The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-05
DUPONT Case Considered
Question Of Election OF Delaware
Senator Is Debated.
CUBAN CONFERENCE DESIRED
Senate Dissgrses with the House Substi'
tuts-Offieers in the Federal Courts
Receive an Increase Of Salary.
Other Topics Considered.

Washington, March 4.-The senate
entered today on the consideration OF
the question whether Henry A. Dupont
has been or not legally elected United
States senator from the state OF Deia-
ware. Although the facts in the case
are conceded on both sides of the chain-
ber, the legal point Is one on which
the two political parties take opposite
views; and on that opposition hinges
a dispute which may occupy the time
of the senate for weeks to come. IL
seems that in the Delaware joint as
sembly, on the 9Th of May, 1893, Mr.
Dupont received fifteen votes out OF q
total Of thirty cast. But as to one Oh
the thirty votes, it is contended on the
part of Mr.. Dupont, that II was illegal
and void, 1t having been cast by Mr.
Watson, q senator who had on tne
death Of the governor, succeeded 10
that office. and who could not, as
claimed by the Republican members Oh
the committee on privileges ana eiec-
tions. legally or constitutionally act as
senator. In that case the total Legal
vote cast being only twenty-nine. Mr.
Dupont would have received a major
ity and would be entitled to a. seat in
the senate. The contention ON the part
of the Democratic members of the COM
mittee Is that the exercise of the duties
of governor by Mr. Watson did NOT
divest him of his rights as state SEN
ator and that, ut all events. that was
question to be determined by the senate
of Delaware, and not by the senate OF
the United States. Mr.. Mitchell 'Rep..
Ogn). chairman Of the committee on
privileges and elections. made tne
opening argument. in favor or the rlsht
OF Mr.. Dupont. He spoke for three ana
n,l haI como lIupu
his speech when the matter was laid
aside for the day.
The senate disagreed to the mouse
substitute for the senate concurrent
resolution as to Cuba; and conference
with the house was requested-the SEN
ate conferees being Senators Sherman u
(Rep., ohio, Morgan UDem., Ala.), ana
Lodge (Rep., Mass all members OF
the committee on foreign relations.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
After passing a few relatively unim-
portant bills, the house spent the rest
Of today's session In the consideration
in committee Of the whole, of the fees
and salary amendment to the legislat-
i've, executive and judicial appropria-
tion bill. The whole time was spent
upon the section fixing the salaries OF
district attorneys of the federal courts,
WHICH range lTolu @-,VVO " |o,VVV' hS
section was made the target for nearly
score of amendments, chiefly intend
ed to increase the sums allotted to var
ious districts: but the committee re-
fused to make any change In the sched-
ule save i'm two instances. The salary
of the attorney for the western district
of Pennsylvania was increased from
$500 to $4,000. and that of the attor-
ney for the eastern district OF Alichi-
rv.a, 70,
An amendment was agreed to requir-
ing the attorney general in appointing
assistant district attorneys, to make
his selections from residents of the dis
trict In which they are to serve. In
the course of the afternoon a message
was received from the senate announc-
ing the disagreement OF that body to
the substitute of the house for the
senate Cuban resolutions and asking
a conference thereon: but no action
was taken on it,
The order for the printing Of the re-
port of the Nicaragua canal commits
sion, made February 10. was amended
SO as to exclude the printing Of the
accompanying papers and maps.
CONVICT LABOR BILL.
The subcommittee Of the house labor
committee having charge of matters
pertaining to convict labor today re-
ported favorably to the full committee
the bill Of Mr.. Southwick, of New York,
the object of which Is to protect free
labor and the industries in which II is
engaged from the injurious effects of
convict labor To accomplish this end,
1t confines the sale of convict goods,
wares and manufactures to the state
In which they are produced. Time for
adjournment arrived before the full
committees cplill DaSS on the measure
but the indications are that 1t will re-
ceive a favorable report ut the next
meeting.
The committee ordered favorably re-
ported the bill of Mr.. Prince. of Hin
ois, providing for the settlement Of
accounts of laborers and mechanics
arising under the eight hour law. A
proposition by Mr.. Broderick. Of Kan
sas, provising that the claims should
be paid to claimants in person or by
check, was added TO the yaeasaFe.