The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-16


few weeks ago. Mr.. Quay's colleague.
senator Penrose, asserted before the OPEN
ing OF congress that sixty OF the eignty-slx
senators were pledged to vote to seat MT:
Quay, and therefore nothing was LETT OF
the fight but the shouting. The number OF
reputed Quay pledges now has dwindisu.
however, TO forty-six, according 10 the
mathematician OF the Quay following.
This still would leave a safe Quay ma
jority. but II comes under the head OF
those bits of news which the local journal
ist IL accustomed TO label "important' u
true" Quay's antagonists. It should DC
explained, discredit the estimates ana al
lese senatorial polls which show that Mr..
Quay viii not be seated.
Two elements constitute the main
strength of the Quay cause. one IL inc
great personal popularity OF Mr., quay.
popularity not confined to the Republican
side OF the house. Mr.. Quay mas the lars-
est personal following among any Oh the
Old senators, and he Is undoubtedly closer
to the Democratic side than any other he-
publican. 1t was Quay who was MADE the
ambassador when the Republican senators
wished to secure concessions from their
Democrat opponents, and wnen inc
Pennsylvania went over and made per-
sonal appeal to the gentlemen on the De"'-
ocratlc side he usually was successful.
This popularity OF Mr.. Quay among the
Democrats had It's origin In the decided
stand which he took against the enact,
ment OF the so-called Force Dill, anu anu y !.
and honesty in his treatment OF ponticai
opponents The other forcefui element AZ
the seating OF Mr.. Quay Is the TACT that
amnyx % wiom is Mr. Foster believe it 4
the intent OF the constitution that every
state shall at all time have its full rep
resentation In the upper branch Oh con-
gress.
Precedents Arc Against Them.
rrecedents do not favor Mr.. Quay, for
the senate never has decided In faver OF
the appo.ntee OF governor Why canis
under exactly the same conditions az
those obtaining In the Quay case Dur-
ing the last few days. indeed. attention
Is being called to a circumstance wnicn
hitherto has escaped comment. ana wn;cn
the opponents OF Mr.. quay now are ur Ii.'a
with evident effect. 1t is that the leglsia
ture OF Pennsylvania was IN session at
the time Mr.. Quay's term expired
Now, the clause OF the constitution when
authorizes governor to appoint United
states senator, specifically says: III va
cancles happen by resignation, or otner-
wise. during the recess of the legislature
of any state" This, 1t IL argued by MI.
Quay's opponents. leaves the governor no
constitutional power to appoint when va
cancy happens or takes place during Q
legislative session, and therefore GOV.
Stone exceeded his constitutional powers
IN making the appointment.
No special Significance IS Attached 70
the appointment of Senator Harris, OF
Kansas, to the committee on privileges
and elections, although that appointment
gives the enti-Quay members majority
OF the committee. This IL because the
committee report will be made mere in.
cident The quay case W WI s ee se's snd
that vote win not be materially affected
BY a favorable or unfavorable committee
report.
Pension Bills I'm Congress.
Not IN many years has there been such
a flood OF bills seeking to amend the pen,
sion laws as that which has characterised
1 the first few days OF this session OF con-
eress. These bills cover the ground from
Dan to Beersheba. They propose per diem
for widows OF soldiers OF the war OF 1919,
for an extension of existing laws so as
to pension teamsters, nurses, scouts and
spies.
move all disabilities affixed by the present
pension laws. including desertion. dishon-
orable discharge, etc. II congress were TO
enact only small fraction of the pension
legislation proposed by bills introduced
during the FIRST week OF the session. the
national treasury would be bankrupt Ut
the end Of the first quarter day.
Anti-Polygamy Bills.
or the several ant-polygamy amend
ments to the constitution which have been
proposed. that of Mr.. Bromwell, Of Ohio.
is the briefest and most direct and specific
1t reads. "Polygamy y hereby declared 70
and forever prohibited within them. or any
place subject to their jurisdiction, and no
person engaged in the practice thereof
shall hold any office of honor, trust or
profit under the United States or any
state"
This is in striking contrast to an amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Capron, of Rhode
and preamble of several hundred words,
followed by constitutional amendment In
four sections. Mr.. Capron's proposed
asTed reaon ey CONTRACT or in ae
by one person of either sex to more than
one person Of the other sex, shall be deem
ed polygamy." 1t also provides that no
ing polygamy but, on the contrary, shall
prohibit poygamous association or cohabi-
tation Of law. The Judiciary power of the
United States is made to extend to prose-
cution for polygainy, which is termed In the
amendment a crime.
1t is significant that, both in the amend.
ment proposed by Mr. Cromwell and that
proposed by MI. Capron, poiygamy is forbid
den, not only in the United States. but in
any territory over which the United States
exercises jurisdiction. Over IN the island
Capt. Richard p. Leary, already has issued
an edict against polygamy, and has required
his subjects to get married and to provide
themselves with chickens and pigs The
Sultan OF Sulu, however, still Is pursuing
the complicated and uneven tenor of his
extensive and expensive matrimonial way.
The Thirteenth amendment to the Consti-
tuition already has something to say about
slavery, which is specifically applicable to
the Sulu islands. Under the amendment
proposed by Messrs. Bromwell and Capron,
polygamy In the archipelago would also
be interdicted.
For a New Cabinet ONCE.
A bill to establish the much discussed
department Of commerce, and manufactures
was introduced the second day Of the ses-
eion nv Mr. Roberts. of Massachusetts, 1t
does not differ materially from measures
previously proposed for the creation OF a
new cabinet office. secretary, an assis-
tant secretary. chief clerk and other cleri-
cal assistants are provided, as Is customary
with other departments.
One of the most important features of
the bill Is the provision by which the en-
tire consular bureau Is transferred from
the state department to the proposed de-
partment of commerce and manufactures,
and the secretary of the latter depart
ment is given absolute control of the
consular service. save where consular Of
ficers act in diplomatic capacity in mat
"a n. Al