Commonwealth of Massachusetts. JOURNAL OF THE SENATE. At a General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, begun and holden at Boston on the first Wednesday, being the fifth day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and the one hundred and twenty-second of the independence of the United States of America, the following-named members-elect of the Senate, having been duly summoned by the Executive, assembled at eleven o'clock A.M., in the Senate Chamber, being the room formerly occupied by the House of Representatives in the so-called "Bulfinch" building, to wit: Hon. Messrs. Ernest W. Roberts of Chelsea, James E. Hayes of Boston, Hon. Messrs. Josiah C. Bennett of Lynn, Hon. Messrs. Albert L. Harwood of Newton,. Frederick W. Dallinger of Cambridge, George E. Smith of Everett, Henry Parsons of Marlborough, William H. Brigham of Hudson, and George E. Putnam of Lowell, Hon. Charles F. Woodward of Wakefield, Hon. Messrs. Ellery B. Crane of Worcester, Hon. William A. Whittlesey of Pittsfield, in the Middlesex and Essex District. in the Berkshire District. in the Berkshire and Hampshire District. in the Franklin and Hampshire District. 200224 Quorum. Qualification of President. And were called to order by the Hon. Josiah C. Bennett of the First Essex District, the senior member-elect. Prayer was offered by the Rev. James M. Pullman, D.D., of Lynn. On motion of Mr. Roberts, Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Governor and the Council, and inform them that a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to be qualified. And Messrs. Roberts, Crane and Davis were appointed the committee. Subsequently, Mr. Roberts, from the committee, reported that they had waited upon His Excellency the Governor and the Council, and had conveyed to them the message of the Honorable Senate; and that His Excellency the Governor had delegated him to say that he should be pleased, forthwith, to attend upon the Honorable Senate, with the Honorable Council, to administer the oaths of office. Soon after, His Excellency the Governor and His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, with the Council and the Secretary of the Commonwealth, came in, and the Senators-elect severally took and subscribed the oaths of office required by the Constitution and a law of the United States, to qualify them for the discharge of their duties as Senators for the current political year. The Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Council and the Secretary of the Commonwealth thereupon withdrew. On motion of Mr. Irwin, — Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to receive, assort and count the votes for a President of the Senate. Messrs. Irwin, Putnam and Rourke were appointed the committee. And the votes having been collected, assorted and counted, Mr. Irwin, from the committee, reported as follows: Whole number of votes, Necessary for a choice, George E. Smith of Everett had 38 39 20 39 Mr. Smith was declared elected, and was conducted to the chair by Messrs. Farley and Gallivan, and addressed the Senate as follows: FELLOW SENATORS: -I thank you very sincerely for the honor you have conferred on me in selecting me as your agent and presiding officer for this current year, and for the very friendly and courteous manner in which the nomination of yesterday and the election of to-day have been conducted by you. It will be my constant endeavor to act justly and impartially and thereby to win your confidence and friendship. The Senate meets to-day for the first time in this beautiful and historic chamber. Here for nearly a hundred years met annually the popular branch of our Legislature, and considered and determined matters of great importance to the people of Massachusetts. For a century the noblest, the ablest and the most eloquent of all her sons have, from time to time, here served and honored the Commonwealth. It is now refurnished and the Senate will shortly begin the second century of the occupation of this renowned chamber. The instance is without a parallel in this country. We, as Senators, are peculiarly favored in being members of this honorable body during this, a marked, year. Our friend who was elected one year ago to this honorable office, on taking the chair asked his associates for their "forbearance and unselfish co-operation." He had then occupied and honored the office for a year, was esteemed and loved by his fellow Senators and was familiar with the rules and proceedings. How much more imperative is it that I now bespeak for myself, upon assuming these untried duties, your "forbearance and unselfish co-operation." I confidently expect and rely upon it. |