would make
no objection to letting the matter go
over until tomorrow, but he gave no
tlce that he would then insist that the
spSihbS hdu OoIu Iue ldCUS ana Tho law
before 1T, and ought to proceed at once
to seat Call, legally elected Senator from
the State Of Florida.
Mr.. lloar said that he had received
and carefully examined the statement
of the Governor of Florida and that it
presented, so far as he could discover,
simply the constitntionality and con-
struction OF the existing law of Congress
as to the election of Senators; that the
question had frequently been before the
Senate and had been always decided in
the Same way. He agreed with Mr..
George as to the constitutional right of
each State to be equally represented in
the Senate, and it occurred to him tina
after the oath had been administered to
all the new Senators he should move to
could then go over till to morrow.
Mr.. George added some further re-
marks to the effect that the Governor
of Florida had undertaken to usur the
power in appointing Senator after one
had been elected. Both credentials were
then placed on file.
The credentials of Mr.. Brice as Sena.
tor elect from Ohio having been pre-
sented and read, Mr.. Sherman said
Before the oath Of office is administered
to Mr.. Brice, desire to say that large
portion Of the citizens of Ohio contend
that he was not an inhabitant of that
State at the time of his election, and
was, therefore, not eligible to seat in
this body.
"On examining tho presidents. of
which there are several in the history
of the government and some of them
most important, am entirely satisfied
that Mr.. l5rice is entitled to be sworn
in on prima facile case of his credentials,
which are regular in form. | simply
give this notice, however, so that his
being sworn may not be considered any
waiver, or any misapprehension or mis-
construction, If the people or lcgisla-
ture OF Ohio should assert or provo to
the satisfaction Of the Senate that Mr..
brlce was not at the time of his cleo
ton an inhabitant OF Ohio. / think
that this statement from mo is proper
and necessary. But make no obiec.
tion to the swearing in Of Brice."
The swearing in of Iewly-elected Tor
appolnted) Senators was then proceeded
with. They were sworn in groups, or
four or five, in the first group being Mr..
Brice, who was escorted by Mr.. kcnna
In the next group were Messrs Chiffon,
of Texas; Dubois, of Idaho; FELTON,, of
California, and Gallinger, Of Now
Hampshire. Mr.. Hoar said that as to
Mr. Chiffon there was a question as to
whether the Governor of Texas had tho
power to appoint before a vacancy had
actually occurred. lie would make no
objection to the oath being administered
to Chiffon now, but he should after
wards move to refer the case to the
committee on privileges and elections.
Mr. Hale said that he desired to OK
anime the credentials of Dubois and
asked that they lie on the table till to-
morrow. That was agreed to and the
other Senators in groups Were sworn In.