The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-04
He OBJECTS TO CORBETT
Caffrey Thinks He Is Not Entitlad
to a Seat.
SUPPORTED THE REPORT
Platt Calls Seed Distribution an Unniti-
gated ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Amend
ment for the Reclamation.
of the Arid Lands

lures OF to-ddyS session of the senate
was speech by Mr.. Caffrey of Louisi-
ana in support of the resolution report
| ed by the committee on privileges and
elections declaring that Henry w. Cor
hett is not entitled to seat in the sem
ate from Oregon. Mr.. Corbett was
| appointed by the governor of Oregon
after the failure of the legislature to
elect, to succeed Senator Mitchell Mr..
Caffrey maintained that no governor of
state had the authority to appoint a
man to fill vacancy beginning with a
! new term after the legislature had had
an opportunity to elect and had failed
to do 50.
The agricultural bill was under con-
sideration during the greater part of
the afternoon and finally passed. After
Dfle1 executive session the senate ad-
journed.
A bill repeating the act granting
American registry to the steamer Clar-
ibel and others was reported and
passed. Frye said the act had been
passed under misapprehension, as the
vessels were owned by Englishmen
Germany's order prohibiting the i'm
portation of American fruits called out
a resolution from Mr.. Davis, chairman
or the committee on foreign relations,
calling on the president il not incom-
patible with public interest to transmit
other information bearing upon the
matter in his possession. The resolu-
tion was agreed to.
In accordance with notice previously
given. Caffrey called up informally the
resolution declaring Henry Corbett is
not entitled to a seat in the senate from
Orego
Caffrey of Louisian spoke in support
CT the committee report against seating
Corbett. he claimed the constitutional
legislature had failed to elect and the
United States senate could not put a
premium upon such dereliction of duty
and thereby allow the governor to
appoint a faVorite to his seat
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire, who
joined i'll Il minority report asserting
the right of Mr.. Corbett to seat
III the senate. gave notice that he would
call up the caucus informally to-mor-
row and press 1t to a vote as early as
possible.
Mr.. Caffrey presented an extended
legal argument in support of the resolu-
ton presented by the majority of the
committee on privileges and elections.
Mr.. Caffrey contended that the legisla-
ture of Oregon, which met in January,
1897, was duly and properly organized
under the constitution of the state In
response TO an inquiry of MIR. Spooner
as 10 whether a legislature of Oregon
might be organized with such power as
yet, under the constitution be unable to
enact law, Mr.. Caffrey replied that in
certain circumstances such conditions
might arise.
If, however" said Mr. Caffrey. "a
majority of The legislature can pass a
law, majority of the legislature under
the constitution of Oregon can so or
Sanize as to elect a senator. That is
the proposition upon which | stand"
Mr.. Caffrey's contention was that a
governor of state could not appoint
to fill an original vacancy, a vacancy
beginning with a new term, and where
the Legislature had an opportunity to
elect and had failed to do SO. This
point he supported by long list of
precedents and quotations from law. He
maintained that constitutional author
ity of the legislature could not be
transferred TO the governor He con-
tended that the Oregon Legislature by
intrigue or otherwise failed to elect, but
that the senate of the United States
could not place premium upon such
derehction of duty on the part of the
legislature as would enable the gov
ernor to appoint faVorite of his to a
seat in the senate.
Al the conclusion of Mr.. Caffrey's
speech ar. Lindsay of Kentucky gave
notice that tomorrow at the conclusion
Of the routine business. he would sub
mit some remarks upon matter per-
SplidllA fIIHlSHIl ana III WnlCn
he thought the senate would have some
interest.
Mr.. Cullom then called up the agri-
cultural appropriat ton bill. the reading
of which was concluded last evening.
Pending the submission of certain
amendments to the BILL Mr.. Piatt of
Connecticut expressed his regret that the |
committee had not stricken from the bill
the appropriation for the purchase and |
of seeds. He read letters |
from number of members of a Con-
necticut grange, in which the state |
ment was made that the seeds sent out |
by the agricultural department were |
not good. could not be depended on and |
were of no use 10 the farmers or gar |
deners
In reply TO Mr.. Platt's brief state |
ment. MI Allen thought that the chief I
opposition 10 the governments distribu- |
ton of seeds came from those who them |
selves had seeds for sale
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia thought there |
ought To be a reform in the distribution /
IF seeds. He believed the department |
ought to purchase seeds for distribution |
rom persons who We're known 10 raise /
or produce seeds Of value. In many m
stances the seeds purchased were
neither valuable nor rare.
That is the unmitigated humbug of |
he whole thing" interjected Mr Piatt /
# Connecticut.
The amendment to the agricultural I
lill offered by Mr.. Warren. providing /
'or division of the irrigation and re-
'lamation of arid lands, for the investi-
cation Of the methods of constructing
irrigation canals and of storing and dis I
ributing water in the reclamation ~ 4
aid lands. the whole 10 cost 81. 300 was
discussed briefly by its author, AMI 10y \
Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada. II was main
aimed that the adoption of the amend
nent was of great value to the Western |
Mr.. Bate Of Tennessee was Of the opin-
on that the present proposition was sim
lly the first step in a mammoth scheme
O reclaim the arid lands of the conn
ry II was beautiful idea. he SAID,
'ut the finances Of the country Were
lot at present in such condition t. enter
lpon the proposed scheme. In addition
le maintained that the nrnnasII.an WE !