The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-12-08
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FIFTY SECOND CONGRESS-.
Despite Unpropitious Weather the
Galleries Are Densely Thronged
With Spectators
The New Senators Take the Oath
Of ofaoe in Blocks
Of Five.
Drice and Dubois Given seats--No Senator
From Florida Brief Session
of the House s...


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les were crowded with spectators to- day to
witness the opening Of TINT branch Of con-
grcss. The waH an unusually large number
Of new senators to be sworn in, counting up
seventeen without the senator from Flor
ida, neither the name of Call nor Davidson
being on the present list. At noon the vice
president took the chair and the session
opened with prayer by Chaplain Butler.
After this tho vioe-president laid before
the senate the credentials OF the new een-
ators, the resignation Of Senator Reagan,
OF Texas, and the appointment by the gov
ernor Of that state Of Mr.. Chiffon. The
other credentials were those Of FELTON,, of
California, to fill the vacancy caused by
Hearst'a death; the resignation Of Ed
munds, Of Vermont, and the appointment
of Proctor, and tho credentials Of Call and
Davidson, each claiming to be senator from
Florida. After the latter two were read
Harris moved that they bs referred to the
committee on privileges and elections. So
the question might be decided in the light
Of thorough Investigation, he asked that
they be laid on the table. George said he
would not object to this request,
bnt that to morrow he would insist
that the senate had both the facts
and the law before it, and ought to proceed
at once to seat Call as the legally elected
member After q few remarks by Hoar,
the matter went over. When the creden-
tials OF Mr.. Brice, senator-elect from Ohio,
were presented Senator Sherman said: Be
fore the oath of office is administered to
MIR. Brioe desire to say that large por-
tlon of the citizens of Ohio contend that he
wa 8 not IN inhabitant Of that state at the
time Of his election and was, therefore,
not eligible to a seat in this body. On ex-
anining precedents. Of which there are
several in the history Of the government,
and some Of them most Important, am en-
tirely satisfied that Brics is entitled to be
sworn in on the prima facie evidence of his
credentials, which ate regular in form. I
simply give this notice. however, SO his be-
ing sworn may not be considered anv waiver
or any Misrepresentation or misconstruc-
tion, if the people or the legislature of
Ohio should assert and prove to the salts
faction Of tho senate that Brice was not at
the Ame Of his election an inhabitant Of
Ohio But I make no objection to tie
swearing in Of Mr.. Brice.'' s %
The swearing in OF newly-elected or ap-
pointed senators was then proceeded with
They were sworn in in groups Of four or five,
II the hist, group being Bsioe, who
was escorted by Kenna, In the
next group were Chiffon, of Texas; Dubois
OF Idaho: FELTON,, Of California, and Gal
linger. Of New Hampshire. Hoar said that
as to Chiffon there was a question as to
whether the governor Of Texas had power
to appoint before u vacancy actually oc-
ourred. He would afterwards move to re-
fer the oase to the committee on privileges
and elections. Hale said that he desired to
examine the credentials of Dubois, and
asked that they lie on the table till to.mor-
row. This was agreed to and the other
senators il groups were sworn in. The
name OF Hill, sonator-olect from New York,
WAS not printed on the list, nor we're his
credentials presented. There were but four
members Of the senate not in their seats.
These were Jones, Of Arkansas; Jones, Of
Nevada; Stanford, of California, and
Vance, Of North Carolina. Hoar submitted
a motion that Call be admitted to take the
oath as ssenator from Florida, and said he
would let it 90 over till tomorrow. Cullom
made like motion in reference to Dubois.
After the transaction of some routine
business the Senate adjourned.