Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-19
ALLEN READS TITLE CLEAR
New Senator from Nebraska Will Take the
Oath of Office Today.
GETS THE SEAT WHICH TILLHAN FILLED
Nebraska Members of the House Are
Pleased with Their Committee As
signmcnts-Thurs VIII Push
Omaha supply Depot.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.-(Specal Tele
gram )-Senator Allen arrived from Madison
today and will take oath OF office tomorrow.
Senator Thurston presented Aliens creden-
tials bearing the great seal of the common
wealth of Nebraska, and signed by Gov
ernor Poynter and Secretary of State Porter.
The document was not accorded to the form
prescribed by precedent in the senate and
met with a protest from Senator Chand-
ler when the clerk had finished its reading,
which was as follows:
This is to certify that on the 18th day of
December, 1899, William V Allen was duly
appointed by me as senator from the state
Of Nebraska to represent said state in the
senate of the United States, to fill the va
Cancy caused by the death of Hon. Monroe
l.. Hayward said appointment to be in fun
force and effect until his successor is elected
by the legislature of the state of Ne
braslSa."
Chandler in calling attention of the SEN
ate to the last clause of Aliens creden
tials, said 80 far as am concerned there
will be no objection to the swearing in of
Senator Allen, when he appears under that
certificate, but the certificate is not correct
in that it undertakes to define the term
for which Senator Allen will hold until his
successor is elected by the legislature of
Nebraska The appointment should only
be until the next meeting of the legislature
of Nebraska. 1t is not, perhaps, matter
OF much comment, but as senator is likely
to appear at any time to be sworn in, and
/ have no objection to his being sworn in,
that clause in the appointment must be
regarded as void and of no effect"
The credentials were received and by
President pro TEN Frye placed on file. This
ends the attempt to place cloud on AL
lens title to the seat.
Senator Allen had little to say about his
appointment or the fight made over, his Sc
lection. He said, however, that the appoint
ment came to him unsought and under those
circumstances he could not decline, even
though a place in the district bench was
very much to his liking
Senator Allen has been assigned seat
on the last row on the democratic side of
the aisle, and which was formerly occupied
by Tillman.
NcbrnsEnns on Committees.
Generally speaking, Nebraska members Of
congress are satisfied with the committees
to which they were assigned today by
Speaker Henderson.
Congressman Burkett, while farng we'll
as a new member could expect is somewhat
chagrined in not receiving a place on post
offices and post roads, which he had hoped
would fall to him. His committee assign
ments are elections No. / and public lands.
Mercer's proverbial good luck stayed with
him and he is now on two committees which
stand amongst the first in congress, chair
man of public buildings and grounds, his
old committee and the District of Columbia.
Pressure was brought to bear upon the
speaker by the citizens of Washington to
give Mercer a place on the district commit
tee and it came to him wholly unexpected
This action on the part of Washington resi-
dents, was due wholly to Mercer's activity
in securing site for the new Carnegie
library building.
The fusonists were well taken care or
especially Stark, who wanted to remain on
the militia committee, as It promises to he
an exceedingly important body during this
congress, as Legislation will be necessary to
rehabilitate militia of states. Stark heads
the minority on this committee. In addition
he gets a place on expenditures of the de-
partment. Sutherland draws places on coin
age weights and measures and irrigation
of arid lands Robinson draws revision Of
laws, while Neville goes to agriculture.
South Dakota members were especially
we'll treated and are as happy over their
assignments as boys with their first rod-top
boots Both Gamble and Burke got what
they wanted, Gamble drawing a chairman
ship of a small committee, that of eXpendi-
lures on public buildings, and places on
mines and mining and Indian affairs; Burke
going to elections No. 2 and public lands.
Congressman Mondell of Wyoming got
everything he wanted, military affairs, public
lands mines and mining and with this array
believes he can do some real good for his
section.
Omaha's supply Depot.
As one of the first things in connection