The daily sentinel., 1913-01-06
DEADLOCK STILL
HOLDS|N SENATE;
SKINNER NOW IN
RACE FOR PLACE
AtfOIter Holds Key TO Situation
and May Be the Means of
Election Of Adams to the
Presidency.
Sentinel Special Service.

Sentinel Special Service.
Denver, Jan. 6.-1ne president
pro tenn situation is unchanged so
iar as actual results go today: but
II is expected that the deadlock may
relax this afternoon and someone be
named. When the legislature ad-
journed Saturday over to today. it
was anticipated that the deadlock
would end. Senator Adams hopes to
be able to win over Senator Affolter
Of Boulder county. This would give
him majority and insure his cleo
tion; but this action may not be pos
sible, although friends OF the Conejos
man are pulling the wires to this
end. Much caucusing of democrats
has been done since the tie-up on the
presidency of the senate. but little
has been given the public as to re-
suits.
The lieutenant-goyernor ap-
parently is behind the struggle IN
the senate for president pro TEN.
With the situation still in mystery
as to who becomes lieutenant COVER
nor after January IA. there is every
Indication that an election of presi-
uent will not be until after the state
supreme court has rendered its decis-
ion on the question. as requested to
do Immediately by the senate. Lieu
tenant Governor Stephen Fitzgerald
maintains that he will continue in
the position another two years be-
cause Benjamin Montgomery lieu
tcnant-governor-ele died before he
qualified and took the cath of Of
flee. On these grounds Fitzgerald
maintains he will legally continue in
office.
This contention Is not borne out
by many members OF the general as
sembly and by prominent constitu-
ticnal lawyers OF Denver, who be,
lieye that, when the president Of the
senate is chosen, the term of Fig-
garrald as lieutenant governor ceases
and the new president pro TEN of the
senate falls heir to the place.
Another phase of the situation is
that, if the senate fails to elect a
president by January IA. Speaker o.
c. Skinner of the house becomes the
lieutenant governor of Colorado. Mr..
Skinner believes that he is next in
line of succession. Many of his
friends in the senate. too, believe
with him and may stand with him
when the time comes-if it does.
/ The possible entry of Skinner into
the race has caused Senator Billie
Adams friends to bestir themselves.
and it is said that, if they believe
Skinner may conclude to get into the
running. they will take no cahnces,
and will Immediately move today to
elect him without waiting for the
ruling of the supreme court. Unless
this proves to be the situation, pos
sibly there will be no further efforts
made to bring up the matter of elect
ing president of the senate until
the court has been heard from, which
probably will be week yet-possi-
bly, longer
The president pro TEN election is
causing as much trouble as was pre-
cipitated during the eighteenth gen
eral assembly when an effort was
made to select a successor to the late
United States Senator Charles j.
Hughes, Jr.
1t is said that had not the matter
of lieutenant governor entered into
the present controversy in the senate
there would have been no especial
objection to Adams being made pres
ident of the senate. This is the idea
maintained by several democrats
who have thus far refused to vote for
the Conejos man.
The claim of the friends of Speak
er Skinner. too, adds an additional
complication to a settlement of the
presidency of the senate.