The Jersey City news., 1906-06-05
SMOOT CASE
UNSETTLED
Vote By Which the Senator
From Utah Loses His Seat
Leaves the Question IN
changed
SUFFERS SLOCUM BILL
THIS MEASURE TO AID THE
VICTIMS OF THE HORRIBLE
DISASTER is SIMPLY AN ACT
OF JUSTICE.

OE j OS11OE.
WASHINGTON, June 4. 1906.-The
fact that the Senate Committee on Priv
ileges and Elections voted. I TO 8, that
Smoot of Utah, is not entitled to seat
in the United States Senate, in no wise
changes the status of the Mormon Sen
ator's case. and gives no additional ind1-
cation of what may be the result of the
fight to unseat him. While there is a
movement on foot to force vote at the
present session, it is no less doubtful than
it was sisx months ago whether this eff
fort will succeed.
The committees decision is beauti-
full straddle. 1t leaves the real fight to
be fought on the floor of the Stnate.
That fight, which is to determine whether
OF not Utah's choice for Senator is to be
rejected because of his Mormonism. still
hinges on the question of whether Smoot
is now Senator in good standing and
should be expelled, which would require
a two-thirds vote or whether he has new
er been a full-hedged Senator, and may
be excluded. which can be done by sim
pie majority vote.
On the question of which method
should be recommended for puering
Snoot out the committee was tied, 6 to
6, with Depew in a sanitarium and not
voting.
There are those who believe that the
failure of the committee to agree upon
this phase of the question really simpfi-
fes things. and will go some distance in
bringing about a settlement of the ques-
tion at an early date. II has been gen
orally conceded that there are majority
of Senators ready to vote against Smoot
retaining mis- seat. If this view is cor
rect, and all. who favor unseating him
vote in faxer of the exclusion plan,
which question must be settled before a
vote can be reached upon the main ques-
ton. it would settle the whole conrover-
sy. It is known, however, that there are
several Senators who oppose Smoots re-
manning in the Senate, but do not be-
lieye that hte Senate can properly ex-
clude Senator after-having allowed him
to take. his seat and exercise all his Sen
atoriaI. prerogatiyes for several years.
Altogether, the committees vote does
not seem to go very far toward settling
the question.
Iii san act of simple justice that is
asked of Congress in the sulzer bill waiy-
ing the statute of limitation and extend
ing Jurisdiction of the United States
Court Of Claims to hear, examine into,
determine and. adjudicate the Claims of
the survivors and .heiys Of the victims Of
the Slocum disaster. There isn't, single
act that Congress could perform with as
general satisfaction to tie fair-minded
people of the5e5untry, and as much credit
to itself, as in making reasonable
award to those who lost friends, parents
or were otherwise injured and afflicted in
the burning Of thet ill-fated excursion
boat.
Aside from any question Of sentiment,
aside entirely from the question of the
needs of the sirviFors and the feelings
and sensibilities Of the whole> country,
Mortified by the terrible catastrophe, the
country owes repreation to the survivors
and lieirs of the stocum victims The
country owes them the just reparation
to which they were entitled from the
company and individuals responsible for
the disaster, absolved from responsibility
by the federal laws which made it im-
possible to obtain that reparation.
The United States Government was
primarily responsible for the killing of
the thousand innocent men, women and
choldren who went to death on the Slo-
cum on June 10. 1904. The conscience
less owners, who put the greed for gain
above the care for human life and safety,
cannot be reached and made to pay, be-
cause of United States law. There is
no other means by which those who lost
or suffered by the sinking Of the boat can
be compensated, unless Congress foots
the BILL
cEiidrer, Teething
Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup should
always be used for children teething. 1t
en6fhes fhe child. softens the gums. al