The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-06
PATTERSON
 RESOLUTION Colorado Senator Springs
 Big Surprise. THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS Its Action, He Claims, is Against
 the Constitution. Sensation Caused by the Man Who Left the Minority Conference on the
 santo Domingo Treaty. Matter Goes Over.


 Washington, Feb. 5.-The Senate was treated to a distinct sensation today by Mr. Patterson tDem., Colo. who followed up his retirement of last Sat- urday from the Democratic caucus by introducing in the Senate a resolution in effect declaring the action of the caucus to have been contrary to the Constitution of the United States.
 Apparently the Senator's action was unexpected on the part of a majority of the Senators and they listened at tentively as the reading of the rather long peamble progressed. evidently not a little concerned as to what should come next. Mr. Patterson made no effort to secure the privilege of dis cussing the resolution today but gave notice that he would address the Sem ate upon 1t tomorrow or at the first available day afterwards. It is expect ed that the Democrats generally will resist the adoption of the resolution an dthat the Republican Senators will sustain Mir. Patterson's contentious. Aside from the personal interest in Mir. Patterson's political fortunes, the res- olutions raise a new question as to the rights of Senators generally. In all probability several days will elapse be- fore the question is settled.
 Before Mir. Patterson's matter came up Mir. Bacon gave notice of a speech for tomorrow so that 1t is probable that Mir. Pattersons speech will be post poned unti Wednesday.
 Date for Subsidy Bill.
 Mir Gallinger succeeded during the day in securing the fixing of a date for voting on the shipping bill, the hour named being Wednesday, the 14th inst, at ?. m.
 Several bills were passed during the day and MT. Teller made a speech in opposition to the shipping bill. At the opening of the session the Senate adopt ed resoution reappointing former Sec retary of State Richard Qlney as member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Instftution. Mr. Tillman presented and the Senate adopted a resolution calling on the Postmaster General as to the number of postal clerks killed in railroad accidents dur- ing the past five years and also asking Tow iazny steel cars are now used in the postal serviee a2d whether, the fa- talities have been so gre2s in fn0se cars as in other cars. MT. Patterson caused a sensation by introducing and having read the following resolutions:
 Whereas, The Constitution of the United States provides that the Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislatures thereof and that each Senator shall have one vote" and,
 Whereas, Each Senator. before as- suming the duties of his office, is re- uuired to soiemnly swear or affirm that he will support and defend the Con stitution of the United States. and that he will faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which he is about to enter;' and,
 whereas, Because it was currently reported that one or more Democratic Senators might vote upon a certain matter pending before the Senate con trary to the views of majority of the body of Democratic Senators, the Dem ocratio Senators were called to caucus upon such matters; and,
 Would Favor Treaty.
 whereas, It was found at such eau GUS that said reports were correct, and that certain Democratic Senators might vote or would vote contrary to the views of the said majority; and,
 whereas, Thereupon the following resolutions were presented and adopted by more than two-thirds of the Sena- tors present at caucus
 (Here was inserted the resolutions adopted by the Democratic caucus); and,
 "Whereas, The apparent purpose of said resolutions and actions was to im- properly induce or coerce Democratic Senators who might believe that the best interests of the country required the ratification of said treaty and who, therefore, held 1t to be their duty for It's ratification. into disregarding that part of their paths in which they de- clared that they. would faithfully dis charge the duties of the office of Sena- tors. Therefore. be it
 Resolved, First-That such action by said or any other caucus is in plain violation of the spirit and intent of the constitution of the United States.
 ''Second-That for two-thirds or any number of the Senators of any party to meet and declare that It shall be the duty of any Senator to vote upon any question other than was his own con- victions impel him, is in plain violation of the manifest intent and spirit of the Constitution all have sworn to uphold and defend.
 "Third-That the one vote the Con- atitution declares such Senator shall have is his own vote and not the vote of any other or of any number of other Senators and for Senator to cast that one vote against his convictions of the right in the premises is to dis franchise his State in the Senate and to deprive it of the representation in that body the Constitution provides it shall have.
 Invasion of Rights.
 Fourth-That when any number of Senators, by combination of otherwise, undertake through any species of coer- cion to induce others to vote except as , their judgment and conscience tells them. 1t is an invasion of the rights of snv State to equal participation with other states in the Senate, and is sub versiye of their rights to equal repre- sentation and the votes of it's Senators In inc Senate that the constitution has provided for;
 "Fifth-That the Senator who permits snvbody or other Senator to declare and define for him what his duty Is in the matter of his vote In the Senate. and who casts his vote in response to such interference. votes not as a Senator from his own State. but as a Senator from ether States and he augments the mower of the other States beyond that peruaitted by the constitution, and weakeus and deGrades the power of his own State in the Senate. in violation of the spirit of the Constitution.
 "sixth-That for any Senator to vote
 --A .s his iudemanf and sanaa oP