Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-03-28
THAT'S THE QUESTION BEFORE
THE SENATORS.
PROPOSED BY DEMOCRAT
Joint Resolution Is Opposed ny Huo-
nall and Brazeau-GraVe Questions
Involved--ssnborn Says There
Could Be no Question OF the var
idity of Early Election
Madison, March p.


The senate devoted more than an
hour yesterday morning to depatlng
the ouestion of whether TO eject a
limited States senator April l6 or
wait until after May /, when the va
cancy caused by the resignation ol
Senator Spooner should actually e&-
list The end was that the matter was
laid over for a day and probably the
debate will be resumed.
At the opening of the session Sena-
tor Paul A. Husting OF MayVllle' delh-
ocrat. introduced a joint resolution
providing that the legislature pegln
at noon of April 16 to ballot IN the
manner prescribed by law for the
election Of senator. He asked that
the resolution be treated as privileged
and considered at once. This brought
Senators HudnalI and Brazeau 10
their feet with objections to immedl-
ate consideration. They SAID that
grave legal questions were involved
in this resolution, as there had been
involved in the Smith resolution to
elect on March 10, and that the sec
ond resolution ought to go with the
first, to the judiciary committee.
Senator Husting declared that the
lapse of time had disposed OF the
Smith resolution, that the senatorial
matter was delaying the work OF the
legislature and that Immediately the
date for the election ought to be fixed.
Senator HudnaI denied that the SEN
atorship was disturbing the leglsla-
ture or causing any excitement. He
said the transportation and other I'M
portant committees were working
along as though nothing had hap
pened and he was aware Of no excite
ment unless it be among the candl-
dates or their immediate friends and
managers.
Senator Owen opposed reference to
the committee, declaring that legisIa-
tive work was suffering because of
the attention of members being divid-
ed between the senatorial canvass and
the work of considering bills. Senator
Brazeau, opposing immediate consid-
Grafton, expressed agreement with
Senator Hudnall, that there was moth
ing to interfere with legislative work.
He declared that there were grave
questions involved and said that no
prudent lawyer would advise a client
in an important matter to go ahead
when there was doubt as to the safe
ty of the action. He said that any
member of the United States senate
could protest against the recognition
of the credentials of the Wisconsin
choice if the election were held prior
TO the taking effect of the resignation
of Senator SpOoner; that the resigna-
ton might be withdrawn and con-
test ensue or trouble arise in other
ways
Senator Sanborn agreed that Sen&
tor Spooner had the right to with
draw his resignation, but he called
upon the senators to draw upon their
knowledge of John c. Spooner to de-
termine whether he would do So
Senator SanbOrn said the decisions of
the United States senate, the supreme
law of the land in these matters, were
that there was DO chance of refusal to
seat the person bearing the Wiscon-
sin credentials even though the for
malty of the election be held prior
to the taking effect of the resignation
of Mr.. Spooner. He said that refer
ence to the judiciary committee was
the same as killing the resolution be-
cause the members of that commit
tee were evenly divided upon the
proposition or policy of election be-
fore May IA. Senator Brazeau took
this last remark as somewhat unkind
to the committee of which Senator
Sanborn is chairman. Much reading
and argument was had of the citations
of the opinion of Attorney General
Gilbert on the Hemmenway and other
cases before the United States SEN
ate and finally Senator Hudnan moved
that the matter lie over for a day.