The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-26

SALEM. Or. Jan. E.-Complications are
multiplying In the Oregon legislature. The
Benson house met this morning and . mo
ticn was adopted directing the sergeant AZ
arms 70 bring In absent members. The Da-
Wis house. met with seven members present
and Immediately adjourned until tonor-
row.
The senate this afternoon indirectly re-
fused 10 recognize the house over which
II. L. Benson presides as speaker. and
later President SIMON OF the senate de-
clined 10 accept a message from the Ben
son house notifying him that organtza-
ton had bean completed
The lobby OF the senate chamber was
crowded this afternoon in anticipation OF
some action on the house concurrent res
oIution 30 notify the governor Of the or
ssnizafion OF the Legislature. The reso.u-
ton failed 10 put In an appearance. but
the matter came up IN another form on
a resolution by Senator King, PopuliSt.
which was lost on tie vote. and suisse
ouently by decisive ruling Of President
Simon. which was against the recognition
OF the Benson house.
Immediately after the senate was called
TO order President Simon announced that
he had in his possession communication
from the temporary or Davis house. The
resolution was from the chief clerk and
galiy organized. The senate took no ac-
ton on the communication and the reg
ulsr order OF business was resumed.
After several bills had been introduced,
King asked unanimous consent 10 intro
duce a resolution. RE offered resolution
for the appointment of a committee from
the senate TO investigate and report
whether or not either OF the alleged organ
izations in the house was legally or
ganlzed body. This brought up the mat
ter CT the house recognition in an unex-
pected form. Patterson of Marion at
once saw the effect Of the resolution and
moved to lay ii on the table. thus shut
ting Off debate. President Simon imme-
diately put the motion 10 lay on the Ia
BILE and Ii was lost on a viva voce vote
A roll call on the King resolution show
ed a tie vote, 50 the senate failed to ADOPT
the resolution. The senate proceeded
with business. but had not gone far when
Representative Crawford presented a
message from the house. The message
was delivered to President Simon, who
read it and then said:
The chair is I'm receipt of a communi-
cation purporting TO be message from
the house, stating that the house mas Ell
fected permanent organization by elect
ing Hon. III. T.. Benson as speaker. r. r.
Hays as chief clerk. and other otIlcers,
and is ready for the transaction OF busi-
ness. The chair has already SUBMITTED
10 the senate a message from the tempo
rary organization Of the house, advising
the senate that such permanent orga1liza-
ton was effected in an irregular and I'M
constitutional manner, and without the
presence Of quorum. and that such ac-
ton was illegal and void. The chair Is OF
the opinion that no permanent orsaniza-
ton of the house has been effected. and
that the pretended permanent organiza-
ton, without quorum, mentioned In this
communication, Is not valid or binding,
and that the senate cannot recognize such
en- alleged permanent organization of the
house. The chair. therefore. declines to
entertain or receive this communication,
and rules that the same cannot be enter
ed upon the Journal. This decision will
stand as the judgment of the senate I'M
less the senate shall overrule the decision
OF the chair"
This closed the matter of recognition
OF the house, at least for the day.