The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-02-12
TWO DEMOCRATS GO in.
BiIyeu and Lee in the Mitchell Joint
Assembly.

Bilyeu and Lee in the Mitchell Joint
Assembly.
Lark Bilyeu, Democrat, of Lane, oc-
cupied his seat in the house half
hour before the Mitchell joint assem-
bly, which met at noon Monday. Bill
yeu was writing at his desk. It had
been rumored around the capitol dur
ing the morning that it was the pur-
pose of the Democrats to enter the joint
assembly, and Bilyeu's presence ap-
peared to confirm the report. As the
hand of the clock moved slowly toward
IL, the member from Lane continued
composedly to dip his pen in the. ink
and seemed to be oblivious to surround
ings and wholly taken up with the
work in which he was engaged.
At noon, Chairman Brownall mount
ed the Speakers rostrum, and, calling
to order, directed the clerk to call the
roll. The senators, the same as last
Friday, answered to their names. AS
the clerk was concluding the senate
cll1, Vaughan, the aged representative
from Lane, who has been quite sick,
appeared in the lobby, supported by
his wife. He looked pale and very
i'll, but he walked slowly to his seat.
Just about the same time, Lee, Demo-
crat, of Polk, likewise appeared at his
desk.
Bilyeu's name is third on the house
roll. When it was called, he arose,
and. addressing the chairman, said:
''This is the first time have made
my appearance here in the joint assem-
bly,. am here for the purpose of as
sisting to complete the organization of
the legislature. I want it distinctly
understood that 1 am not here in any
manner whatever to aid in the recogni-
ton of the Benson house. I have many
times stated my position on that sub
ject, and I do not believe that its Or
ganization is legal.
Il have been accused of aiding and
abetting in holding-up the legislature.
[ am here to disabuse the mind of any
one that occupy that attitude. l in
form you that if the legislature is not
organized, and at once, wash my
hands of the whole business. am
tired walking the streets Q. Salem wait
ing for the majority of this legislature
to get together and do it's duty.
THE people who elected me know
am not Il fool; or at least they believe
so; else they would not have sent me
here They want me to help organize
this legislature on proper basis; and
! am here for that purpose.
81 want to say that many questions
have been raised in the senate and else
where relative to the permanent organ
ization that are not germane to the sub
ject l take it that the temporary Or
ganization of the house is sufficient for
the purpose of this convention. l have
all along maintained that the tenn
porary organization is the only consti-
tutional organization, and that is where
I stand now. The members of this
body, which is made up of members of
the Legislature, are not called upon to
pass upon that question. The state
constitution has nothing to do with this
joint convention. believe the deci-
sufficient guide for the actions of this
body. When majority of members of
the legislature declare their choice for
United States senator, no power in the
universe can set it aside.
"We have the power here to deter
mine this question of organization. I
ask the Republicans to come forward
and organize. After this I wash my
hands of the whole proposition. I am
present. :"
The call then proceeded. Lee an
sw cred to his name, but when Merrill
of Columbia was reached there was no
response. Twenty-nine members of
the house were found to be present, and
ten from the senate-thirty-n in
all, or seven short of majority.
Chairman Brownell then stated that
he had received word that Merrill
would not be up till the 2:20 train.
He suggested that recess till 7:3O in
the evening be taken. This was done.
There was no change when the con-
vention met at night. Bilyeu and
Lee, Democrats, were in their places,
and Merrill, Republican, arrived in the
afternoon and was also present. Chair
man Brownell waited till 1888 before
he called to order. When the name of
Vaughan of Lane was reached, johnson
of Linn asked that he be excused on ac-
count of illness. Thirty-nine were
present. The convention adjourned
Immediately following the roll call.