The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-19

WAHINGToN, April l5.-The extraordi-
nary session of the senate, after running
exactly six weeks. closed today. The pro-
posed investigation OF the charges against
Senator Roach formed tho chief topic OF
the discussion. Three speeches were
made upon 1.-TWO of them by the repub
lican senators from Connecticut, Messrs.
Plat and Hawley. in affirmative of the
right and duty Of the senate TO make
the investigation. and the other by MIR.
Mr.. Mills, a distinct denial OF either the
right and duty. Allied to the same SUBJ
ject, though figuring under the guise of
question of personal privileges, were re-
marks by Mr.. Chandler, Mr.. Voorhees,
and Mr.. Hansbrough. No disposition
was made OF either the matter or the
question as to the admission of three APP
pointed senators from Montana, Wash
ington and Wyoming
The recent action of Commissioner
Blount in withdrawing the American flag
from the government building in Homo
lulu, was the groundwork OF a resolution
offered by Mr.. Lodge directing the secre-
tary of state to inform the senate by whose
authority the flag was lowered in sddi-
ton to this information Mr.. Butler wants
the senate to be informed at the same
time by whose authority it was hoisted.
The resolution and amendment went over
without action, objection 10 immediate
consideration being made by Mr.. German.
The president having informed a COM
mittee OF the senate that ne would have
no further communication for the senate.
an executive session was held between .
and o'clock at which all obstacles to
final adjournment was smoothed away.
and after the doors were reopened and
some little matters of committee investi-
cations adjusted, the senate adjourned
sine die.
MIR. Pratt's Remarks.
Mr.. Plat. in his remarks on the Roach
case, recited the charges against the
North Dakota senator and submitted lin
reply to a suggestion of Mr.. Voorhees)
that il was not a question of morals, but
that il was a question of criminaliiy.
The quention is whether the senate has the
right aud power to make this inquiry, said Mr.
Piatt. III il has | conceive that its duty is plain.
IL a cow oted criminal. who has Just finished
his time in penitentiary, should be sent here
by a state will IL be said that we are poweress
to reject him or expel him? | think that no
precedent can be found in the United States or
England or any other civilized country, where
the doctrine has been upheld that the senate or
the house is held down in judging OF the quail
fcations of its members to the rigid consIitu-
tional requisites Tor election es senator or men,
Der. On the contrary, although the precedents
are in the nature OF the case few. IL has been al
ways held that jurisdiction Is given to inquire
anu investigate under such circumstances. viii
il be contended that we should be obliged to
admit O physical leper IL state should elect
him to the senate?
Mr.. Gray-"What would We do Gbout
it?"
Mr.. Platt-I would expel him. l would re-
fuse TO receive him in the first case, and If re-
ceived without knowledge OF his disease
would expel him. Could Aaron Burr have
come here and said, 81 am thirty years of age.
| have been q citizen OF the stste OF New \ ork
for nine years." and would the senate have
been powerless TO have made any other inquiry
into his qualifications? Would not the great.
notorious fact leSen though ne had escaped
the clutches of the law that he had been en-
gagged in q reasonable conspiracy against the
United States have been fact which the senate
could have considered III Aaron Burr hal
presented himself here with the credentials of
a sovereign state / think that the senate would
have discovered that 10 had power TO inquire
into some other than the constitutional qnalih-
cations Of a man seeking seat in this BODY. !
10 not know that in the case OF the senator
from North Dakota the inquiry would result ia
expulsion.
Speaking for myself desire TO say that no
amount OF sneering, no amount OF insinuatiOn
by senators on the other side Of the chamber
will deter ms from the performance OF what
conceive to be my plain duty IA this matter. If
there be any senator on this side OF the cham
Der against whom any other senator can bring a
charge OF criminal dishouOr Tor anything
which he did before be became n senator | not
only will Vo.s Tor an inquiry, but want TO
| vote for H. II tits believed that there has
| been within the last five years any senator on
this side. against whom there 10 a reasonable
presumption that hs was guilty oil criminal dis
| honesty before he became n senator there
would have been some senator On the other
side of the chamber not so tender-hearted not
50 fearful Of wOuuding the sensibiities OF their
| brother senators, "a tha senator from lndian
IL. who would have introduced resolution OF
investigation.
After Mr.. Platt had resumed his seat
| Mr.. Hoar withdrew the motion made by
| him some days ago TO reconsider the vote
| for the apDo of a committee 10
wait upon the president and inform him
| that the senate is ready to adjourn IL he has
| no further communication TO make. He
| did so on the condition. which was a.
sented on the democratic side. that before
the final adjournment OF the senate q vote
shall DO taken by yeas and nays either on
| Mr. Gorman's substitute for the pending
resolution in the Roach case. or on Mr..
| Harris motion 10 lay the resolution and
| substitute on the table.
Messrs. Harris and Sherman were mp
pointed q committee to wait upon the
| president
The debate on the Roach resolution was
| then resumed, Mr. Mills making an argu-
ment against the right OF the senate %
! investigate and Mr. IIawley arguing in
support OF that right and in favor VI the
proposed investigation.
Force Bnl" Lodge Wants 20 Know.
Mr. Lodge offered resolution direct.
| ing the secretary OF state TO inform the
senate by whose authority tho American
! flag was hnuled down from the govern
ment building at Honolulu on April i.
Let the resolution lie over until TO
morrow" said Mr.. German, and IL went
over.
An amendment TO Mr.. Lodges resolu
ton vas offered by Mr.. Butler, adding &c
IL tho words, "and also by whose authority
the same was hoisted on said building"
| Senators Harris and Sherman, who had
been appointed committee 20 wait upor
the president, reported that they had per