The daily star-mirror., 1923-12-12
INTERESTING EARLY-OAY HISTORIAN CONNELL
AUTHOR OF NOTABLE PARLIAMENTARY RULE

OF tn1S CITY, rev days ago mailed t
Hon. John e. Richards, now o
Berkeley, California, but who wa
Montana's frat lieutenant governor,
communication which is Of consider
Montana, but throughout the coun
try, showing, as it does, that Idaho
pioneer governor, is the real autho
of the parliamentary rule whicl
authorizes count of the members O
a legislative body, to ascertain tn,
presence of a quorum. The rule O
which Governor Mcconnell is the
author, was later adopted by Speaker
Tom Reed of the national house o.
representatives and made him famous
as a parliamentarian
Governor McConnell's letter fol
lows:
Hon. John E. Richards,
Berkeley, California
The admission of Montana terri
tory into the sisterhood of States and
the organization of civil government
therein were events of such histor-
tcAl- Importance, that duty appears to
require those who participated in the
organization of the first state legis-
lature to see to it that the stirring
events which followed the first gen
eral state election are properly re-
corded
The Montana admission act having
passed and having been approved, no
delay In holding the first general
election at which you were Lieuten-
ant Governor, together with a full
legislative ticket and the other req
uisite state officer. Upon the first
session of the Montana state legisla-
ture devOlved the important duty of
electing two senators to represent
the infant state at Washington.
The first Montana state election re-
suited in the election of republican
house of representatives, with ma
jority of several members, but the
senate was a tie, being composed of
eight democrats and eight republi-
ems with yourself as presiding officer
having a vote in case of a tie. How
ever, if both houses of the legislature
organized and met in joint conven-
ton as is provided by U. S. statute,
the republicans would elect two re-
publican U. S. senator's; but before
both houses or branches of the leg
islature must be organized.
First Montana Legislature
The first session of the Montana
Legislature was convened by procla-
nation of the Governor November %,
1889, and the lower house promptly
organized, and reported to the Sen
ate but the Senate being composed of
eight democrats, and eight republI-
cans, with yourself having a vote as
presiding officer in case of a tie, tax
ing advantage of the rule prevailing
at that time, in parliamentary bodies,
refused to answer when their names
were called and thus created dead
lock, with the apparent object of pre-
venting the election at that session
of two republican U. S. Senators. At
this time Idaho having framed, and
a state constitution, was in
tending to appeal to Congress in the
near future for admission as a State,
hoping for a break in the deadlock
that would permit an organization
and the election of two Senators who
would support the Idaho Admission
Act: In the interest Of that object |
resolved to visit Helena, Montana, |
and endsavOr to prevail upon you to |
break the deadlock, by an arbitrary |
ruling which is common sense
method 1 arrived at Helena and
presented my card at the door of the
senate on the 22nd day of your failure
o organize; upon receiving my card
,u came out to meet me and | ex
5lained the object of my visit, giving !
7ou. an outline of the method | pro-
posed, in response you told me that
vour best legal minds differed with
ne. l responded that was evident or
Use you would have organized long
go. But it was too late to accomp-
ish anything that day, but if you
will call caucus Of the republican
nembers of both houses to meet to- |.
light 1 will debate the question of
btaining quorum with your best
egal advisers in your presence. OF +,
curse you are under no obligation to
AXE my advice If you think / am
'rong. My trip here does not cost i
[ontana anything The caucus was /
allied, and an argument ensued with 1
ut any definite result. 1t was late f
hen 1 returned to my hotel and re- s
red. Some time later, during the ! f
nall hours 1 was awakened py some t
erson rapping at my door. Arising | e
nd opening the door to see what S
as wanted I found you accompanied Z
= the night clerk. I invited you to | s
tier, and placing a chair by the side II
my bed, told you to beseated. t
ZEN asked you to excuse me if l a
turned to my bed, stating that it t;
as too cold for me to entertain COM t,
my in my night clothes, and I did
It care to dress at such an hour. il
ter being under the blankets, l o
ked you to state what l could do c.
r you You responded that ''you d.
anted me to go over my argument al
the Caucus again" told you that st
, could agree without an argument. Iii
rst we will, agree that no business RI