Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-12-07
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE HOUSE.

THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE HOUSE
This city was thrown into 3 fe yer Of excite.
ment night before last BY the unexpected, and
general ascertainment Of the fact that Mr.
Etheridse, Clerk Of the last House, de-.
signed rejecting the certificates OF the cleo.
ton Of the Representatives from California,
Oregon, Minnesota, West Virginia, East Viz.
ginia. Connecticut and Vermont, upon the
ground that the said certificates were not
worded In the form he alleges to be necessary
70 authorize him 10 accept them. The law of
The last Congress, designed simply to rule out
claimants without bono fde constituencies, is
rs follows: @-. '-'
AN ACT to regulate the duties Of the Clerk Of
the House of Representatives in preparing
Tor the organization of the House. rgG a.r
BE enacted By the Senate end House of Repre-.
sntatires Of the United States ip Congress assena.
ssed, Thal before the first meeting of the next
congress, and OF every subsequent Congress,
toe Clerk Of the next preceding House Of Rep
tativss elect and place thereon the names of
ali persons, and OF such persons only, whose
Jret~n'ials show that they were regularly
elected In accordance with the laws Of their
States respectively or the laws OF the United
States. IApproyed March 3 I,63
Mr.. Etheridge, we hear, claims that he is
authorized TO rule out all members whose GER
t!dcates fail to repeat the words Of tho law
above quoted, even though there is no question
whatever of their due election. He has offered
20 be governed in his action in the premises by
the opinion of the Attorney General Of the
United States, but that functionary having no
al hority to advise the Clerk Of the House of
t. representatives. upon his duty, declined to
give the opinion asked. Mr.. Etheridge is
said TO be determined 10 this way to ignore
their titles TO their seats, of members enough
elected as unconditional Unionsts to place the
nrOq niyoti shA
Opposition. We here refer to the pract cal ef-
feet Of his alleged view of the course he should
pursue. ...E
As II Is not TO b. doubted that the large m
jority, whose seats are uncontested, will not
submit to the Acknowledgement Of suffic Gent of
their number TO pass the control Of the organi-
zation into the hands Of the min GRITTY. we are
probably safe In assuring the public that no
organization whatever Will be permitted to
take place until Mr.. EEheridge abandons the
positlon he has taken, or new certificates ar,
forwarded TO those members corrected OF. the
clerical errors Of expression to which Mr. r
objects. This last process, if 1t becomes necas-
ssry, may possibly delay the completion of tn
organization unul the end Of th;s week
PosIscRIrT, az p. ml-The vote On "a. mo-
ton Of Mr. Allen, Of H. To lay on the table the
resolution OF Mr.. Dawes, OF Mass, directing
she Ci~rk OF The last House (Mr. Etherldre, 10
enter ito names of the Maryland delegation
struck us as deciding the question Of the pos
stbslity that the action Of Mr.. Etheridce in
ruling out the member from sundry States
might considerably delay the organization OF
CONGRESS The nays lad & majority Of twenty.
This dashes the hopes OF those who would
embMTass the due prosecution Of the
war by hindering the organization OF Congress-
RESOLUTIONS similar to thc>e OF Mr.. Dawes will
doubtless BE- offered and passed rs fss; rs the
csses OF the Representatives, from the different
attempted. ~. be. dtstran chised States cqu be
get At under parliamentary rules.