The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-20
What Nextp


The failure of the Legislature to elect
a senator raises the question, Nv nat
next?"
The constitution of PENNSYLVANIA IL
silent upon the duty of the governor
in the case of failure to elect. us
entire mandate upon the general SUB
iect of a vacancy in the states srna-
torial representation is limited TO THESE
words in section four of Article II:
In case Of a vacancy in the oihce OF
United states senator from TINS COM
monwealth. i'm a recess between ses-
sions the governor shall convene the
two houses, by proclamation on notice
not exceeding sixty days, to fill the
same" After today there will, it is
true. be a vacancy 'in recess pe-
tween sessions" but it will not be a
vacancy originating in recess but
one directly due to the legislature
inability to perform its constitutional
duty while regularly in session. The
governor could summon an extra ses-
sion and justify the summons on the
ground that full representation at
Washington is very necessary in the
Fifty-sixth congress; but in view of
the fact that this necessity was amply
explained to the same Legislators when
assembled i'm regular session and also
in view of the cost of an extra ses-
sion. estimated at not less than $780,
OOO it is unlikely that the executive
will exercise SO dcbatablc a power.
In paragraph two of the third sec
tiOn of Article | of the Constitution of
the United States it Is provided that
''if vacancies happen by resignation or
otherwise during the recess Of the leg
islaturc of any state the executive
thereof may make temporary appoint
ments until the next meeting of the
legislature. which shall then fill such
vacancies" The next meeting of the
legislature" here contemplated very
obviously is the meeting provided for
in the constitution of the state having
the vacancy which in Pennsylvania
would be a special meeting to be con-
vened by gubernatorial proclamation
'on notice not exceeding sixty days"
So that even if a vacancy should occur
during the recess of the Legislature"
as, for example, by the resignation
of Senator PenrOse-the governor could
appoint only for the brief interval be-
tween his receipt of the resignation
and the choice of successor by the
legislature assembled in extraordinary
session. There is no substance to any
hope of relief from this direction
AS the situation stands, we are
forced 10 accept the conclusion that
during the entire first or long session
of the Fifty-siXth congress and very
probably during large part of the
second session of that important con
Eress, PENNSYLVANIA. in many particu-
lars the greatest and in most partic-
ulars at least the second greatest com
monwealth in the Union, will have
only one representative in the United
States senate. and he a man not vet
The senator who has represented the
commonwealth for twelve consecutive
years with such rare effectiveness that
he had become one of the recognized
leaders of the senate, one of the
powers behind the throne" of nationa
poutics and legislation; a party gen
eral with worldwide reputation fol
strategy ana astutenesS: man whose
friends are friends to the death, Civ,
ing evidences of personal loyalty
unique in the history of American
politics, has failed of reelection. no
because hc was no longer the choic,
of Il majority of his party. not becaus,
n" had lost his ability to serve tn,
commonwealth well. but because {
conspiracy Of his personal and politica
enemies, some within and some with
out the party, had set up a politica
'nSuwection powcrless to accomplish
anything athlmatively but powerful
only in its ability To obstruct.
I'm issu" Of this kind must necessar
ily go before the people. 1t will re
cure a vote Of the people to decide