Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1895-04-12
LeovEaNoa William I. WArsoN.


William fhap WaiTou Speater Of TIE
Senate, was 20 Tuesday swoTn ia as acting
Governor Of Delaware. 10 succeed Joshua II
Msrvil deceased. Tie ceremony look place
10 the Senate Chamber. aud the olths Of Of
fee we're administered ~ Chancellor waicot
Both Houses took action with respect 10
the death Of Governor Marvl on Tuesday.
When the House session opened. Chaplain
Murray invoked deviue sympathy for the
members Of the dead executives family aud
divine aid aud guidance for his successor
Without tausaciing any other busiuess the.
House adopted joint resolution, offered BY
Representative SYpherd. referring to the
death Of Governor Marvii, rendering the
sympathy Of the Generally Assembly to his
family ordering the state House to be drapsd
10 mourning and the fag to be displayed at
haifmast directing thar the General ASSEM-
bly attend the funeral in BODY. and that
no business be transacted except the daily
ballot for United States Senator uadl the
funeral is over Than the House took re
cess. and. sffer joint session for the Sierra
'orial ballot adjoufuiug until II,5o O'Clock
to morrow morning
Chaplain Cors, ofthe Senate, in his iuvo-
cation also referred to the bereavement Of
the late Governors family aud prayed for
his successor After the joint session for
NAL announcement Of Governor Maryirs
death was made BY his venerable Secretary
of State, Hon. N Smithers, who said
''dr. Speaker; The issues of life and
death are in the hands Of the Almighty.
His will has been made manifest, and it has
become my painful duty to announce to the
Senate the death of Joshua H. Marvil, Gov
erusr of the State Of Delaware, which oc-
cured Monday night at his home ia Laurel
at about quarter past e'o'clock."
Immediately resolution was offered bv
Senator Records and adopted requesting
Chancellor Walcot to administer the oath Of
Office to Speaker Watson
SPEAKER WATSON BECOMES GOVERNOR.
The Chancellor was immediately sum
moued and few minutes later the cere
money that invested William T Watson
with the duties and prerogatives Of the office
Of Governor was Performed It was brief and
simple. but impressive. Upon the old Latin
Bible, printed nearly 400 years ago, Speaker
Watson took the three separate oaths to
support the Constitution ofths United States
Constitution of the State OF Delaware and to
preform the duties of the Office of Governor
with fidelity. The little Senate chamber was
througed with as many as could press their
way within its walls. But no cheers or warm
congratulations followed The shadow Of
death hung over the assernbiage and made
demonstrations of any kind impossible.
A resolution Of thanks to Speaker Watson |
for the fair and Impartial manner in which |
he had presided over the deliberations ofthe |
Senate was read and adopted, and thsu the
Senate proceeded to the election of a /
Speaker protein For while it looked ike |
a deadlock, AS Senator Records, who was
put forward bv the Democrats. wac opposed
BY Senator Pierce as the candidate Of the Re.
pubhcans The first ballot was a tie-A to 4
but the Republicans conteuted themselves
with one complimentary ballot for Pierce.
and the next resulting in 7 for Records and
one blank, which was deposited by Senator
Records himself He was escorted to the
shair aud sworn in BY Chancellor wolcott
after which the Senate adjourned until
Il. so O'Clock Wednesday.
Speaker Watson will not resign the Speak
ership nor his seat in the Senate some
Republicans contend that he shou d do both.
md that the Senatorial vacancy should be
Tiled by special election. This opinion.
however, finds few adherents, even among
party men Of the most radical stripe.