Smyrna times., 1897-01-06
Organization of the Senate.

A big struggle took place in the
organization of the Senate, and to
guard against any one taking posses
sion of the chamber the doors were
locked, and State Detective McVey
placed on guard, with instructions to
admit no one but Senators and repor-
ters. No opposition was made to j.
Frank Alice, the Addicks candidate
from Kent county. All the Senators
were in their their seat and the work
of organizing began at once. The
Senators present were: New Castle
COunty-Robert J. Handy and Samuel
Alrich, Republicans; John Pyle,
Democrat. Kent County Hezekiah
Harrington, John W. FenimOre, Sus-
sex COunty-JOhn NJ. G. Moore and
George Fisher Pierce, Republicans,
and W. T. Moore, Democrat. The
others present were S. R. Meredith,
Democrat, and J. Frank Alice, Re
publican, of Kent county, who claimed
to have been elected.
The Democrats nominated Senator
Pyle for temporary Speaker and the
Republicans named Senator Pierce
The vote was a tie of to 4, but Sena-
tor Pyle settled it by simply walking
to the Speakers chair and taking hold
of the gavel.
The Democrats named Senator Feni-
more for temporary Clerk, and the Re
publicans, Senator j. M. G. Moore.
The vote was again tie, but Senator
Pyle settled it by declaring that Mr..
FenimOre had been chosen. The
Union Republicans then opened their
fight, Senator Handy leading them.
He asked for yea and nay vote, and
temporary Speaker Pyle declared him
out of order.
Senator Harrington called for the
reading of the certificates of election.
Two certificates were presented from
Kent county, the one for Meredith.
Democrat, being signed by the Coro-
ner and eleven inspectors, a majority
of the Board of Canvass, while that for
Alice, Republican, was signed by the
sheriff and six inspectors. Senator
Handy objected to Mr.. Meredith tax
ing his seat on the ground chat his Gre
dentials were not regular.
Senator Pyle replied that the creden-
tials were apparently correct, they hav-
ing been singned by a majority of the
Returning Board.
''This is an unheard of proceeding, "
said Senator Handy. "Here are two
men with the same kind of credentials.
one signed by the Sheriff, and, unless
he is out of Office, he is the only regu-
lar President of the Board of Canvass.
1t is a clear case of steal if A. r.
Meredith is seated. Let us count the
500 or more votes that haven't been
counted, and if Mr.. Meredith has one
vote more than Mr.. Alice 1 will vote to
seat him. We had an election and the
Board refused to tabulate the full vote
because j. Frank Alice had more votes.
l want to see justice done to all men,
and ask that you see that it is done.
"Mr. Hanby," said Temporary
Speaker Pyle, "Mr. Meredith came
here with his certificate signed by a
majority of the Returning Board, and
that is prima facie evidence that he
has been elected. If not satisfactory
to Mr.. Alice he can, make irregular con-
test. The certificate is signed by a
majority of the inspectors, and 1 de
clare him elected. "
The Democrats nominated Heyekiah
Harrington for permanent Speaker.
and the Republicans named George
Fisher Pierce. The vote stood 4 to 5
in favor of Senator Harrington. and
he was declared elected After this
the Republicans did not vote. except
on the Chaplain, when Senator J. M.
G. Moore voted with the Democrats.
The Democrats then proceeded to
swear in the new Senators, after which
they elected the following officers:
Clerk, Simon p. Doherty, of Whining
ton; Reading Clerk, George H. Heus-
ton, of Seaford; Sergeant-at-Arins, r.
f. Quillan. of Bethel; Page, Willard
Fl. Parsons, of Dover: Chaplain, Rev.
I. 2. Revelle, of Dover.
THE HOUSE.
The House, as was expected, fell
completely to the control of the Dem
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