Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-16
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, March 16.
GENATE

WASHINGTON, March 16.
SENATE.
The chaplain of the Senate to-day
in his opening prayer referred to the
devastating floods in the Mississippi
valley, and prayed for divine interven-
ton and public assistance.
The Presidents message which, after
being read yesterday, was laid on
the table, was on motion of Mr.. Nor
rill referred to The finance committee.
The credentials of Mr.. John A. Hen
derson, appointed by the governor Of
Florida to fill the vacancy in the Sen
ate caused by the expiration of the
term of Mr.. Call, were presented and
read; and Mr.. Pasco asked that MIR.
| Henderson be sworn into Office. This
request was antagonized by Senators
Allen, Chandler and Hoar on the
ground that under the decision Of the
Senate in the Lee Mantle and other
cases, such appointments by the gov
ernor were not in compliance with the
constitution.
An additional point of objection was
noted by Mr.. Hoar in this That the
appointment in this case was made to
continue until the legislature should
elect. The governor, Mr.. Hoar argued,
had no such power. He could only
appoint until the next meeting of the
legislature. In fact the governors ap-
pointment of Mr.. Henderson might
last, not for six years only, but for
ever, if the legislature did not elect
Senator.
All of these cases, said Mr.. Hoar,
were on the same footing, and there
ought to be a well-considered, careful
dealing with them; first by report
from the committee on privileges and
elections, and afterwards by action oil
the Senate. 1t was very much import
ant for the Senate to extricate itself from
the mud into which it got by its action
in the Montana and Washington cases,
than that Senator should get his seat
week or two earlier. He hoped that
under the circumstances the Senator
from Florida would not insist upon hav
ing long debate on the matter now.
Mr.. Pasco stated points in which the
present case differed from the other
ones, and argued in favored of the i'm
mediate admission of Mr.. Henderson.
Mr.. Allen moved the reference OF the
credentials to the committee on priv.
leges and elections.
Mr.. Gray said that the pending case
involved new complicated questions.
The act of Congress provided for the
election of Senators by the legislatures
chosen next preceding the expiration
of the term. The legislature of Florida,
which met two years ago, could not
have elected Senator, inasmuch as a
legislature was elected last October or
:, November, but which would not meet
until next April. He argued, there
fore, that the appointment by the
| Governor of Florida was not subject to
the criticism made upon other such APP
pointments.
Mr.. Hoar argued in favor of Mr.. AL
lens motion to refer the matter to the
committee on privileges and elections.
1t was eminently question proper to
be referred to committee. fit were
to be decided off-hand by party vote
it was matter that might return to
plague the inventor"
| Outside of the objection which he
had noted, Mr.. Hoar believed that Mr..
Henderson was entitled to the seat;
and he also thought that Mr.. Corbett,
of Oregon, and Mr.. Wood, of Kentucky,
were entitled to their seats. He could
see no distinction between these three
cases. But he thought that the COM
mittee on privileges and elections ought
to consider them, ought to hear the ar
guments for and against, and ought to
present to the Senate deliberate re
view and statement of the whole ques-
ton.
After long and dry discussion Mr..
Aliens motion was agreed to; and the
credentials were referred to the CON-
mttee on privileges and elections. In
the meantime the Senators claiming
seats under appointment of the Govern
ors of States were accorded the priv-
leges of the floor.
Many bills were introduced and re-
ferred among them bills (by Mr.. Allen
directing the foreclosure of the govern
ment lien on the Union Pacific Rail
road; to prevent over-capitalizstion OF
companies doing an Interstate carrying
trade; to prevent professional lobbying;
to preserve the purity of national legis-
lation; and to increase the circulating
medium. Altogether there were some
forty bills introduced by Mr.. Allen
most of them relics of last Congress.
A bill to facilitate the construction,
working, and maintenance oftelegraph.
ic communication between the United
States, the Hawaiian Islands, Japan
and Australasia was introduced by Mr..
Chandler, on behalf of Mr.. Hale. Also
bill to provide for the 18th and
subsequent censuses. A bill for a gov
eminent telegraph was introduced by
Mr.. Kyle and one to amend the immi-
grafton laws by Mr.. Lodge. A bill for
the relief of VIM. ]. Bryan, when its
title was read, caused general laughh.
A bill to increase all pension allow
ances was introduced by Mr.. Thurston.
HOUSE.
The House was not in session to-day.