The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-19
Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.

Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
TOPEKA. Kan, Jan. IS-The joint bal
lot this morning for state printer did not
change matters from yesterday. There
was no election. Senator O'Bryan voted
for J. B. Chapman of Fort Scott, Mr..
Rosenthal voted for George w. Crane, and
Senator Taylor. populist, was not present.
But little was done in either house,
there being an early adjournment in BOTH
The populist house admitted Rice OF Cof1ee
county, in complete defiance Of the de-
cision of the supreme court. But what OF
Il? Rice has been here week steadily
voting at every roll call and claiming that
he was member Of the house. His only
authority was his own. He mas voted TO
unseat other members when he had no
membership at all himself Even in this
illegal house be was an Illegal member
until today However, Mr.. Rice has the
assurance TO say: Everything is coming
out all right, and wa will be able to pro
ceed to business tomorrow"
The senate today passed legislative ap-
preparation bill and sent it to the 'rump"
house. II viii probably pass that house
tomorrow When enrolled and signed by
the governor the question Of its legality
will be tested in the supreme court.
p. =. Elder SAYS: Certificates are the
basis of organization. The supreme court
will decide that way when the matter
comes before il. Whichever way it de-
cides, the decision will be obeyed.'
There was a great deal of excitement to-
dav over report that the senate will
arbitrarily unseat five Republican mem
bers tomorrow morning. The matter of
contests was brought up III the senate to-
4 Is 4 F.h 20 N
surprise of the populists, that papers had
been filed in only two cases, and that In
these two the law had not been complied
with. The president Of the senate ad-
mitted this in open senate.
A resolution was typewriter this after
noon in the committee room of the senate,
which is aimed at Lucien Baker. Whether
he will toe unseated or reprimanded re-
mains to be seen. The trouble, or charge,
is that be ''usurped the prerogative of our
worthy presiding officer pro TEN, and
presided in such capacity over pretended
Joint convention, etc" The purpose for
which the unseating Of Republicans is de-
manded by the populists Is 10 prevent the
Joint convention from having "A constitu-
tional majority.
There have been thirty three bills intro
duced in the Republican house of repre-
sentatives and about Il dozen in the
trump" house. A joint resolution to
amend the constitution so that women
can vote was introduced in the house of
the Republicans today and a bill of the
same nature was introduced in the
''rump" house.
Governor IewellinG says that he finds
plenty Of authority to sanction the course
of the populists in organizing the house.
lie cites "A case in Maine AS being a Repub-
lican precedent He also says that the
majority OF the members who had certifi-
ovrrbr n Fpnf rnl Qf lEagf far 1ty-
but be says:
"A seat in the house does not turn on
certificate. IL is the man who was right
fully elected who ought to have the seat,
and 10 is question for the house itself 10
decide who shall have the seat, not "A board
OF canvassers. The Republicans recog-
nzed this principle when they ad-
mitted Rosenthal without a certif
cate, and the populists are carrying
out the same principle, though more
formally, in seating members who have
no certificates, buD who were fairly
elected. When the l2j citizens who
assemble as the legislature come together
they are a chaotic body OF men, without
organization or a head They proceed TO
effect an organization, and when this is
done they are the house. The rights OF
members can not be taken away simply
because they have no certificates. They
are still members and are entitled to per
form jhelT uuly. Acting on tDlS prlnClpie,
the populists have organized the house.
and | believe, Notwithstanding the rival
organization has siXty-seven certificates.
that the populist house will in the end be
recognized As the constitutional house of
representatives. The supreme court has
nothing TO do with il. The house is a law
and a court unto itself, and will take care
OF ITSELF
When asked what he thought the popu-
lists would DO should the supreme court
declare void the laws enacted 10y the popu-
list house. be SAID:
I'VE viii consider that when we come to
it. | do not believe that the supreme court
will do anything OF the kind" "
But If II shoulds' he was asked.
Nv ell, II IL should, il would exceed its
constitutional prerogatives, sud / don't
know what would happen then. But the
Republicans or any body else need not
worry. The legislature is not going to get
into a taugie with the supreme court-nor
i the governor, Tor that matter"
The Republican caucus to nominate a
United States senator Is TO be held tonight.
The lobby Of the Copeland has beea