Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-21
SEVERAL SURPRISES IN VOTE
House Passes POst0ffice Bill and
Replaces Ruled Out Sections In
creasing Employees Salaries.

Washington, Feb. 20.-Four years
contest against Reed Smoot being per-
mittcd to retain his seat as a senator
of the United States from Utah was
ended today by AZ of his colleagues vot-
ing to sustain him as against IS for the
resolution to unseat him. Added to this
IS senators were paired, making the ac-
tual standing on the resolution 81 votes
against and 81 for it. Senator Smoot
himself did not vote. and Senator Wet
more was absent and not paired.
The Smoot resolution was called UP
soon after the Senate convened. Every
seat in the galleries was filled and dur
ing the actual voting the standing room
on the floor of the Senate was crowded
by members of tho House and employees
OF the Senate. Seldom has there been a
proceeding affecting the standing of a
sen0 tor that has attracted such marked
attention. In the audience We're repre-
sentatives of Il number of prominent
womans organizations, which have
been active in circulating, and having
presented petitions of remonstrance
against Mr.. Smoot. These women Sc
cured many thousands Of signatures to
their petitions which were sent to the
Senate in deliberately bound volumes.
Numerous speeches have been made
for and against Smoot, since the reso-
luton to unseat him was reported from
the committee on privileges and cleo
tons, just prior to the Adjournment OF
Congress last year. Today Senator's Du-
bois, HanSbrough, NcWlands. Bacon
and Burrows, the latter chairman OF
the committee, spoke against Sm0ot,
while Beveridge, Dolliver and Foraker
spoke in his support.
Throughout the entire Speechmaking
Smoot listened attentively. but when
the voting began he retired to the Re
publican cloak room and there awaited
the result At o'clock, when by
agreement the voting was to begin.
Hopkins offered his amendment to the
committee resolution and it was adopt
ed. Under this amendment two
thirds vote would have been necessary
to carry the resolution, which declar-
cd that Smoot is not entitled to his
seat.
Carmack then introduced, as sub
stitute for the amendment committee
resolution. a simple resolution de6lar-
ing that Smoot should be "eXpelled-'
The effect of this would be to displace
4
the committee resolution if adopted ami
if was defeated. Then came the vote
on the committee resolution as amend
ed which was as follows:
"Resolved: Two-thirds of the soma
tors present concurring herein, that
Reed Smoot is not entitled to seat as
q senator of the United States of the
state of Utah"
Although it was foregone conciu-
sion that the resolution would fill ana
thus end the long fight against the
Utah senator the roll call contained
some surprises. OF the A. votes IN Ia
yor of Smoot three were cast by Dem
ocrats. They were Blackburn, Clark,
Mont and Daniel. Teller was pared
in favor Of Smoot. OF the ~ votes
against Smoot were nine Republicans.
They were Burrows. Clapp, Depont'
Hale Hansbrough. HemenWay, Kit
fridge. I.afollette and Smith
At the conclusion of the voting there
was a rush of Republican senators TO
the cloak room to congratulate MI.
Smoot.