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 second day of January, in the year one thousand nine hundred and one, and the one hundred and twentyfifth 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, to wit: Quorum. Qualification of Senators. President. And were called to order by the Hon. Charles A. Corser of the Second Hampden District, the senior member-elect. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Edward A. Horton of Boston. On motion of Mr. Post, 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. Post, Harrington and Currier were appointed the committee. Subsequently, Mr. Post, for 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, His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, 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. Parry, · Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to receive, assort and count the votes for a President of the Senate. Messrs. Parry, Sprague and Dowd were appointed the committee. And the votes having been collected, assorted and counted, Mr. Parry, for the committee, reported as follows: Mr. Soule was declared elected, and was conducted to the chair by Messrs. Butler and Sullivan, and addressed the Senate as follows: FELLOW SENATORS: - I assume the duties of the office to which you have elected me realizing it is one of great responsibility, and I ask your forbearance and co-operation. With your help I trust that the high standard of the Massachusetts Senate will be maintained. In view of the fact that you have all had experience in public affairs, I shall make for your consideration two suggestions only. First, assuming that the rules for 1901 will be substantially the same as those of last year, I call your attention to that portion of joint rule number four which directs that, in making their reports, joint committees shall have regard for "an equal distribution of business between the two branches." Second, that committees take final action and report upon all matters as soon as possible after the close of hearings. In conclusion, I thank you most heartily for the honor of being selected as your presiding officer, and promise to discharge to the best of my ability the duties of president with fairness and impartiality. The Chair awaits the pleasure of the Senate. On motion of Mr. Fales, Ordered, That a committee of three be appointed to Clerk. receive, assort and count the votes for a Clerk of the Senate. Messrs. Fales, Blodgett and Shaw were appointed the committee. And the votes having been collected, assorted and counted, Mr. Fales, for the committee, reported as follows: Whole number of votes, Necessary for a choice, 36 19 Henry D. Coolidge of Concord had 36 |