The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-05-17
SENATE IS BAFFLED
Clark's Coup Makes a Sensa-
tion In Washington.
The Governor of Montana Is
Highly Indignant.
Condemns the Action of Lieu
tenant Governor In Appoint
ing Clark In His Absence.

WASHINGTON. May 16.-At
O'Clock President Pro Tenn Frye laid be-
fore the senate the Montana resolution.
Mr.. Chandler asked that the resolution
be postponed until 1 o'clock on Saturday
in order to give the senate committee
on privileges and elections an opportuni-
ty to consider whether further action
was necessary. This was agreed to.
To put the matter plainly. the United
States senate does not know where it
is at" in the case OF Mr.. Clark OF Mon
tana. The committee on privileges and
elections may be able to find out but its
members are, to say the least, Skcptical
of being able to solve the riddle in a
hurry. The dramatic action in which
the lieutenant governor of Montana and
w. a. Clark, who resigned from the SEN
ate, figured was as unexpected as 1t
seems to have been successful. In the
twinkling of an eye the anti-Clark men
found themselves undonc and in such a
clever manner that they cannot with
hold their admiration. Now that the
first surprise is over, the politicians are
wondering why they did not think of it
all before. But nobody did, and. so far
as opinion among the lawyers and parlia-
mcntarians in the senate goes, Mr..
Spriggs and Mr.. Clark have won the day.
There seems to be no reasonable doubt
first, that Il vacancy existed in the SEN
ate from Montana as soon rs the gov
crnor had received Mr.. Clark's resigna-
tion and he had notified the senate of the
fact; second. that under the Montana
law the lieutenant governor had n clear
right to appoint third that these things
being so the senate will have to admit
Mr.. Clark to his seat.
In proof of the claim that vacancy
existed, Senator Chandler. chairman of
the committee on privileges and elections
says there is no sort of doubt that the
senate at present is made up of Sc sena-
tors. vacancies existing in Delaware,
Utah, Pennsylvania and Montana.
Moreover, when Mr.. Clark announced
his resignation Mr.. Frye, president Of
the senate pro TEN, at once ordered his
name stricken from the senate rolls,
which was done. This was following all
prccedents since 1851, including that es-
tablished in 1881. when Conklng and
Platt so dramatically resigned as sena-
tors from New York When n roll call
was taken yesterday after Mr.. Clark $
speech, his name was not called. These
facts seem to settle the point as to va
cancy existing.
AS to the lieutenant governors right to
appoint in the absence from the state
of the governor, there seems to be no
question either. The constitution ap-
pears to be so clear on this point as to
leave no room for dispute.
This state of feeling arises from the
fact that Governor Smith, who is hostile
to Clark, joined the remonstrants who
asked the senate to refuse seat tc
Clark because of the corruption practced
to secure his election. Smith came here
to testify in the case, but in consequence
of some peculiar circumstances attend
ing his presence here it was considered
best not to put him on the stand. He
returned to Montana embittered toward
Clark, and it has been understood that
the chief reason for Cark's delay in re
signing has been his knowledge that i,
he did resign the governor would ap
point an opponent, possibly Marcus DAILY
to succeed him.
Lieutenant Governor Spriggs. on the
other hand, is Clark man. He cam,
here with the crowd of witnesses fol
Clark, lived at the hotel where the Clarl
witnesses spent the time while waitnl
to be heard by the committee on privi
leges and elections and labored early anC
late to produce n good impression 70
Clark. No one knows here how it hap
pened that Smith should go away from
Montana just at the time most desire,
by Clark and give Spriggs the chance t,
perform so important a service for hi
friend.