The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-13
ONLY one SENATOR
There Will Not Be An Election
in Kentucky.
BY PRESENT LEGISLATURE
OF Some One to Succeed Sena-
tor Blackburn.
BY PRESENT LEGISLATURE
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE
So Long as Lieut. Gov. Worthington's
Ruling in Regard to a Quorum
Stands Except by Breaking
Over Party Lines.

Frankfort, Ky, March 12.-The one
thing that seemed TO be settled by
to-day's doings in the joint assembly
is that Kentucky will have but one rep
resentative in the United States Sen
ate from March A, 1897, when Senator
Blackburn's term expires, until at least
January, 1898, when the next Legisla-
ture can meet and fill the vacancy.
There was no lack of apprehension of
renewed danger of an outbreak to-day.
Mayor Julian, with a force of police,
cleared the rotunda of mere curiosity
hunters, but in the cloak room and
elsewhere, were enough men to have
done much harm if the occasion had
arisen. Perhaps the apprehension of
difficulty tended to produce unusual
self-restraint, and so the scene ended
without other turmoil than that of de
bate.
The newly installed Republican in
the House did not qualify before the
joint assembly met, so he was not a
factor. The Republicans adopted the
tactics of breaking the quorum, and
this brought from Lieutenant Gov
ernor Worthington the ruling that sew
enty members constitute a quorum,
necessary to elect a Senator. So long
as this ruling stands, no election can
be had, except by breaking over party
lines.
Senators James and Watson, who
were unseated by the Democrats of the
Senate yesterday, gained entrance to
the House chamber before the joint as
sembly met. AS soon as the Demo
cratic leaders learned this, they raised
protest. Mayor Julian was asked to
see that the men were removed peace
ably from the floor of the House before
the joint assembly convened, in order
that all trouble might be prevented.
The mayor refused, and said that it
was within the power of the House, if
it chose to do so, to eject the two men.
Before the call of the roll on the
ballot was begun Senator Bronston
stated that he understood that there
was stationed in the corridor a platoon
of police, he supposed for the purpose
OF preserving peace and good order.
He continued Il ask why certain per-
sons now on the floor of the House are
here? / ask first, as a request, and
second, as a motion, that every one
be excluded from the floor of this
House save members of the joint as
sembly, officers and the press"
Mr.. Barnett made the point that the
motion was out Of order.
The Chair said he thought the mo-
ton was out of order but would put
it to the assembly any way.
The Republicans refused TO vote,
with the intention of breaking quo
rum Edrington voted with the Demo-
Gratis for the motion, as did Poor. The
Chair announced that no quorum had
voted and the motion was lost. The
presiding officer announced that he
was still of opinion that seventy mem
bers constituted quorum and would
so rule, and that in all ballots for Sena-
tor seventy members must be voting
to insure election. Senator Bronston
asked that the Sergeant-at-Arms of the
Senate be allowed to exclude those not
entitled to seats in the assembly
(Cries of ''sit DOWN.
The rolI-calI showed 130 members
present. There were only two pairs
The ballot resulted: Blackburn, 81;
Carlisle, 12; Buckner, /. The Republi-
cans and Populist Poor refused to vote
and the Chair declared that no election
had been made.
Upon motion the assembly adjourned
until tomorrow.
The Democrats are much pleased
with the ruling of Lieut.-Goyernor
Worthington in to-day's joint assem-
bly, and say if seventy votes are re-
qnired for a quorum as stated by him
that there will be no election this
session.
Republican leaders still declare that
a majority Of those present is quo
rum. Both seem delighted that there
was no trouble of any kind.