The times., 1897-12-06
SENATOR CORBETT.S TITLE.
Senator Wilson Thinks the Senate Is
Bound to Seat the Oregonian.

Il dolt see now the Senate can veil
refuse To seat Mr.. corbett, the Oregon
appointee,' said Senator John l.. Wilson,
of Washington, in speaking to party
of newspaper men last night. To my
mind he has clear title TO the seat.
His credentials are now before the Com
mittee OH Privileges and Elections aid
1 understand the committee viii make
favorable report on this case ut its
first session. Senator Hoar, | am told,
has reported to the full committee in favor
Of the Oregon man, and l should think
his opinion as lawyer would have
considerable Influence with the Senate.
There Is not a man in the Senate who
has not the highest regard for the legal
opinion OF the venerable Senator from
Massa ohuAetts. The Committee ON Elec-
tons, OF which Senator Hoar is member,
entrusted TO him the task OF looking Tito
and reporting on the Corbett case. He
has done SO, and after a careful examine
ton of the facts In the case, he has
strongly recommended hat the Oregon
appontee lie given seat.
As you probably remember, Mr.. Cor
bett was appointed Senator from Oregon
in March last, after the legisla ure which
Senator Mitchell failed 10 SO elect. The
members OF the legislature assembled in
Salem ON the day selected for the
meeting o tie Legislature, ard a TEN
porary organization was perfected,
but this was as far as they went.
After the first day, there was no business
transacted and there was never time
when quorum of the house of representa-
]
refused To take the oath OF office, and1
of course, until they did so they Were
mcapacitated from serving the state AS
legislators. After fruitless session Of
several weeks the members dispersed To
their homes, without having accomplished
any business whatever. These facts eiea:ly
appear from MIR. Corbett's brief, which
l have read with much care. The gov Arnor
OF oregon, Mr.. Lord, In appointing Mr..
Corbett SAID there was no session of the
legislature, and consequently there WAS
40 opportunity for the election OF A Sen
! ator.
Il think it Is enineDtly necessary that a
| State 81 uuld at all times be represented
| in the upper house OF Congress by two men.
| The trainers OF the Constitution in their
wisdom, saw tidngs in this light, aud they
| made ample provision fof full representa-
tion in the United states Senate. To
! serve this end, they inserted clause eni-
| powering the executive OF a sovereign 5 tate
| to fill a vacancy ia the senate caused by
death, resignation, or other wise There
was no death III the oregon case, no resig-
nation, buU. 10 my mimi, the governor had
clear tight to appoint, under the head of
! Otherwise The governor made no mis-.
take in selecting Mr.. Corbett. He is one
| of the pioneers of the State, dnd his
! record is as clear a. crystal"
Mr.. Corpett's friends-and he has good
many OF tiiem at each end OF the Capitol
are quite positive that he viii BE- seated
before the Christmas holidays. Several
leading Senators are taking personal Ia
| terest IN the case, and they sa their ef
forts VIII not be relinquished until ;he
Senate puts itself on record. Several
Democratic Senators have privately an
nouncec their intention Of voting for Mr.
Corbett, and IL this proves u be tne case, i,e
he will be seated by safe ajouty. Mr.
Corheti is now in Washington. staying al
the Arlington, in company with his wife
| who is enc OF the most cultured ladies IL
| Washington She is several Yeas the