Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-23
Ills Vote for Senator in the Joint
Session Of May 9th.
AFFIDAVIT OF SENATOR PIERCE
The Governor Takes Excep-
ton to His Statements.
He VOTED on ONE OR TWO MEASURES

-
counsel contains the affidavit of Sena-
tor George r. Pierce in support Of the
contention that Mr. Watson on May
9th did not exercise the functions OF a
Senator. According to Senator Pierces
affidavit, Mr.. Watson being in the
chamber came and took a seat beside
him 10 minutes before the noon hour.
What followed is thus narrated in the
AFFIDAVIT:
Gov. Watson-"I am going into the
joint assembly and vote for a Senator. -
Senator Pierce" You are going to
do what?n
Gov. Watson-"I am going to preside
over the joint Assembly to-day and vote
for United States Senator. "
Senator Pierce" Do you think that
Us right2'
Coy. Watson" No, do not, but my
party has oyerruled me. I"
Senator Pieroo---"Then suppose
there is nothing can say now that
would change your mindI"
Gov. Watson" No; my mind is fully
made up"
The affidavit further sets forth; "On
the day following, between the hours
Of Ill and 12, in the town OF Milford,
where we both reside, met Gov. Wat
son at the Central Hotel. Several per-
Sons were present; among them recol-
lect Napoleon Gray, though | cannot
Remember who the others were. They
were sitting in room generally used
by commercial travellers for exposing
their samples. While tho party was
sitting there William T. Watson took a
paper out OF his pocket and, without
saying anything, handed il TO mo. |
fead 1t and handed it back 10 him
without saying anything. Tho paper,
as ] recolleet it, to tho best Of my
knowledge and belief, read about as
follows;
We, the undersigned, pledge our
selves to vote for John Edward Ad-
dicks, first, last and all the time
II think there was line or two
more, but | cannot fecollect what it
was This paper was signed by Newell
Ball, q. l.. Moore, John Robbins, and
Robert j. Handy. The first three were
members of the House of Representa-
tives, and Mr.. Handy was member
of the Senate.
WHAT Gov WATSON SAYS.
Dover, Jan. 2l.-- The Gazette's
correspondent called on Gov. Watson
this morning at his Office here, and
called his attention to the affidavit of
Senators Moore, Aldrichs and Pierce. /,
He said in regard to his not exer
cising his duties as Senator ON that
day, that their memory is at fault as
he is positive that he voted on at least
one, IL not two, bills.
Referring to the conversation between
Senator Pierce and himself, he said /:
The Senator is surely mistaken. |
did not say that thought | did not
have right to vote, but that did not
want to vote, as matter Of delicacy.
But the very best advice l could got
had conclusively shown mo that il was
my right, and that Mr.. Edward
Ridgely said it was not only my right
but my duty, and | claimed that duty
as one to my constituents.
Counsel opposing the seating Of
Henry A. du Pont in the United
States Senate have filed in Washington
the following additional allidayits:
Senator Robert j. Hanby--# Il
Tho General Assembly Of the State Of
Delaware met in joint meeting on the
morning of May 9th, 1895, and took a
number Of ballots for the purpose Of
trying to elect United States Senator
from the State of Delaware for the
term beginning March 4th, 1896. After
taking six ballots for such Senator,
without electing anyone, the joint
meeting separated to meet again at -
O'Clock noon of tho same day. Tho
members Of the Senate returned TO their
chamber and there resumed the exer-
else of their ordinary legislative func-
tions. Some time between tho hours of
IL O'Clock a. m. Of that day and IL
O'Clock noon, and while tho Senate was
in session In its own chamber attend
ing to the regular Legislative functions
imposed upon it by the Constitution
OF the State Of Delaware, William r.
Watson, Speaker Of the Senate, and at
that time eXercising the office of Gov.
ernor, entered the Senate chamber and
resumed the Speakers chair, which
was thereupon vacated by William T.
Records, who had been elected Speaker
Pro Tempore of tho Senate during tho
absence Of William 4. Watson, Speaker.
No word Of protest was heard from any
Senator, questioning the right Of Will
liam Il. Watson to resume the Speakers q
chair and to exercise his functions as a
Senator William T. Watson continued
TO preside as Speaker Of the Senate
until u o'clock noon Of May 9th, 1895,
when he declared that the time had ar.
rived for the reconvening of tho joint
meeting of tho two houses Of the Cen
eral Assembly, in compliance with 4
motion to that effect, adopted at the
morning session of tho joint meeting on
the same day. william Il. Watson,
Speaker OF the Senate, accompanied by
all the other Senator's then proceeded
f, he oh - hR
sentatives, whero the joint meeting 70,
convened.
Senator William t. Records !"
Between the hours of II and 12 o'clock
on the morning OF the 9th day Of May,
A. d. 1895, William T. Watson entered
the Senate chamber. tho Senate being
then in session, and took the chair as
Speaker OF the Senate; that he con
tinued TO preside over rhe Senate until
IL o'clock meridian; that while he
continued to so preside ho voted in tie
affirmative upon at least one corpDra-
tion bill and declared that tho said bill
had passed the Senate, 1t having re-
ceiyed ibe required constitu tiupal una
iority; that when the hour had arrived
for the Senate aud House Of Repre-
eentatives to convene in joint assembly
William T. Watson, as Speaker of the
Senate. 30 announced, and that then
the Senators, preceded by the said
William L. Watson, went into the hall
OF the Houae of Representatives, and
he, tho said William I. Watson took
the chair as the presiding officer of the
said joint assembly, and that whilo the
said William 7. Watson was so pre-.
siding over the Senate as aforesaid no
objection was mado by any Senator to
his 30 presiding or voting, nor was