The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-01-26
NOT RECOGNIZED
BY THE SENATE
"Rump" House Got No Hearing Be-
fore President Simon.
KING MAKES A SENSATION
But His Motion Lost on a Tie Vote
Matters at Salem Still in a State
Of Doubt.

Special 10 the Ast0rian.
Salem January 25.-The lobby Of the
senate chamber was crowded this af-
tsrnoon in anticipation Of action on the
house concurrent resolution 10 notify
the governor Of the organization Of the
Oregon legislature. The resolution
failed to put In an appearance; but the
matter came up In another form, on
a resolution by Senator King. which
was lost on a tie vote. and subsequent
ly by a deciglye ruling by President
Simon, which was against the rocog-
milton Of the Benson house.
Immediately after the senate was
called 90 order. President Simon an
nounced that he had In his possession
a communication from the temporary
house. 1t was signed by Chief Clerk
Moody and stated that the Benson
house was not a legally organized
body. The senate took no action on
the communication and the regular or
der Of business was resumed.
After several bills had been intro
duoed King, Populist, Of Baker and
Malheur introduced a resolution pro-
yiding for committee of three mem
bers Of the senate TO ascertain whether
or not either OF the two pretended or
ganizations in the house OF represen-
tattves are legally organized branches
OF the assembly, and. IL so. which Of
the condition thereof 20 the senate at
as early a date as may be deemed prac-
ticslbie. This brought up the matter
Of the house recognition in an unex-
pecetd form. Patterson. Of Marion, at
once saw the effect of the resolution.
and he moved 10 lay on the table, thus
shutting of debate President Simon
Immediately put the motion to lay on
the table. and II was lost on a viva
voce vote. \ call Of the ayes and noes
being demanded, the roll call showed a
tie vote. as follows:
Ayes-Bates. DAILY. Dawson, Holt.
King, MacKay. Michel, Mulkey, Pat
terson, Of Washington: Reed, Swing,
Smith, Wade. President Simon-l4.
Noes-Calbreath. Driver. Duflr. Ges-
ner. Gowan, Harmon. Haseltine Hughes
Johnson, McCiung. Patterson. OF IA
rion; Price. Taylor-l4
Absent-Brownell Carter
So the senate failed to adopt the reso-
luton.
The senate proceeded with the second
reading of bills, but had not gone far
when Representative Crawford. OF
Douglass. appeared in the lobby with
a message which was delivered to Pres
ident Simon. who read Ii. and then
said
The chair is in receipt Of a commu-
nication, purporting to be a message
from the house, stating that the house
has effeoted permanent organization by
the election of Hon. II. L. Benson as
speaker, and r. Il. Hays as chief clerk
and other officers, and is ready for the
transaction of business. The chair has
already submitted to the senate a mes
sage from the temporary organization
Of the house, advising the senate that
such permanent organization was ef.
fected in an irregular and unconstitu.
ional manner, and without the pres.
ence Of a quorum. and that such action
was Illegal and void. The chair is OF
the opinion that the pretended perma.
nent Organization, without a quorum
mentioned in this communication. Is
not valid or binding. and that the sen.
ate cannot recognize such alleged per-
manent organization of the house; the
chair therefore declines to entertain ol
receive this communication and rules
that the same cannot be entered upor
the journal. This decision will stand
as the judgment of the senate, unless
the senate will overrule the decision o.
the chair"
This settled the matter Of recogniz
ing the house. at least for today.