Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1905-01-12
SPEAKER AND LIEUTENANT GOV.
ERNoR CLAIM THE RIGHT
TO PRESIDE.
CANVASS VOTE FOR GOVERNOR
COMMITTEE APPOINTED WITH
INSTRUCTIONS TO REPORT
ON MONDAY.

Denver, Colo, Jan. 8. - Behind |
locked doors and amid scenes CT great |
confusion and excitement the Colo !
RADIO legislature yesterday passed q |
resolution creating committee Of
fifteen members to canvass the vote |
cast for governor at the last election
and submit final report to the legis-
lature not later than 2 o'clock on tho
afternoon of next Monday. The COM
mittee Is composed of five senator's
and ten representatives, the political
division being twelve Republicans and
three Democrats. 1t organized yester.
day afternoon by the election Of Sen
ator Arthur Corn of Colorado Springs
as chairman, and will commence the
taking of evidence to-day.
The trouble began at the first ses.
sion of the joint legislature and lasted
until it's close. 1t was understood
there would be conflict over the re.
spective rights of Speaker Dickson
and Lieut.. Gov. Haggott to preside
over the joint session. The speaker
based his opinion of
His Right to Preside
upon a section Of the state constitu.
ton which says that Immediately
upon the organization of the house
the speaker shall open and publish the
election returns in the presence of q
majority of both branches of the legis.
lature.
Lieut.. Gov. Haggott construed his
right to direct the proceedings upon
a statute which declares that in con-
Quoting any contested election the gen.
eral assembly shall convene in joint
session and that the president of the
senate shall preside unless he is the
contestee.
Legal advice was given to each gen.
tleman that his position was correct
Lieut.. Gov. Haggott..Nas assured that
the wording of the section amply GOV.
cred the case. Speaker Dickson was
advised that the occasion was not Of
ficially known to be contest and that
a provision of the state constitution
always
OverrIdes a Statute
when the two are in conflict. When
the lieutenant governor mounted the
rostrum Speaker Dickson was stand
ing in front of the center of his desk
and did not move. The lieutenant
governor advanced, the two men
smiled, bowed, shook hands and then
stood gazing into each others eyes
Neither made a move and their fea.
lures hardened as they realized the
situation. Together they turned to
face the assembly, the speaker behind
the center Of the desk, the lieutenant
governor at his left hand. Gently edg-
ing up to the speaker Lieut.. Gov
Haggott gave him a gentle bunch"
with his elbow as If to move him
along. The speaker was immovable.
The gentle bunch" was repeated and
still the speaker held hrs ground and
brought down yavel with thump
The, - Confusion.
"The clerk of the house will call the
ROLL" he said.
Bang, went the gavel Of the lieuten.
ant governor. He is the more power.
full man physically, and every time he
brought his black gavel down the
pitcher Of ice water which was on the
speakers desk shook and the tumblers
| jumped and jingled.
Clerk Harper Of the house and Sec
! rotary Farwell OF the senate began to
call their respective rolls, while
great confusion arose in the house.
The contest between tile two pre-.
siding officers continued for some time
! amid a confusion of motions to ad
journ and raising of pc hts of order
The lieutenant governo: finally de-
clared a motion to adjourn carried
and left the chamber, bat only a few
senators followed him. The doors
were then locked and the joint ses
sion continued with the speaker in the
chair After the resolution calling fol-
] the appointment of committee tC
canvass the vote for governor had
! been passed the joint session ad