Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-24
(By Telegraph to virginian- Pllot.)


Washington. D. c., April "a two
days debate on the right of the Hon.
NJ. S. Quay to n seat as a Senator from
Pennsylvania was begun almost i'm
mediately after the Senate convened
to-day. For months the case has been
pending in the Senate, and from time
to time Senators have discussed it, but
until to-day the debate has been desul-
tory in character. Tomorrow at 4 D.
m. under Il special order, the case is
to be DISPOSED Of Under the special
order all subsidiary motions will be in
order at and after the time OF the en-
piratlon of the debate. A direct vote
upon the proposition TO seat Mr. Quay
may not be taken Immediately after
the close of the debate. MIR. Chandler
has a motion pending which is, in
effect. n motion to seat Mr. Quay. but
1t Is held by the Senate parliamentary
ians that every subsidiary motion will
take precedence over Mr.. Chambers
motion. These include motions inden-
nitely to postpone. to postpone to n de-
finite date. TO re-commlt 10 the COM
mittce and to amend That one or
moro tof those motions will be made Is
quite likely How the Senate will vote
on an of them is Il matter OF specula-
ton.
In support of Mr. Quay's right to
seat speeches were delivered to-day by
Mr.. Chandler, of New Hampshire; Mr.
Kenny. of Delaware, ana Mr.. Penrose,
OF Pennsylvania. Mr.. Plat. of Connec-
speeches in opposition TO Mr.. Quay.
MIR. CLARK's CASE.
At the opening Mr.. Chandler chair
man of the Committee on Privileges
and Elections. submitted to the Senate
the report and testimony in the case
of Senator William ~. Clark. of Mon
tana. Mr.. Iettus announced that some
of the committee, without any way dis
senting to the resolution offered by the
chairman, would speak later regarding
the conduct OF the case. The resolution
was placed on the calendar
FLOATING SUGGESTIONS.
The resolution relating to the seating
of the Hon. NJ. S. Quay as Il Senator
from Pennsylvania, was then called up
and Mr.. Chandler. supporting MIR
Quay's right, urged the Senators to
consider the questions merely as one of
constitutional construction.
Suggestions have been floating
about" said he. las TO some bargain
between the friends OF Senator Quay
and the friends of another Senator
whose right to a scat also has been
called in question" CReferring to Sem
ator Clark, Montana).
He had been. he said, requested to
deny these. and he characterized them
as mere Pigment of a diseased imagi
nation. He held that the Governor OF
Pennsylvania was not bound in this
case by the provision of the const!tu-
ton OF Pennsylvania, requiring that the
Governor should call the Legislature
together to fill vacancies In the Sena
torial representation because this va
cancy had occurred during n recess OF
the Legislature, as indicated by the
Pennsylvania constitution. but during
a session of the Legislature.
Adverting to the Mantle case in $685.
and the Corbett case, in the last Con-
gress. Mr.. Chandler said they were not
fair precedents upon which to base &C
ton.
II know Senator's" said he, land 1
am not going to mention names. who
voted against Mantle because he was
what was called a Silver Senator; and
I know that some Senator's perhaps in
n spirit of retaliation, voted against
Corbett because he was what was call
ed a Gold Senator"
OPPOSED TO QUAY.
MIR. Plat. of Connecticut, in reply,
maintained on purely constitutional
grounds that Mr.. Quay was not en-
titled to q seat in the Senate. He said
OF the discussion was whether any
thing can ever be considered as settled
in the Senate of the United States. Is
the Senate. now in the one hundred
and twelfth year of it's existence, to
observe the almost unbroken line of
precedents, or is it TO be governed by
political and personal friendships?"
81 am sorry" continued Mr.. Platt
"that any Senator should make a
charge against sixteen Senators that
they voted against a Senator because
of personal or political reasons, and not
on constitutional grounds. That charge
is one which reflects greater dishonor
upon the Senate than any that has
ever been made"
Mr. Chandler asked II these state
ments ought to he made "in secret, yet
not OH this noor?"
SIXTEEN SENATOR'S DIsGRACED.
The Senator from New ampshire,"
responded Mr.. Plat, Tin making this
charge, makes one which, IL true, dis
graces sixteen Senators who voted
against Mr.. Corbett and brings dis
honor UPON this Senate. do not be-
lieve 1t. No enemy OF the Senate. no
newspaper which likes to cast asper-
sions, no outsider who is constantly
seeking opportunity to malign public