The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-25
SESSION OF THE SENATORS.
ufEX wITHDRAws HIS CUBAN
RESOLUTION.

:, provided for a Committee of Five
senator's to Make an Inquiry With
j, view to bringing the War ON the
,yt,nd to a Peaceful End-He Be
.,r,e Convinced That 1t Was
n,omed to Defeat-Mr. SpOOner
v.,i.es an Argument in Favor of
a.. Admission OF Mr.. Corbett to the
senate.
washington, Feb. 24-At the opening of
ia session of the Senate to-day. the chap
hin hasought the Throne of Grace, that
= This momentous Lour of our history,
.hs Messing of the Holy Spirit might be
gr,nted. and rest upon the President and
y.,e President of the United States, 10th
branches of Congress, and all the people of
the country He prayed that the honor
and dignity and rights of our country
might be upheld
Ar the conclusion of the morning busl-
ness the Vice President laid before the
ssnate the resolution Of Mr.. Allen of Ne
braska, which was laid over from yester-
day. 1t provides for the appointment of
five senator's to make an inquiry into the
condition of affairs in Cuba. with view
10 bringing the war to a peaceful end.
MIR. Allen said that being satisfied from
the vote on his amendment yesterday that
the fate of this resolution was quite ell
sealed. he would withdraw it from further
consideration of the Senate.
Mr.. Hansbrough of North Dakota, call
ed up the bill extending the homestead
laws, and providing for right of way for
railroads in the district of Alaska
Mr. Rawlins of Utah, objected to con-
sideIat.on of the measure at this time, as
it was a subject too important to be TAX
Tn up hastily.
Mr. Hansbrough then moved that the
bill be taken up, and Mr.. Rawlins de-
manded the yeas and nays. 1t was decided
by vote OF As to to proceed with the
measure.
After brief, desultory discussion, Mr..
Hansbrough consented not TO press the bill
until Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin, had de-
lvered a speech on the Corbett case.
Mr.. Spooner made a legal argument in
favor OF the admission of Henry w Cor
bett to the Senate. He said that as a
lawyer he felt that he himself had no
higher or better right to a seat in the
Senate than Mr.. Corbett.
MI. 0LOOIl6T Sdlu lnat Ile primary pow
er to fill seats in the Senate from any state
was in the legislature of the state, nut in
the reading of the constitution, it ought
10 be remembered that this very matter
was one of dispute in the constitutional
convention. He pointed out that the con-
stitution provided that each state should
be the peer of every other state, not in
population, but in wealth. not in area, hut
in the number of votes in the Senate.
While the constitution could be amended
by the action of two-thirds of the states
il was expressly provided that no state
could be deprived of representation in the
Senate without its consent. 1t was the
object undoubtedly of the trainers of the
constitution, in placing In the government
the power to make temporary appointment
TO safeguard the rights and interests of
the state, SO that every state at all times
might have full and complete representa-
Ton IN the Senate
An effective point was made by Mr.
Spooner when he cited the credentials of
john Walker of Virginia, who was APP
pointed TO the Senate on March 81. $780,
by The Governor of Virginia. This case
lhe mrs Gubernatorial appointment made
70 lhe senate under the constitution Mr.
Spooner said, was precisely similar to that
now Under considerat ton, as Mr.. Walkers
credenual showed that the Legislature of
N"sHlid mad had opportunity to fill the
vacancy then existing and had failed to
10 So The Senate accepted Mr.. Walkers
credentials and seated him. Can it be
reasonably held" exclaimed Mr.. Spooner
mat the distinguished men then sitting in
'ne senate knew less of constitutional law
than We know MOVE"
q Just before the conclusion for the day
OF Mr Spooners remark, Mr.. Bacon of
HgIsla inquired whether, under all the
4 l'ic"ihstahces in case of anticipatory va
L"Hc3' the senator from Wisconsin (Mr
HpoVhef heid that the Governor had a
ti9"t 70 make an appointment irrespec-
I've Oh naction or inability for any reason
o. the legislature to elect.
Nf. S2oouer replied that Mr.. Bacon had
correctly stated his position.
WI Bacon then cited the hypothetical
Case OF legislature being Influenced by the
j upl use of money MOI to elect in or
u7l mat the Governor might make an ap-
pJu.ment and asked Mr. Spooner if he
"oda seat the appointee of the Governor
certainly" replied Mr.. Spooner. "un-
"sS 1t could be clearly shown to the Senate
~ tnaI the appointee was himself implicated
OF money
- Hahsorough then endeavored to get
r'9le ne Senate the Alaskan homestead
g'iu 'dIi"ay right-of-way bill The Senate
7 AS aoout to proceed with the bill. when
w. hdWilns of Utah made the point of
Of q'oFum. A roll call developed the lack
o5+ quorum and Mr.. Rawlins moved to
o5 pN'sIon was demanded and the Senate
10 ~ '"ed at 4:S5 O'Clock by a vote of II
N