New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-31
TWO REPUBLICANS OUSTED.
THE DEMOCRATS OF THE RHODE ISLAND
HOUSE OvERREACH THEMSELVES
BECAUSE or THEIR REVOLUTIONARY COURSE
THE REPu BI.ICAN SENATE WILL NOT MEET
THE LOWER PRANCH IN GRAND COM
MITTEE- EXCITING SCENES IN THE
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBrNE.I

fought for a bic stake and lost, and all because
they unseated two members Of the House. The
Republican Senate consider the action OF the
Democrats revolutionary, and they will refuse
in future, they refused to-day, to join the
House in Grand Committee. The Supreme Court
had already decided that John B. Landers could
not te un,nated but the Democratic House de-
clcd differently, and to-day ouStrd Mr.. Landcrs
The election has been as revolutionary and scnsa-
tIona the Democrats promised it would be-
The Democrats have lett nothing undonc which
they had said they would do. and il only remains
to whether not the "rump" Grand C6ni-
mittec will be- convened Tomorrow
The dag opened with all the legislators in serl-
OILS mood. The Republicans We're at the Stis,"
House early the Democrats being assembled III
their headquarters in Thamcs-st. awaiting the
time when the word should be given to proceed
to the capitol. The Democratic programme was
10 wait at the headquarters until there had been
u full answer 10 the Ioll-caH. The tardiness vi
one member caused delay oi about half-hour:
Oh his arrival the party started for the stat"
Ilou>s. IL had hcen expected that Democrats
would OPPOSE the Wilson act. which provides for
calling the General Assembly together and per-
fcctng it, organization: but IL was their intention
To spring some surprises. and they began by APP
parrnty falling in with the Wilson act. Under
the new law. the secretary of State must make up
roll # both hols,.> from III" credentials which
cent him. and in credentials ar" not pr'rs'nt
I'd hv u member. the secretary must place on the
rolls the name Of the member who represented tn"
district in III. preceding General Assembly In
this instance the law worked qurerly, tor on the
list were the names of the dead. the missing and
III" non-clcctcd The House had been called IL
order by the senior member from Newport IS the
Constitution requires but Mr. Clark declined 10
entertain any motions Tho temporary list was
quickly read and then, by common consent, the
ncmbcrs cent up their credentials, that the clerks
might correct the list of the IIouss.
The first trouble came when Mr.. Wilson. Re
publican. of East Providence moved that the
name ol Emory Hall. Of Coventry, lie plscer on
,h" li>t instead Of that OF Postmaster Stephen
T. Potter The hitter had not appeared 10 quail
iy and Mr. Hall was present to sit ns hold
over until hls successor should have duly quail
fred
Mr. Brown Democrat. of Providence. protested.
II WAS only fifteen minutes before this that he
had sccn Mr. Potter walking about on the floor
of the House lie did not think that the Re-
publicans could pat Halls name on this list
after they had conveniently got Potter out oil
the way. because he was disqualified as men,
bcr Il she .louse by reason of holding Federal
once III tUe ptrtOHltt Ut h-IdNay.
Mr.. Clark thought that it would be improper
10 let Mr.. Halls 20 upon the list If
Mr. Potter had purpcscly, or upon the advice OF
the Rel ublcan leaders, ab-"nt"d himself from
the House, that was his and their business.
Then the roll call was ordered When the name
of Mr. Hall was reached there WAS another pro-
test Mr. Wilson rctortcd that Mr. Hall had
Constitutional right to remain IN his seat until
his successor should have been elected and have
qualified He considered that 1t WAS Consttu-
tional for man 10 lc sent out and that II
Was perfectly correct for another to hold over
IN that mans placr.
When the roll had been completed the Sccp-
tary Of State came in from the senate and adj
u,inistcrcd the oath to the members. franklin Z.
Owen. Of Scituatc. was elected Speaker by
vot. of 10 to 30. James l.. jerks, of
Pawtuckct. John T.. Conlry. OF Warren, was
elected reading clerk, and Arthur Cushing, record
inc clerk by about IN" same vote. The Demo
Gratis surprird the Republicans by nominating a
s.rscant-at arms and five assistants. Republicans
who had been in the Legislature for years de-
clarrd that they had never heard of such officers
being elected, and they wished To know the
authority for the step. Mr.. Garvin, of Cum
brrland, said that the Constitution authorizes the
two houses to elect Speaker, clerks, pages and
other officers and, he added, " these are somr
Of tho., other officers The reason for the clcc-
tlon Of these new officers i not yet fully APP
parent.
A.aIn the io call vas proceeded with. and
when tie nsm" Of James B Lenders. of james
town, was reached Mr. Honey, Of Newport.
moved that the call be suspended aE'. chat tn"
petition of S'mrc' Smith Of jamestown, be-
rcud Thi, petition set forth that there !ild been
an election in that town. and that Smith had
received - votes Knowles -. and Landers ii.
There were sN ALLEGED defective ballots and one
blank Mr.. Smith claimed the six ballots dnC
with them an election. and ac prayed that the
seat be- given him. Accompanying this petition
was % resolution which Mr.. Honey moved should
ne put upon its passage.
When Mr. Honey had concluded his remarks.
Mr. An"n. of East Greenwich, presented Il rc'olu-
tion providing that this matter should be re-
lerrcd 10 n committee OF five, and that hearings
should be advertised upon It, He declared that
tLc Democrats were establishing n dangerous
precedent. and that nothing should be done until
Mr. Landers had had full and fair hearing. tie
advised the Democrats TO 90 sow ana sure.
daughter Mr. Aliens motion was defeated by
a strict party vote and then the other one was
carried and Smith got his seat and was sworn In
hy the clerk who is also Justice OF the peace IN
the absence Of the Secretary OF State.
The Secretary had left the State House with
the Senate after that body had adjourned. The
upper branch. which is largely Republican, had
oroanizcd with Orlando Smith the rolls
the holdovcr senator from Westerly, againsts the
protests OF the Democrats; and Senator Watson,
whose vote i claimed hy both parties, had shown
his loyalty by voting with the Republicans to
sustain the ruling of Governor Brown
Mr Honey attacked the right Of William llOX-
sic. Of Westerly, to hold seat in the House. lie
sent "A paper 10 the Speaker, which contained the
assertion that at an election in Westerly Mr.. lIox
sic had been chosen Senator. lie had never re-
fused to qualify in the upper branch, had never
refused 70 serve there ana had failed to procure
for himself a certificate Of election. lie had also
failed to declare that there was vacancy and to
call an election to I'LL that vacancy Mr. lloXsie
of affairs AS Ioxsie had failed To- comply with
the wishes Of the people of Westerly. 1t was in
cumbent upon the House 10 sehu MN 10 the Sen
l,..l l..lo