The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-27
1.-THE QUAY RESOLUTION.
SENATE BEGINS A TW0-DAYS' DEBATE
ON THIS QUESTION.
MATTER To Be SETTLED TODAY
senator Chandler Argues Against Ac-
cepting the Mantle and Corbett Cases
as Precedents Because Decided
Through Political Bias
Platt's Reply to This Plea REPORT In
the Case of Senator-Elect Clark.
Postal Appropriation Bill I'm House.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, April ga two-days'
debate on the right Of the Hon. NJ. S.
Quay TO a seat as a senator from
PENNSYLVANIA was begun almost i'm
'mediately after the senate convened
today. For months the case has been
pending in the senate and from time
to time senators ave discussed 1t, but
until today the debate has beer desul-
tory in character. Tomorrow at 4
p. m, under a 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 expiration of the debate. a di-
rect vote upon the proposition to seat
Mr.. Quay may not be taken immedi-
Iately after the close of the debate.
At the opening, Senator Chandler.
chairman of the committees on privil-
Ieges and elections, submitted to the
senate the report n testimony in the
case Of Senator-elect William A.
CLARK, of Montana.
In discussing the Quay case, Senator
Chandler, adverting to the Mantle case
in 1895 and the Corbett case in the last
congress, said they were not fair prec-
ledentS upon which to base action. L
know senator's" said he, land / am not
going to mention names, who voted
against Mantle because he was what
was called a silver senator; and 1 know
THAT some senator's, perhaps in a spirit
of retaliation, voted against Corbett
because he was what was called a gold
senator"
Senate Plat, Of Connecticut, in re-
iply, maintained, O purely constitu-
Itional grounds that Senator Quay was
not entitled to a seat in the senate
He said the question that lies in the
forefront of the discussion was "wheth-
Ier anything can ever be considered a.
settled in the senate Of the United
Estates. Is the senate, now in the 18th
year of its existence, to observe the al
most unbroken line Of presidents. Or
is it to be governed by political and
personal friendships"
Il am sorry" continued Senator
Plat, that any senator should make
a charge against sixteen senators that
they voted against a senator because
lof personal or political reasons and not
lon constitutional grounds. That charge
is one which reflects greater dishonor
upon the senate h any that ever has
been made"
Senator Chandler asked if these
statements ought to be made lin Sc
Icret, yet not on this f1oor?"
"The senator from New Hampshire"
responded Senator Plat, lin making
this charge, makes one which,, if true,
disgraces sixteen senators who voted
against Mr.. Corbett n brings dishon-
or upon this senate I do not believe
1t. No enemy Of the senate, no news
paper which likes to cast aspersions,
no outsider who is constantly seeking
opportunity to malign public men,
oorr1 - ~oo-,- tho 49,
votes of sixteen senator's were cast
against Mr.. Corbett because he was a
supporter of the gold standard. Such
a charge will only afford opportunity
for criticism of the senate which will
be unjust and unwarranted."
Senator Platt maintained there was
practically no difference between the
Quay case n h Corbett case and
the latter decision ought to be regard
ed as sacred. Once the precedents are
lovertured seats in this body will be-
come the sport of political exigency.
Senate Kenney, of Delaware, then
addressed the senate in support Of Mr..
voted against the seating of Mr.. Cor
bett two years ago. He admitted
frankly that certain charges made
against Mr.. Corbett had influenced his
Ivote more than the constitutional ar
lguments against him. He said the
governor Of Delaware was waiting for
the decision in the Quay case before
lacting with respect to the vacancy that
lexisted in the senatorial representation
from that state.
Senator Quarles, Wisconsin,, was the
next speaker. He look strong grounds
against the seating of Senator Quay.
Senator Penrose maintained with
senator Chandler that the question
presented vas one purely Of conStitu-
Ifinnal construction and on that nrQmiCp
he presented a long constitutional ar
Igument in favor of seating Mr.. Quay.
HE did not conclude his speech.
At 6:3S p. m, the senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Unanimous consent was given to set
aside May 1st and End for the consider
Iation for the Nicaragua canal bill.
A bill was passed to establish terms
Iof courts at Newberry, S. c., and Eliz-
iabeth City, N. c.
The postoffice appropriation bill,
carrying $113, 1874. 800 was then taken up.
chairman Loud, of the postoffce COM
Imittee, explained it's provisions.
will not the increase of $500, 900 for
pneumatic tube service involve millions
lin the neal future?" asked Mr.. Moody,
Iof Massachusetts.
That is about it," replied Mr.. Loud.
l"I warn the house this will be the
lease"
Mr.. North. South Carolina, who fol-
flowed Mr.. Loud, look advantage Of the
latitude allowed in general debate to
deliver an hours speech on the subject
lof the conditions in the south. He re-
Iplied to some of the structures on the
educational system in the south, show
ling that since reconstruction the south
had proportionately spent more for ed
Iucation than some of the states Of the
north. He described the wonderful
strides of the south in material wealth
and predicted a glorious future for the
southland.
Mr.. Bell. Colorado, attacked the ex-
lorbitant compensation paid railroads
for carrying the mails which averaged
Ielgnt cents per pound. The express
rate from Boston to Chicago, he said
twas less than one cent per pound. VIII
should the government pay more:
Since 1873 railroad rates had decreased
80 per cent. and passenger rates III
per cent but the rate for carrying the
mails had remained unchanged. A re-
lductlon OF 25 per cent. in railroad
transportation, he said, would wipe out
IL