Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-18

A RUMP HOUSE = ATKINSON
ACTING MYSTER1OUSLY.
Special to the Register.
Charleston, w. Va, January H.
Matters are comparatively quiet to-
day. 1t is the calm which ~precedes the
storm. The subject of paramount In
terest is the action of the two branches
of the Legislature in the contest cases.
The Senate met and adjourned. It's
Committee on privileges and elections
meets o-morrow afternoon.
Unless he Democratic programme is
revealed by that time, it is a SAFE
guess that nothing will be lone IN the
matter of the contested seats in the
Senate. The Republicans are playing
a waiting game, and at the same lime
are trying to outwit the Democrats IN
s~trategical movements. They are de-
termined to have a majority of three
on joint ballot, in order to elect a
Senator without the votes of Getzen-
danner and Pierson, and will unseat as
many Democratic Senators as will be
necessary to accomplish that end.
Chairman Mcneil, of the Senate Com
mittee, to-day offered a compromise,
promising to do nothing in the. Senate
if the Democrats will seat Brohard,
from Taylor county. This proposition
is received with varying degrees Of
favor on the Democratic side. Senators
Marcum and Kidd, who are slated for
removal, will probably use their in
fluenh towards it's acceptance. Many
Dem Nrats, however, favor doing the
right thing in the Taylor county cases,
without regard to Republican action in
the Senate. Those who entertain this
view of the matter are in an over
whelming majority.
In the House this morning the chair
apDointed the committee on privileges
noon. Dent and his attorneys were
present, but Brohard did not put in an
appearance. The committee will meet
again tomorrow. There has been a
change in the Republican position. 1t
was at first agreed to take up the Tay-
lor county case before the Monroe
county case, but Republicans are now
insisting upon a reversal of this pro-
gramme, as
1T GIVES THE DEMOCRATS
one more vote in the House on the
Taylor county case. The Democratic
position is that the Taylor county case
must be considered first, as that county
IS not represented on the floor of the
House.
Ira Robinson, the Republican prose-
cutting attorney of Taylor county, is
here as counsel for Brohard. He stat
ed to-day that he will insist upon the
committee securing the a~fidavits of
all the Republican voters in a precinct
in which there was a large change of
votes in the recount. This is a Wis.,
ionary scheme, which if carried out.
might prolonge the case until the end
of the session.
The attitude of Governor Atkinson
in the matter is very interesting. and
has given rise to a number of very
sensational reports. The committe ap-
pointed to notify him that the House
was ready to proceed to business called
on the Governor this morning.
sit down, gentlemen" was his very
irrelevant answer to the message of
the committee. The Governor has not
yet sent mis- message to the House. and
it is believed that he will refuse to
recognize the lower branch of the Leg
i~slature so long as it will be necessary
to serve the partisan ends indicated
by the White-Dawson programme.
There are wild rumors that in a GER
tain contingency the Republicans will
organize a trump house which the
Governor will recognize. These are
not credited by sensible people. 1t
would be difficult t understand how
such a course could be followed with
Il a quorum to begin with.
unlike the Senate the House pro-
ceeded to business this morning. a
large number of bills and resolutions
being introduced. The House did a
very ~commendable thing in giving the
Virginia debt legislation a very black
eye. 1t will hardly recover during this
session. Mr.. Taylor, of Cabell. intro
I,o1J - ;1;,% .1aoIxso-
consider any proposition during the
session for the purchase of Virginia
debt certificates. and declaring it to be
the sense of the Legislature that the
State of West Virginia does not owe
any part of the Virginia debt. Upon
the roll call every member voted for
the resolution. H. V. ARKLE.
nnQNID Ann nDnnaHyAr1