The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-05
ELECTION IN DOUBT
THE SENATE TAKES UP THE CASE
FROM DELAWARE.

The Republicans Claim DupOnt'S
Election on the Ground That state
senator Watson Had no Vote in
the Delaware Legislature After
He Had Been Chosen Governor.
The Democrats Deny the Claim.
washington. March 4-The Senate be-
,an the day with the consideration of the
question whether Henry a. Dupont has
hem legally elected a United States sena-
TOR from the state of Delaware. Although
rne facts in the case are conceded on both
sides of the chamber. the legal point is
ono on which the two political parties take
onpos:te views, and on that opposition
hinges a dispute which may occupy the
time of the Senate for weeks to come. 1t
seems that in the Delaware joint assem-
hlv on May 49, 1885, Mr.. Dupont received
Is votes out of total of 30 cast. But as
90 one of the 80 votes it is cOntended on the
mart Of Mr.. Dupont that it was illegal and
void. il having been cast by Mr.. Watson,
senator who had OH the death of the
Governor succeeded to that Office and who
could not. as claimed by the republican
members of the committee on privileges
and elections, legally or constitutionally
act as a senator. In that case the total le-
sal vote cast being only %. Mr.. Dupont
would have received a majority and would
he entitled 10 q seat in the Senate. The
contention on the part of the democratic
members of the committee is that the ex-
ercise of the duties of governor by Mr..
Watson did not divest him of his rights
as a state senator, and that, at all events,
that was a question to be determined by
the Senate of Delaware, and not by the
Senate of the United States.
Mr. Mitchell of Oregon. chairman of
the committee on privileges ana elections,
made the opening argument in favor of
The right OF Mr.. Dupont. He spoke for
three and a half hours, and had not
concluded his speech when the matter
The Senate disagreed to the House sub
stiute for the resolution as to Cuba, and
a conference with the House was ordered,
fhe couferees for the Senate being SEN
ators Sherman, rep, OF OHIO; Morgan,
dem of Alabama, and Lodge, rep, of
Massachusetts, all members or the COM
mttee on foreign affairs.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Allen declaring United States bonds and
and silver coin was laid before the SEN
ATE but in the absence of Mr.. Teller, who
desired to address the Senate upon it,
the resolution went over without action.
Numerous bills were taken from the
calendar and passed; and the Senate, at
o'clock. adjourned until tomorrow.
Mr.. Voorhees,, who has been absent for
several weeks past on account of illness,
was in his seat to-day in apparently per-
feet health.
cause was being pleaded; and ex-senator
Higgins whose vacated seat is the one
i'm controversy, was also an interested lis
tener
Among the measures passed by the
Senate were the following:
The Senate bill to provide for supports
of entry and delivery in the state of
Florida.
The Senate joint resolution directing the
Secretary Of War to furnish an estimate
for deepening the channel from Hampton
Roads TO the navy yards at Norfolk, Va,
and also improving the western branch
of the Elizabeth river.
The Senate bill granting pension of SIS
a month to the widow of ex-senator Spen-
Ger of Alabama, as a brigadier-general.
The Senate bill for the relief of st.
Charles College Missouri, for use, occu-
patton and damages by United States
troops during the civil war.
The Senate bill repeating the law which
requires the southern district judge OF
Florida to reside at Key West Fla.