Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-16


WASHINGTON, D. c., April 15.-The
extraordinary session of the Senate,
after running exactly six weeks, closed
to-day. The proposed investigation OF
the charges against Senator Roach
formed the chief topic of the days dis
cussion. Three speeches were made
upon 1.-TWO of them by the Republican
Senators from Connecticut, Messrs.
fisss-and Hawley, in the affirmative OF
the rightNsnd duty Of the Senate to
make the investreStion, and the other
by Mr.. Mills in denIal OF either the
right or duty. Allied to the same sub.
ject, though figuring under the e2lse OF
a question OF personal privilege, were,
remarks by Messrs. Chandler, Voorhees,
and Hansbrough. No disposition was
made either of that mater or OF the
question as to the admission OF the
three appointed Senators from Mon
tana, Washington and Wyoming.
Mr.. Platt having the floor on the SUBJ
ject of the proposed investigation OF
Senator Roach, of North Dakota, notice
was to-day given In the Senate by Mr..
Harris that as soon as Mr. Platt should
have closed his remarks, he would
move to take up the resolution for the
appointment of a committee to wait
upon the President and inquire whether
he has any further communication to
make to the Senate.
Mr.. Platt, in his remarks on the
Roach case, rected the charges against
n,1 nd nh p
ted, in reply to question OF Mr.. Voor-
hees, that IL was not question OF
morals, but that it was question Of
criminalitY. The question is whether
the Senate has the right and power to
make this inquiry. II it has, / conceive
that its duty is plain. II convicted
criminal who has just finished his time
In penitentiary should be sent here by
a State will ii be said that we are pow
erless to reject him or to expel him? l
think that no precedent can be found In
the United States or England or any 9th
er civilized country where the doctrine
has been upheld that the Senator Of the
House Is held down in judging OF the
qualifications OF its members, TO the
rigid constitutional requisites for elec-
tion as Senator or member. On the con-
trary, although the precedents are In
the nature of the case, few, it has been
always held that jurisditlon is given to
INQUIRE and to investigate under such
circumstances. Will it be contended
that we should be obliged to admit
physical leper il State should elect
him to the Senate?
Mr.. Gray-"What would you do about
it?"
Mr.. Platt-'I would expel him.
would refuse to receive him in the first
case, and II received without knowl-
edge of his disease, l would expel him.
Could Aaron Burr have come here and
said: i am thirty years OF age. l
have been q citizen OF the State OF New
York for nine years and would the
Senate have been powerless to have
made any other inquiry into his quali-
ficationsP Would not the great. noto-
rious fact, even though he had es-
cvped the clutches OF the law,
that he had been engaged In treason
able conspiracy against the United
States, have been fact which the SEN
ate could have considered? II Aaron
Burr had prerented himself here with
the credentials of a sovereign State l
think that the Senate would have dis
covered that it had the power to inquire
into some other than the constitutional
qualifications OF man seeking a seat In
this body. do not know that in the
case of the Senator from North Dakota
the inquiry would result In expulsion.
If any Senator on this side OF the
chamber, against whom any other Sem
ator can bring charge Of criminal dis
honor for anything which be did before
he became Senator, 1 not only will
vote for an inquiry, but l want to vote
for it.
After Mr.. Pl att had resumed his seat
Mr.. Hoar withdrew the motion made
by him some days ago to reconsider the
vote for the appointment OF COM
mIttee to wait upon the President and
inform him that the Senate is ready to
adjourn if he has no further communi-
cation to make. BE did so on the condi-
tion which was assented to on the Dem
ocratic side, that before the Senate ad-
journ finally a vote shall be taken by
yeas and nays either on Mr.. Germans
substitute for the pending resolution in
the Roach case, or on Mr.. Harris's mo-
tion to lay the resolution and substitute
on the table.
Messrs. Harris and Sherman were ap-
pointed the committee to wait upon the
President.
Mr.. Lodge offered o resolution direct
ing the Secretary of State to inform the
Senate by whose authority the Ameri.
can flag was hauled down from the
building at Honolulu on April 1.
LET that resolution lie over till to-
morrow" said Mr.. German; and IL
went over.
Mr.. Hansbrough expressed the hope
that the Senate would not adjourn
without giving his colleague, Mr..
Roach, the opportunity asked by him
yesterday. No political party In the
Senate had a right to deny the privilege
requested by his colleague. He hoped
that the Senate would not adjourn
without giving him the opportunity 10
clear himself from the charges against
him, and he asked unanimous consent
10 have vote taken on the resolution.
Objection was made by several Dem
ocratic Senators.
The Senate then proceeded TO the
consideration of executive business.
At $50 the doors were reopened and
resolution offered by Mr.. Mandsrson
and agreed to rendering the thanks OF
the Senate to the Vice Presidentfor the
impartiality and courtesy with which he
has presided over the Senate during the
present extraordinary session