The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-21
ROSS WAS UNSEAIED
Robert FindIay Declared a
Duly Elected Senator.
GAVE RISE TO DEBATE
four Out of Five Committee
men Recommend Action.
GAVE RISE TO DEBATE

Topeka. Kan, Feb. 2o.-The senate by
a vote of a to 8 unseated Senator Ross
and seated Robert F1ndlay in his stead.
! The session lasted for three hours and
( the debate was the most spirited one this
session.
! The majority and minority reports were
read and Senator Pestana moved that the
former be adopted. The minority began
1 the use Of dnatory tactics at once. Sen
ator wright wanted the testimony in
serted in the record but an objection by
Senator Pestana was sustained. Then
Senator Householder wanted the evidence
read. HIS request was not complied with
and Senator King moved that it be read
AS representatives of the committee,
Senators Fitzpatrick and Pestana showed
that the evidence would not De complete
without the ballots and they had been re-
turned to the respective county seats.
They contested that the use of the other
testimony without the ballots would be
unfair and unjust.
Senator Smith charged that the motion
to read was made to cause delay which
brought spirited response from Senator
King. He argued that he was acting in
good faith and wanted to know some
thing Of the evidence before voting.
in q characteristic speech Senator Cub
bison pointed out that it was impossible
to have the senate hear all Of the evil
dence just as it was not possible to listen
to all of the suggestions given 10 regular
committees On the bills they presented.
He argued that it would make the COM
mittee's work a farce TO open up the case
on the fioor.
Senator Householder asserted that it
was q dangerous precedent TO unseat
memebr for political purposes. Senator
Codding denied that there was any pari-
ssnship n his position and said that it
seemed to HIM that the report Of the COM
mittes bore the same relation to the SEN
ate as the findings of d referee did to a
court.
The fact that there had been no demand
for testimony III the Buck-NaGden mat
ter was pointed out by Senator Branine.
Senator Wright then began a defense Of
his report E-e believed that if the mem
bers would so over the evidence that the
majority report would be voted down.
re admitted an irresularty in the cleo
ton board which was not unusual but
in behalf Of Ross he said there were no
charges against him and the testimony
an favored him.
MIR. Cubb.son ridiculed the Populist
claim of fairness on their part and went
over their record He disclaimed any
feeling in the matter, paid a compliment
to Mr. Wright ana concluded by stating
thar he preferred to accept the judgment
of four comnitteena IN in preference to
one.
When the previous question was moved
by Senator Allen. the motion to read the
testimony was defeate IN Senator King
then moved that the testimony relating
to Cheyenne township. Barton county. be
read. but the senators were against him
again.
Senator Pestana took 10 the inside his
tory of the affair and showed that one
member Of the committee had been urged
by friends of Ross to find for him before
The case was begun. These same friends
had attacked Findlay's character and he
/ read evidence showing he was an honest
man.
Senator Fitzpatrick thought that It was
amusing to see the Populist party "on
/ the brink Of dissolution looking Up to
+ God and thinking Of its obligation" He
explained that the committee had not
stopped to consider whether their findings
Of fact would or would not seat Find
/ lay. He said it was clear that Cheyenne
/ township voters had prepared their own
tickets. and that these ballots which were
marked in a suspiciously similar way
were al voted for The Democratic ticket.
This brought a defense Of that party from
+ Senator Mcmillan
The majority report was then adopted
by a vote of "a to s, all of the Republic
cans present voting aye, and the Fusion
] isis. except Ross voting no. The absen-
I toes were Crum, Henry, Leldy. Miller, ST.
mons and Wulfekuhler.
A resolution seating Mr.. Finilay. which
was introduced by AIr. smith was adopt
cd and he was sworn IN.