Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-16
From Our washington Correspondent.

tion TO seat Col. II. A. du Pont. Mr..
Chandler had given notice that he
would discuss the case, but gave way
to Mr.. Burrows Of Michigan, who oc-
cupied the floor for one hour. Ho was
followed by Mr.. Brown OF Utah. 1t
will be remembered that Mr.. Brown
took notes during the speech of Mr..
George of Mississippi, and So his
two hour speech was not In the nature
of a surprise.
Mr.. Chandler gave notice yesterday
that he would call up the resolution
to-day and present his views. Senator
Gray will probably follow with short
argument, AS the Democrats are anx
ious to bring the debate to an end. 1t
III not known whether any other Sena-
tor will discuss the case. MIR. Platt of
Connecticut, stated few weeks ago
that be would make few remarks, "
but has made no effort in that direc:
tion since. There 10 also possibility
that Mr.. Hoar may explain his posi-
tion. Every phase OF the case has been
discussed over and over again, and
there is little use of prolonging the de.
bate, unless for the purpose OF leaving
the contest undecided at the end OF
this session. III the Republican leaders
are sincere whom they express them
selves as being anxious to bring tho
matter to close, vote may be taken
ut an carly date.
The speeches yesterday were Of a
legal nature. and TO great extent a
repetition Of former theories and argu-
ments. The monotony was occasionally
broken by interruptions by Mr.. Chandler
and Mr.. Gray. Tho Senator from
Delaware was, as usual, an attentive
listener to the Speakers, and lost no on
portunity TO show the absurdity of
many Of the contentious by the suppor-
ters Of Col. du Pont.
Mr., Burrows, in opening, said that
the facts and legal propositions involved
had been so clearly presented by the
Senators on both sides who had preceded
him, that ho felt great embarrassment
in speaking ut this time, especially aa
il was well known that the Judgment
of the Senate is already made up. He
said that being member of tho com
mittee on privileges and elections, and
supporter of the majority report, he
felt impeled to state the reasons which
compel him TO support the resolution.
He stated all of the points, which he
said were conceded by both Sides and
which, therefore, there was no need Of
reviewing He contended that there
was hut one simple question for the
Senate to consider, and that was
whether on May 9th, 1895, William 4.
Watson had legal and constitutional
right to vote for the election of a United
States Senator In the joint assembly
of the State Of Delaware. II he had
that right, Mr.du Pont was not elected.
Ii he had not that right, then Mr.. du
Pont was elected and should be seated.
He called especial attention of the
Senate to the fact that thore was no
other contestant, and that ii MIR. DUPONT
was not elected, no one was. The one and
main issue, ho said, which confronts
the Senate, is whether or not Mr.. Wat
son became Governor, as contended by
the majority, or remained Speaker of
the Senate, as contended by the minor.
ity. He said the Senators opposing tho
resolution differed from the counsel
who prepared tho original argument, on
this point, and in support of his asser-
tion read from the counsel's brief where
it was said that the proposition that
the Speaker became Governor was not
con tested.
The Senator devoted considerable
time In defining the alleged ;ncompa-
tibility between the Legislative and ex
ecutive offices under the common law.
IIe then read section Ii, article 2,
claiming that the Speaker became Gov
ornor, and that the section simply dos
ignated the person who was eligible for
the gubernatorial office. He laid great
stress on the word further, 'contending
that it referred to further vacancy in
the Office of Governor and not Speaker
ship. He quoted at length from decis
ions rendered by certain Justices Of the
supreme court Of Maine, which he as
serted had much bearing on the ques-
tion involved in the present case.
Senator Gray pointed out several very
material differences, the principal one
being that there was an express proyis-
ion in the Maine Constitution which
suspended the senatorial office. while
the Speaker was acting us Governor.
He asked Mr.. Burrows TO explain GER
tain clauses in the document, but re-
ceived evasive replies TO his questions.
Senator Burrows asserted that the
doctrine laid down by the minority
that Gne United States Senate was
estopped from inquiring into the qualifi-
cations of members of the Delaware
Senate, was an invitation to fraud and
would expose the Senate to many gross
impositions by disreputable partisans
He said he would not discuss the ques-
tion, saying, that if the Senators be-
lieve that Mr.. Watson had no right to
cast his vote, they would not be re-
strained by any such theory.
He called attention to the hardship
which was being imposed upon the
citizens of Delaware by depriving them
of their Just representation in the Sen
ate. He paid high compliment to
Senator Gray, saying. that his (Mr.
Gray's) faithful and efficient perfor-
nance of the duties devolved upon
him, had reduced tho injury to a mini
mum. But he said 1t was necessary to
:. restore TO the State her rightful repre-
sentation by giving Henry A. du Pont
the seat to which he claimed to be
elected. The Senator spoke for just
one hour.
Mr.. Brown OF Utah was then recog-
nized. The Senator evidently did not
feel the embarrassment spoken of by
Mr.. Burrows, for he entered at once
into detailed account of the facts,
without making any explanation as ia
why no felt called upon to sneak He
stated, using his own language and do
ductions, tho argument advanced by
the minority. Tho contentious, as he
understood them were:
THAT the record of the Joint as
sembly shows that 80 votes were cast,
and that that record cannot be disputed
by the United States Senate.
2-That Watson did not become Gov
ernor, but only held the ollice by reason
of being Speaker of the Senate.
3-That If Mr.. Watson held the office
after the expiration of his senatorial
Office, he did 50 as person upon whom