Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-16

| where he charged the Anaconda Com
pany with spending $1,0OOOO0.
| In a few sentences Clark referred to
his own career, concluding with the
words: Il was never in all my life
charged with a dshonorable act and /
propose to leave to my children leg
acy worth more than gold. an un
blemished name"
Senator Clark then announced
his resignation as follows: Act
ing upon my own Judgment
Tor the result, I have concluded
to place my resignation in the hands
of the chief executive Of Montana and
| here submit a copy of letter ad-
dressed to him under date of May II.
and which is now in his hands" The
letter follows:
Washington. d. c.. May II. 1900
ITO His Exccllency. the Governor of
| Montana, Helena, Mont:
| Dear Sir-ThC sixth Legislative AS
sembly. on the 18th day Of January. 1899
| elected me To represent the state Of Mon
tana In the Senate Of the United States
| for the term commencing on the ith day
| OF March 1899. Under the authority Of
the credentials signed by the governor
of the state entered upon the discharge
| of the duties of that position on the first
| Monday of last December. after qualify
ing by taking the oath Of office prescribed
| by law.
ON the 4th day of December. 1Sg0. TWO
| memorials Were presented to the Senate
| of the United States praying that my
right ana tltlC to Crntlnu" to act as
| senator unucr the credentials which ccrti-
lied 70 my election should lc investigated.
| These memorials with The accompanying
| papers Were referred tu standing com
| mittce Of that body
| After a prutractcd investigation Of the
| allegations Of said mcmprialists. the
| committee has submitted its conclusion
1 To the Senate. and it finds that the seat
which now occupy under the credentials
issued 10y authority of the vote taken in
| the joint assembly OF jhc Legislature on
the 18th day Of January. lN"', should be
| declared vacant.
! None Of thr charges affecting my per
! sonal honor. or which alleged that had
| personally been guilty q corrupt prac-
! ticcs. have been sustained by the finding
! Of the committee.
| CONSCIOUS of the rcc,itudc Of my own
| conduct and after critical examination
/ Of All the evidence. taken bV the commit
! tee; convinced that those friends who
! were 50 loyal 10 mc during the bitter
| contest did not resort tp dlShonurablc or
| corrupt means to influence the action ut
| the members of the Legislature in their
! choice Of senator; Yet ! am unwilling
! to continue t. occupy seat III the sen
| ale nf the United Sta,e- under credentials
/
| for their authority upon Inc action OF a
! Legislature which VII not Tree ana vol
| untary in its choice W a senator.
"Sclf-rrSpect ana due regard lpr the
opinion III ny associates. ana a sense NJ
! duty t. tile people ot the state oi Mon
| taud. demand that | should return the
! credentials under which / am acting rs
/ one of the representatives, of the hl'cd
! States leaving tn, state and her people
/ To take such action will conserve lnd
| promote her best interests in the national
.Intiucnced by these considerations.
| deem il cmincntly proper without uh-
necessary delay t. resign the position "i
! United States senator from the state N
| Montana. to which | was chosen y! inc
/ sixth Legislative Assembly ~ Montana.
| Un the 18th day Of January. ls!9.
! with sentiments uf esteem, ! remain,
''RcSpccttuily yours.
wv. \. CLARK"
After reading the letter, Mr.. Clark
said: Mr.. President, l desire in re
firing from the Senate to state that
have here formed some warm friend
ships which l regret To leave. l have
received from the honorable presiding
officer the most courteous attention. |
! am deeply sensible Cf the generous
| sympathy and support Of almost all OF
my Democratic colleagues and for the
cordial good wishes of a great num-
| Der of Republican friends, | wish to
express my profound gratitude.
When he had concluded he was sur
rounded by many senators from both
| sides of the chamber The resolution
! relative to the case went over until to-
morrow.
| ROSS. Vt, then called up his bill
Regulating appointment TO and re
movals from civil offices in outlying de-
/ ctut., nd
| addressing the Senate in an extended
argument maintained that the appoint
ment should be non-partisan and no
office holder should be removed with
! out having an opportunity to meet
charges properly made and duly estab-
| lished.
| Hale, Me. said he did not share in
| the expectations Of Ross as to the car
| ryinE out of the perfect program mark
| Cd out by him for our insular posses
sions. THE jaunty way in which the
| American people have embarked in
| the enterprise of the colonial posses
siDns has certainly received rebuke
in what has been seen to happen dur
ing the last few months
Ross having called for a vote on his
bill, Scott. w. Va. moved to postpone
| the bill Indefinitely. The motion was
| lost, 10 to 30.
| 1t was noticed that in calling the
roll the clerk omitted the name OF
| Clark. Mont. indicating that so far as
the Senate is concerned his resigna-
| ton is an accepted fact. Mason, ILL.,,
spoke in humorous vein in opposition
| to the bill. The Senate, at 430 =. NJ,
adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.