The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-23
REPORT AGAINST CLARK
Finding Of the Elections Committee
Submitted to the Senate.
A Resolution Declaring the Mon
tanan Not Entitled to His Sent Of
Certain Portions of the Report
Disagreed 10 by the Minority.

AS soon as the Senate get to work this
morning a report on the Clark election
case was made by Mr. Chandler, Chairman
of the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
hons The report was accompanied by
resolution declaring that William A.
Clark was not duly and legally elected TO
a seat in the Senate of the United States
by the Legislature Of the State Of Mon
tana'
The report is very long and is mostly
review OF the testimony. The meat of it
is in the summary toward the close. stat
cd as follows by the committee:
This briefest possible summary Of the
material facts in case whose hearings
have covered over three months, from
January to April TO- 1900, and whose rec
ord requires 2,677 pages, has extended to
a great length. and the committee win not
present any general considerations in this
reOort
The Senate should as a duty to itself
and the country demonstrate by its action
in this case that seats in the United States
Senate procured as Senator Clark's has
been procured, cannot be retained by the
deliberate judgment Of the Senate. The
Senate also owes a duty 10 the people OF
Montana who, conscious of the bad repute
into which the Stale had fallen by reason
OF vast expenditures OF money in conner
tion with its elections, manifested such a
public sentiment that the Legislature OF
1895 passed a statute which, if obeyed.
would have redeemed the State from its
bad name. For the gross and direct viola
tions Of that statute and the consequent
diseTedit which continues TO rest upon the
state. Montana has a right to expect a
prompt and decisive remedy from the ac-
tion Of the Senate upon the report Of this
committee"
In regard TO the Welcome disharment
the committee says, in part, after full re-
view Of that matter:
Upon the foregoing undisputed facts.
and other facts which are cont-overted,
majority OF the committee believe that
Senator Clarks agents IN their despera-
tion on account Of the decision OF the
court TO take jurisdiction il the Welcome
case, attempted an improper approach 10
the judges Of the court and 10 Attorney
General Nolan. which fact cannot but have
a certain influence in the consideration OF
the other acts OF those ager:s IN cOrnec-
tion with the Senatorial election 4 MI
nOrity Of the committee, however. believes
that the transactions were res inter alias
acta. and that the evidence does not sufn-
ciently bring home TO Senator Clark CT h's
agents any improper attempt 20 Influence
the court CT the Attorney General
Mr. Pettus, one Of the members Of the
committee. said that some g them, while
not dissenting from the resolutioa offered
by the chairman desired 70 submit some
remarks as 10 the conduct Of the case.
The President pro TEN. Mr. Frye. asked
whether the Senator from Alabama desired
20 make any statement at present
Mr.. Pettus replied that he did not. and
added: "A minority Of the committee dis
agrees with portions OF the report and de-
sires to submit its views in writing with
out in any way dissenting from the con-
clusions"
The resolution was placed on the ealen-
49,