The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-24
REPORT ON THE MONTANA CASE
COMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS UNANI-
NOUS AS TO ITS FINDING.
Resolution Presented Stating that w
A. Clark Was Not Legally
Elected to the Senate.

was begun almost 1mmedlately dIter the
Senate convened to-day. Until to-day the
debate has been desultory in character.
Tomorrow, at D. m, under special or
der the case is to be disposed Of A direct
vote on the proposition to seat Mr.. Quay
may not be taken Immediately after the
close of the debate. Mr.. Chandler has a
motion pending to seat Mr.. Quay but 1t is
held by the Senate parliamentarians that
every subsidiary motion will take prece-
dence over Mr.. Chambers motion. These
include motions to indefinitely postpone, to
postpone to a definite date, to recommit to
the committee and 10 amend. How the
Senate will vote any of them is mat
ter of speculation. In support of Mr.. Quay's
right to a seat. speeches were delivered to-
day by Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire.
Mr.. Kenney of Delaware. and Mr.. Penrose
of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Plat of Connecticut
and Mr.. Quarles of Wisconsin delivered
speeches In opposition to Mr.. Quay.
When the Senate convened to-day Mr..
Chandler, chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, submitted the re-
port in the case of William A. Clark, of
Montana. In connection with the report,
there was also submitted the testimony
taken by the committee during its investi-
cation. The testimony comprised three
large volumes, aggregating nearly three
thousand printed pages.
Mr. Pettus, of Alabama, a member of the
committee on privileges and elections, said:
Some of the committee on privileges and
elections. without in any way dissenting
from the resolution offered by the chair
10 rlrc 30
the conduct of the case"
Does the senator" inquired the chair,
"desire to make his statement at this
timer"
mo, not at ALL" responded Mr.. Pettus.
"a minority of the committee disagree
with portions of this report and they de-
sire to submit their views in writing, with
out in any way dissenting from the con-
clusions.'
CHANDELIERS SPEECH.
The resolution was then sent to the CAL
endar.
The resolution relating to the seating of
Hon. M. S. Quay, as senator of Pennsyl-
vania, was then called up and Mr.. Chand-
Ter addressed the Senate in support of
Mr.. Quay's right to seat, under the gov
to consider the question merely as one of
constitutional construction. Suggestions
have been floating about" said he. "as
to some bargain between the friends Of
Senator Quay and the friends of another
senator, whose right to a seat also has
been called in question (referring to Sen
ator Clark, of Montana). 1 shall not waste
time on these rumors, because l have been
requested by both sides to deny that there
is the slightest ground for these rumors.
They are a mere Pigment Of diseased i'm
agination."
Mr.. Chandler then stated what he con-
sidered the obvious construction and in
depreciation of the Constitution, which
was that the Senate at all times should
have a full representation from all the
States. He held, too, that the Governor
of Pennsylvania was not bound in this
case by the provisions Of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania, requiring that the Gov
ernor should call the Legislature together
to fill vacancies in the senatorial repre-
sentation because this vacancy had not oc-
Cured during a recess of the Legislature,
as indicated by the Pennsylvania Consti-
tuition, but during session OF the Legls-
lature. AS the Legislature failed to elect.
the Governor, Mr.. Chandler maintained,
clearly had the right to appoint Mr.. quay
Adverting to the Mantle case in 1893 and
the Corbett case In the last Congress. Mr..
Chandler said they were not fair prece-
senator's" said he. ''and I'm not going to
mention names, who voted against Mantle
because he was what was called silver
senator; and l know that some senators,
perhaps in a spirit of retaliation, voted
against Corbett because he was what was
called a gold senator"
o. II. PLATT AGAINST QUAY.
Mr.. Plat, of Connecticut, replying to Mr..
Chandler, said that In his opinion the one
question that lies in the forefront of this
discussion was whether anything can ever
be considered as settled in the Senate of
the United States. Is the Senate. now in
the 18th year of it's existence, to observe
the almost unbroken line of precedents;
or is 1t to be governed by political and per-
sonal friendship" II am sorry continued
Mr.. Plat, that any senator should make
a charge against sixteen senators that they
voted against a senator because or per-
sonal or political reasons and not on Con-
stitutional grounds. That charge Is one
which reflects greater dishonor upon the
Senate than any that ever has been made.
II do not believe 1t. No enemy OF the
Senate could say, 1T seems to me- that the
votes of sixteen senators were cast against
Mr.. Corbett because he was supporter or
the gold standard" Mr.. Platt maintained
there was practically difference be-
tween the Quay case and the Corbett case
and the decision in the Corbett case ought
to be regarded as sacred as was the judg-
ment of a constitutional court
Mr.. Hoar. interrupting said that when
senators believed a decision in case had
been reached in violation OF constitutional
right and that the Senate had been In
fluenced by personal and political consid-
erations, as he believes was true of the
Corbett case, ii was their bounden duty to
reverse that decision.
Mr.. Platt in reply asked IL Mr.. Hoar
thought the Senate more virtuous now
than when IL decided the Corbett case.
1.-The Senate is on trial at the bar of pub
lie opinion, said Mr.. Platt In conclusion.
''This case Is known throughout the length
and breadth of the land. 1t is known that
this case resembles that of Mr. Corbett of
two years ago. IL Mr.. Quay is seated the
people will want to know why the Senate
changes front. They will hear IL has been
said on the floor of this chamber that sem
ators voted against Mr.. Corbett because of
certain political considerations, rather than
On constitutional grounds. This is why /
implore senators TO stand by former de-
cisions of the Senate-why / appeal TO
them TO stand by long line of settled
ton. Once the precedents are overturned.
seats in this body will become the sport of
political exigency.
KENNEY AND TILLMAN.
Mr.. Kenney. of Delaware then addressed
the Senate in support of Mr.. Quay's right
10 seat. He voted against the seating of
Mr.. Corbett two years ago. but held that
the Corbett and Quay cases differed radi-
cally. He added. however. that certain
charges were made against Mr.. Corbett
and admitted frankly that the charges had
mora uafQhf In fnau.nofpo hts vote than