Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-24
Senate Sworn in as Such This
Afternoon.
PLATT OF CONNECTICUT
TO PRESIDE DURING THE TIME OF
THE TRIAL.
Action Taken Prior to That rime-M r
Bacon's Resolution Referred to
Foreign Relations COMMITTEES.

The first material evidence that the Senate
is about to enter upon the Swayne impeachi
ment trial appeared In the Senate chamber
at the beginning of the session today in the
shape of half dozen chairs placed inside
the bar The chairs were Of the senatorial
pattern, being Of dark mahogany frame
and cushioned seats. They were located in
front of the first row of seats on the rcpub-
lican side of the chamber. The understand
ing when the session opened was that the
House managers would make their appear
ance at an early hour Of the session, and
meantime the routine business proceeded.
The conference report on the Philippine
railroad bill was agreed to without discus
sion.
tary affairs. reported the army appropria-
ton bill.
Wife Beating Information Sought
A resolution. calling upon the Commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia for a
statement giving the number of convictions
for wife beating in the District in the
years 1900. 1901. 1902. 1908 and 1904, intro
duced by Mr.. Gallinger, was adopted, as
was also a resolution by Mr.. Stewart. call
ing upon the Interstate commerce commits
sion Tor list of the stockholders in rail-
road corporations in the United States
Impeachment Managers.
The managers on the part of the House
in the impeachment proceedings against
Judge Swayne made their appearance at
the main door of the Senate at 1890
o'clock. Their appearance caused the i'm
mediate cessation of all other business
and the injunction of silence delivered by
the sergeant-at-arms was not needed to
secure the closest attention on the part of
all present, both on the floor and in the
galleries.
OF the seven managers only five appear
cd MeSsrS. Powers and OlmSted being alb
sent. They appeared in a group in the
rear of the chamber, headed by Mr.. Palm
er. their chairman, and were. Immediately
announced by AlOnzo H Stewart, assistant
sergeant-at-armS of the Senate, who said :
ayers of the House of Representatives to
conduct the impeachment proceedings
against Charles swayne. Judge of the
northern district of Florida"
The managers were then escorted to their
seats by Sergeant-at-arms Ransdell. who
after seating them assembled to the Presi-
dent pro tempores stand, and impressively
and in stated form demanded silence, say
ing: Hear yei Hear We! Hear We! All per-
sons are commanded to keep silence, on
pain Of Imprisonment, while the House of
Representatives is exhibiting to the SEN
ate of the United States articles of i'm
parchment against Charles Swayne, dis
trict judge for the northern district OF
Florida"
Mr. Palmer was then recognized and read
the articles Of impeachment. Immediately
afterward the House managers withdrew,
and Mr.. Fairbanks presented a resolution
providing for the appointment of com
mittee of two senator's to wait on the chief
justice and ask him to appear In the Sen
ate chamber at pm and administer the
necessary oaths to senators as members of
the impeachment court. The resolution
was agreed to, and MeSSrs. Fairbanks and
Bacon were appointed to perform that
duty. 5t.S-t = z.
Mr.. Bacon's Resolution.
When the resolution introduced by Sem
ator Bacon, making inquiry of the Presi-
dent concerning the details of the agree
ment between the United States and Santo
Domingo, came up Mr.. Lodge moved to
refer it to the committee on foreign rela-
tons, and Mr.. Foraker suggested that the
matter should be considered in executive
session
Mr. Bacon commended that 1t would be
cen petent for the President to send his
reply to the Senate either in legislative or
executive session, and that 1t Is not neces-
sary at this time to go into executive ses-
sion relative to the matter. If" he said.
are untrue a simple denial will dispose OF
the matter; If they are true, and were
given to the public by the State Depart
ment, as represented. see no reason why
the Senate should be so DESTROYS of Sc
crecy." He referred to the negotiation as
in the nature of treaty, and said 1t deals
with the prerogatives Of the Senate.
Replying. Mr.. Foraker expressed the opin-
ion that the newspaper reports regarding
Santo Domingo refer to "a mere protocol,
and that no treaty had been entered into.
Mr.. Teller said that under the Constitu-
ton 1t is not competent for the President
to negotiate a protocol in the nature of a
treaty without the assent of the Senate.
Mr.. Lodge defended his motion to refer
to the foreign relations committee, saying
he had made it because of the Importance
OF the subject.
The debate gradually took the form of a
discussion of the points of order involved.
Messrs. Foraker, Morgan, Lodge, Money.
Carmack and Teller participating.
Mr.. Cullom and Mr.. Lodge gave aSSur-
ance of prompt consideration by that COM
mittee, and Mr.. Lodges motion to refer
was adopted.
Mr.. Frye's Statement.
When the matter was disposed of Presi-
dent Tempore Frye announced to the Sem
ate his desire not to preside over the Sem
ate during the impeachment proceedings.
He said that he had not entirely recovered
his strength since his recent illness and
feared 1t would not be sufficient for that
duty and for his work as presiding officer
in legislative session.
In view of this statement Mr.. SpoOner
offered a resolution providing for the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Plat Of Connecticut to
preside over the impeachment court, and
1t prevailed.
A resolution by Mr.. Allison authorizing
the payment of the expenses Of the trial
from the contingent fund Of the Senate
.l1 fod