Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-08-26

ell and his colleagues could not find
time to consider the question.
The attempt of Mr.. Monroe, in his
eulogy, to bury Mr.. Covell's official
conduct is very refreshing and re-
minds one of the devious windings oi
a crooked lawyer.
Mr.. Monroe says that the bill did
not come until the day prior to the
| final adjournment Senator Moore's
motion was made on the morning OF
May 27th, and the final adjournment
of the legislature was at twelve
o'clock May 3Tst. So much for the
truth of that statement. (See senate
journal 1907, page 1929
Mr.. Coveil's Nineteen had hoped
not to be compelled to vote upon
this matter, but Senator Moore, by
motion to take the bill from the com
mittee, forced them TO show their true
position in the matter, and by it their
record was indelibly written on the
pages of the senate journal of 1907.
We quote further from Mr.. Mon
roe's report, as follows:
Il also find that in the special ses-
sion the bill was put upon its final
passage and considered on its mer-
its that the same members of the
senate who, with Mr.. Covell, voted
not to discharge the committee from
further consideration voted at this
time for the passage of the bill, and
it is fair presumption that if Mr..
ate at that time he would have voted
with the other members to pass the
bill"
This whole paragraph is an abso
lutte and unqualified deception, and
there is nothing in the legislative rec
ords to prove it. If there had been,
Mr. Monroe would have produced it
and cited the page and journal where
it might be found
The records of the legislature OF
Michigan show that the Michigan
Central charter was repealed at a spe-
ciaI session in October, 1000, three
and half years after the date upon
which Mr.. Covell voted to have the
Michigan Central charter act die in
the committee, and about three years
after the first special session
The members of the senate who
this measure in the special
session of 1000 belonged to the new
senate elected in the fall of 1893.
Many of the senator's who finally
voted for the repeal OF the charter
did not desire to do so. but new ad-
and new legislature was
to convene at Lansing within few
davs, viz: on January I, 1901, and the
legislature, thanks to Gov Pingree's
energy and ability, had in it members
enough who would have voted to re-
peal the Michigan Central charter, had
the matter come up at the regular ses
sion of 1901, and so rather than have
a new legislature have the credit of
passing this very meritorious and
popular measure with the people, the
legislature of 1000 voted in October,
1000, TO have the Michigan Central
charter act repealed. They took their
medicine because they had to.
Consequently Mr. Monroe's fair
concerning Mr.. Covell,
and also his statement with reference
to- the meeting of the extra session
are both deceptons Why don't
Mr. Monroe occasionally quote the
volume and page Of the legislative
-ecords to prove his statements?
Why don't Mr. Monroe tell us about
he time when George arranged for
4 temporary resignation as United |
States district attorney in order to
AXE his seat again in the senate so
hat he might vote a second time to |
sill the repeal Of the Michigan Central |
charter act, for it had been announc-
I'd by Governor Pingree that as he |
lad gotten rid OF Senator Covel and |
Senator Preston. it was his intention
% have this matter voted upon at the |
special session called for that purpose.
Mr. Covell is carrying the journal |
IF this special session around with
him and showing the voters that he
5 marked absent without leave to
prove that he did not take part in the
and he would have it un
lerstood that he did not try to take
part. but that he was away attending /
20 his duties as United States district
attorney.
Nevertheless. the facts are that he
vas in Lansing. to be admitted |
IS a member, but was prevented by a
-esolution introduced by Senator Bar
lum 10 have committee inquire into
Ms right TO be seated as member
rom his district OF course, ne was
,,arl-ad ahso,,t s,v;t1out foa.,ev until |