The sun. (Wilmington, Del.) 1897-19??, 1901-01-11
NO EXCUSE
FOR ACTIONS
Certain Members Of House Make
Erroneous Statements.
DID NOT CONSULT LAWYERS
Mr.. Films Methods the Subject Of
Much Uncomplimentary Discus
sion.-Upheld Mr.. ScotJen,'
Who Was in 1896 Incident.

Everywhere throughout the city yes
terdas Indignation was expressed at the
action of certain members of the House
in voting for the return of the petition
of Harvey ID. Learned, who contested
the seat of John l.. Scotten, the Demo-
crat, OF East Dover hunderd. The gem
eral opinion was that there was much
expression of ingratitude in the way in
which some members of the House
voted. Upon Representative William II.
Finn the greatest condemnation was
heaped. 1.
The contention of the Democrats be-
fore the House We're also the subject
of much discussion. Relative to this
subject to alter, Mr.. Hayes said last
night:
."rhe constitution OF the State pro-
vides that each House in the General
Assembly shall be the judge of the cleo
tion and qualifications of its members.
The first qualification of member is
that he shall be elected, this being con
stitutional provision no act of the Iegis-
lature can abridge it or qualify it. There
FORE the act quoted by Representative
IIolcomb does not prevent the filing at
any time during its session of a petition
tHt IlOuSt u Which bIs per
son claims to have been elected n mem
her. The petition of Mr.. Learned being
filed on the third day of the session was
filed in due time under the constitution.
The excuse Of certain members that said
petition was not filed on the first day
OF the session is an attempt on their
part to make an act Of the Legislature
superior to the provisions OF the con-
stitution of the State. position wholly
nntenabc and utterly without legal an-
thority."
ADVISE WAS NOT SOUGHT.
Since the voting OH Wednesday after
noon certain members of the House have
put forth the excuse that the reason
that they voted for the return of Mr..
Learned's petition to him was because
they believed that the petition was not
regularly presented. Because of the fact
that no attorney has yet been chosen for
the House these members made the
statements that they had sought the
advise Of William $ Hilles "a and n4dd,5 Ff6Hs f6em
t+.- -xnUwTes, whom they SAID toiu them
that Mr.. T.earned's petition was not
regularly presented to the House and
that consequently was not entitled to the
seat.
Ncssrs. Hilles and Knowles We're seen
Yesterday afternoon and both said that
the members in question did not go to
them for advise nor had they given any
in the matter of Mr.. Learned's petition.
MIR. FLINN'S INCONSISTENCY.
Representative Finn, it was suspected,
would not join the Democrats in any
movement. In this connection well.
Informed Union Republican said: "lsst
John l.. Scotten was a member Of the
returning board in Kent county that
stole the election. At the election on thu
same day in New Castle county an at
tempt was made to count out William
X. Finn. who had been elected sheriff
On Wednesday Mr.. Finn. as member
of the House of Representatives, vote'
to let Mr.. Scotten. one Of the inspectors
in Kent county in 1896. who stole tn
county. 10 retain his seat in the Genera
Assembly. Mr.. Finn must approve o
dsapprove of Mr.. Scotten's methods
1896, and Judging from his vote he mus
approve of them"