The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-07
VANISHING SEATS.
Mantle -, Scarcely BE Able tC
tie IN Judging from
appearances.
Dangers That Would Result from
Seating Senator's Appointed by
Governors If States.

WASHINGTON, March 30 -Today's ses-
sion OF the senate was devoted almost
wholly to the debate started yesterday
on the question of the admission of the
senators appointed by governors. The
vice president laid before the senate u
resolution reported from the committee
on privileges and elections declaring Lee
Mantle, appointed by the governor of
Montana, entitled to his seat in the sen
ate. Mr.. Chandler asked unanimous
consent to withdraw a resolution offered
nv him yesterday and TO substitute for
II one directing the committee IN priv
ileges and elections to investigate "A state
ment derogatory to Senator Power of
Montana contained in the Washington
Post Of yesterday. and to report whetner
any, and if so what action should be
taken thereon by the senate with power
70 send for persons and papers. Mr..
Vest said he would not object to he
resolution. lie had expressed his opln-
ion yesterday in regard to investigating
newspaper charges, and he rcasscrted his
deliberate opinion that If the senate
vent into that matter it might as we'll
set aside all other business. Mr. Mitch
ell "a member of the committee
on privileges and elections al.
dressed the senate in opposition
to the majority and in defense Of the
minority report which declares Mr.
Mantle not entitled To the seat. It
might seem somewhat strange. he said,
that there should be after a lapse of
over Il hundred years since the adoption
nf the constitution. room for any serious
difference of opinion as to whether the
executive of "A state had or had not the
constitutional power to confer on a citl-
zen by appointment the right to Il seat
temporarily or otherwise IN the senate
IF the United States.
One strong point in Alr. Mitchclls
argument was p~unctuatcd and erlpha-
sized through a question put to him by
another minority member Of the commit
tee. Mr.. Vance (dem., y. c.. AS TO
whether he could point out any case in
the constitution whC:e IA duty being
primarily imposed upon an officer the
duty of performing that duty was con
ferred on another officer on the failure
Of the first to perform it.
There is 10 such case in the cOnsti-
tuition" Mr.: Mitchell replied, ut can
not be found
Among the disastrous consequences
hat would follow the adoption of the
majority report Mr.. Mitchell mentioned
these: 1t would unreasonably augment
and extend the prerogatives of Il state
executive over those Of the legis-
lature. ard subordinate the constitu-
tional functions of the legislature to
those of the executive. 1t would place
a premium on treason to party organiza-
ton and discipline. 1t would encourage
factions and minorities in legislatures in
nlibustrring efforts to defeat the cleo
ton OF senators, and 1t would tend to
prevent a fair expression Of the will of
the majority Of a legislature. In con-
%clusion he expressed his convic-
ton that a majority Of the senate
would vote for the admission Of the
three senators. He felt that the die was
ist. But such u vote would be one to
erturn the deliberate precedent estab-
Led by the senate after full considcra.
n over siyty.cight years ago. The
Went over without action.