The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-05

President Hobart was paid by the senate
today at its first session of the Fifty-sixth
congress The session lasted only thirty
three minutes. and only the most formal
and necessary business was transacted.
After the adoption of the usual routine
resolutions and the administration to the
new members Of the oath of Office. Senator
SewalI OF New Jersey. presented fitting
resolutions upon the death Of the vice
president the resolutions were ordered to
be communicated to the house of represent
tatives, and the session. on motion Of Mr..
Kean of New Jersey, was suspended.
Protest Against Clark.
In the course Of the proceedings Mr..
Carter of Montana presented memorial
from some of the members of the Montana
legislature against the validity OF the pre-
tended election of William A. Clark to the
senate" The memorial recited that Mr..
Clark did secure and procure votes in this
legislative assembly by the payment there
for and by the promise Of payment there
for of large sums Of money.
Further, "You memorialists and protes-
tants do aver that the said VIM. A. Clark,
by himself and his agents, did bribe sundry
members of said legislative assembly to
vote for him for said Office" the memori-
alists alleging that he was not the untram-
meled choice of the legislature of Nom
tana.
Corruption and Bribery.
The assertion Is made that by corruption
and bribery Mr.. Clark was enabled to Sc
cure enough votes to compass his cleo
tion as senator. 1t is recited that the sum
of $4,000, paid to members OF the legisla-
t,xrN Nfr \ btS farx
was produced in open session Of the legis-
lature and deposited In the treasury Of
Montana, where 1t still remains unclaimed
by Mr.. Clark. The sum of s35 900, it is al
legged, was to be paid for the votes of four
members of the Legislature 1t is alleged
the $4,000 is but small fraction Of the
pass his election. The memorialists offer
to show ITO the senate ample evidence to
establish the charges they make.
The charges are signed by Henry 8. Stiff,
speaker Of the house. and twenty-seven
other members of the Montana legislature.
Appended to, and made a part of the
memorial. is a report of the investigation
made OF the election of Senator Clark by
the legislature of Montana.
Mr.. Carter also presented a petition
Montana; 7. E Collins. state treasurer;
Henry s. Stiff. and many other prominent
citizens of Montana, asking for an early
and full hearing of the charges against
Senator Clark. which are set out fully In
the petition.
Petition of the Governor.
The petition declares that "for the pur-
pose of securing the support of members
Of said legislative assembly to vote for and
elect the said VIM. A. Clark, he did con-
federate and conspire with parties, named
and unnamed by the petitioners, to cor
rupt and bribe the members of said legis-
lature and to thereby secure their votes
in behalf Of the candidacy of the said VIM.
a. Clark. 1t is alleged that Clark did, in
the furtherance of his desires, pay large
sums of money to the members of the
legislature for their votes" The petition
then names a number of members of the
legislature, with the sums they are alleged
to have received set opposite their names.
The sums aggregate, according to the petit
ton, about $500, ,0o0.
In addition to the sums alleged to have
| been paid by Senator Clark to members
! for their votes or influence, 1t Is asserted
that Senator Clark offered to various per-
| sons for their votes or influence sums
| aggregating s175.00o Those persons are
| also named in the petition. The petition
| ers aver that many other sums, unknown
at this time. were paid out corruptly by
| Senator Clark in advancing his candidacy
| for the senate.
The Senate Convenes.
Promptly at noon Mr. Frye, of Maine,
president pro tenn, called the senate 10
order. The blind chaplain, Mr.. Milburn,
| pronounced the invocation, making beau
| tiful and touching reference to the death
/ of Mr. Hobart
| Mr.. Penrose, Of Pennsylvania presented
the credentials of Mr.. Quay. and they were
referred to the committee on privileges and
| elections. Remonstrances and memorials
| against the seating of Mr.. Quay were pre-
| sented by Mr. Burrows, Republican, of
Michigan. and Mr.. Jones. Democrat, of Ar
| kansas.
New Senators sworn In.
Accompanied each by his colleague. The
/ rev senators, in coteries of four, were pre-
I sented to the presiding officer and receiv-
] 49,