Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-02-05
FIFTY FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February s.


Mr.. Gray presented the credentials OF
Richard r. Kenney as Senator-elect
from the State of Delaware-the Gre
dentials being in due form and being
signed by the Governor and Secretary
of State of Delaware.
The credentials having been read MIR.
Chandler asked Mr.. Gray what action
he proposed to the Senate.
II was about to state it," Mr.. Gray
replied, land 1 will now state it. MIR.
Kenney is present and ready to be
sworn in; and / ask that the oath be
administered to him."
Before he is sworn in" said Mr..
Chandler, II desire to make brief
statement. l shall not object to MIR.
Kenney's being sworn in on these Gre
dentials. I believe, however, that the
vacant seat should be filled by Mr.. Du.
pont. Even if MIR. Dupont is not en-
titled to the seat believe that the leg
islature of Delaware which chose Mr..
Kenney was a legislative body that was
fraudulently created and was not en-
titled to elect Senator. This matter
will doubtless be brought before the
Senate in due time in contest of Mr..
Kenney's right to seat in this body"
Mr.. Hoar recalled the decision of the
Senate last session against the claim Of
Mr.. Dupont to seat and spoke of the
petition of that gentleman at the pres.
ept session to have the case re-opened.
While he (Mr. Hoar) had believed in
Mr.. Dupont's right, before the Senate
had decided the contrary by majority
of one, the committee on privileges
and elections, after hearing an able ar
gument for Mr.. Dupont by the late at
torney general, Mr.. Garland, had de-
cided unanimously this morning
against reopening the case. He pro-
posed TO act on that doctrine. He
thought it very important to constitu
tional government and to the dignity
and authority of the Senate and to the
peace of the country that the Sen
ate should stand by its decisions 1t
was a very unpleasant thing to him
that Mr.. Dupont was not to take
the seat and that somebody elso was to
| take it. But if the decision of the Sen
ate were correct, it followed that there
was vacancy in the Senate from the
State of Delaware and that Mr.. Ken
A ney, who now applied for the seat, had
a Drima facie title to it, subject to an
examination on the merits hereafter,
if such examination should be deter
mined on. He therefore favored the
motion OF the Senator from Delaware.
Mr.. Teller asked Mr.. Hoar whether
there was q written report from the
committee on privileges and elections.
Mr.. Hoar replied that he bad been
instructed, as the acting chairman OF
the committee, to file written report
and he would do so in week or two.
Mr.. Gray remarked that Mr.. Kenney
whose credentials had just been read,
was present In the chamber and ready
to take the oath of Office.
The Vice President invited Mr.. Ken
ney to come forward and take the oath
of Office.
Mr.. Gray stepped back TO the lobby,
gave his arm to Mr.. Kenney and es-
corted him to the Vice Presidents
desk where the oath of Office was adj
ministered to the new Senator who
then signed the oath and afterwards
took seat on the democratic side OF
the chamber.
Mr.. Kenney is toll, slender and
dark-skinned man of apparently thirty
FIVE or forty years of age. With the
exception of dark moustache, his
face was closely shaven.
An effort was made by Mr.. Morrill,
to have the House bill taken up pro
hibitng the sale of Intoxicating liquors
in the Capitol, and Mr.. Thurston, who
had the floor on Mr.. Aliens Pacific
railroad resolutions, consented to yield
it in order to accommodate Mr.. Nor
rill. But assurance was given by Mr.
Hill that the vote on the bill could not
be reached in the morning hour
Thereupon Mr.. Aliens resolutions
were taken up and Mr.. Thurston pro-
ceeded with his argument against his
colleagues resolutions and in favor OF
q compromise arrangement by which
the government would receive from
the Union Pacific Company at least
twenty.nine millions net for its claim
against the company.
The Nicaragua canal bill was then
laid before the Senate. Tbereupon q
motion was made by Mr.. Daniel to take
up the bankruptcy bill, thus displacing
the Nicaragua canal bill; and he was
proceeding to make a statement on the
subject when he was interrupted by
Mr.. Morgan-the motion being unde-
bateable.
Twill not the Senator from Alabama
permit me to finish my sentence ?" MIR.
Daniel asked.
mo sir, L will not" Mr.. Morgan re-
turned.
A few minutes afterward, however,
the motion was withdrawn by Mr..
Daniel who said there was a DISPOSE
ton to take up the bankruptcy bill
later on.
Mr.. Allen opposed the canal bill, de-
claring that colossal undertaking"
would cost at least three hundred mil.
lion dollars. He would not vote
for the issue of bonds for anything.
The country had become bond
crazy and was bond weary. And
congress would have to retrace
its steps speedily if it would not engulf
the country in lasting ruin and bring
that people to condition of perpetual
poverty.
MIR. CafIrey opposed the bill. He
thought the protest of Mr.. Rodriguez,
the minister plenipotentiarys, of the
Greater Republic of Central America,
should be treated with proper respect;
hut instead of that the Senate was con