Evening journal., 1914-09-29

explained before it was acted upon.
After brief discussion on Mr.. Rein
hardts motion. the resolution was re-
ferred TO the committee of the whole,
over which Senator Hazel presided.
Herbert IA. Ward. of the Revised Code
Commission was called upon to explain
the resolution. He said he only had to
do with the fifth and sixth questions,
which had been added by the House
committee 10 the resolution as intro
duced. The intent of those questions,
Mr.. Ward explained, was what effect, if
any. the resignation of the men named
would have ON the validity of the legis-
lntion. and what effect the acceptance
Of the resignation would have. if any,
upon tie power of the men named to
serve as legislators.
Senator Reinhardt explained that a
question has been raised affecting the
eligibility of six members, two OF whom
have moved from the original districts
into other districts, but in the same
county. The question is, he said, what
effect this has upon their membership
and what the effect would be ON legisla-
tion if they should participate 10 IT.
Another question. he said was whether
man who accepts a government posi-
tion loses his State position and
whether IL is necessary for new
election to choose his successor. 1--WE
ought to learn the status of every mem-
Der of the Legislature whose status is
questioned said Senator Reinhardt.
The committee of the whole decided
/ TO report the resolution favorably, and
: the Senate adopted it without dis
senting vote.
Eiiect of Unseating.
Should the FIVE members OF the
House by any means be deprived OF
their seats under the legal opinion,
It would stll leave the Democrats
in a majority in that branch.
AT present there are 2l Democrats
and IA Republicans, and with four
Democrats and one Republican un-
seated IT would leave II Democrats
and 13 Republicans in that branch.
Should Senator Harris be deprived
Of his seat II would leave the SEN
ate with eight Republicans and eight
Democrats. in which instance Lieu
tenant Governor Colen Ferguson, a
Democrat, would have the deciding
vote in event of a tie should the
members clash that closely.
Senator Harris is a hOld-over Re-
publican Senator, with two more
years to serve, and doubtless his Re
publican colleagues viii have to be
shown" before they would vote to
oust him. II is claimed in behalf
of Senator Harris that while he was
postmaster at Glasgow when elected
/ Senator, he resigned the postmaster
ship two days after the election, and
before he had been returned officially
as elected Senator, and two months
before he was sworn in as mem-
Der of the Senate. That he clearly
is entitled to his seat Is the general
belief here.
Question Of Eject.
i Some persons yesterday asked
the question why the sessions did not
proceed without raising a question as
to the eligibility of the six members
they claiming that the remainins
= members would furnish a legal ma
iorlty in each branch and their enact
5 ments would stand. even II II SHOULD
Z be determined later on that the si;
- whose eligibility is questioned werl
E not entitled to seat. Some prominen
lawyers who looked into the subject
: it was said late yesterday, have eX
pressed an opinion that the participa
/ tion Of the six members I'm the session
j. would not impair the validity or con
] stitutionality of the Revised Cod
/ should the required majority in eacl
J branch, aside from the six, vote TO
{ the code enactment, and the other re
> quisites of legislation be compiler
with. However. question might un
der these circumstances be raised a
3 to the legal right of Speaker Holcom
I to sign the bill in behalf of the House
e which might affect it's validity shoul
J il be determined after the session tina
e Mr. Holcomb was not eligible to mem
F. bership because of having accepted
d Federal position.
Reduce Clerical Force.
S Senator Frank p Ewing, Republ
a can, yesterday afternoon offered i
the Senate a resolution to cut dow
f the clerical stan Of the Senate an
thus reduce the cost of the specii
e session. The Republican Senator
- voted for the resolution and th
Democrats against It. The resolutio
was as follows
"Resolved, that the services Of a
officers and employees of this Senat
y as elected at its regular session
the year 1918, be and the same al
ii hereby dispensed with and discoI
tinued
70 "Be il further resolved, That Il
R Honorable George w. Marshall be an
he is hereby elected President Pi
n TEN Of the Senate
, "That William d. Stoops be and
hereby elected Secretary OF the Sci
N ate.
p "That William d. Stoops be and I
is hereby elected bill clerk of Il
p. Senate.
To- "That Rev. J. T. Bailey be and he
n hereby elected chaplain of the Senat
IN "That Elmer l. Abbott be and he
hereby elected telephone clerk of Il
10 Senate.
h. "That Horace f. Blizzard be and
is hereby elected sergeant-at-arms
n. the Senate
The resolution dispensed with q
m services of the reading clerk, assi'
40 ant reading clerk. enrolling clerk al
n legal counsel for the Senate.
a. senator Walls, Democratic, prOtei
.s ed against the resolution as unusu
s. He pointed out there was no proyisi
] for a reading clerk.
". Senator Gormley. Democrat, said
A. was contrary to precedent that
Senate should re-elect a president pi
Of TEN. He thought the resolution clei
his ly out of order.
al Senator Ewing explained that
chief reason of the resolution v
economy and to dispense with office
unnecessary at the special session a
al who would have little to do except
Nm ..,,,d He said in response 10