The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-19

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&c representatives elect, and place thereon
" the names of all persons claiming seats
" as representatives elect from states which |
" we're represented in the next preceding |
d" congress, and of such persons only, and |
" whose credentials show that they were
-" regularly elected in accordance with the
" laws of their states respectively, or the
" laws of the United States" The law
was passed to prevent President johnson
endeavoring to control the organization of
the Fortieth congress by the votes of mem
bers representing, or claiming to represent,
the several southern states, and became
law without his approval and is still in
force. BY it the clerk is made the abso-
lutte Judge of the election of members until
after the election of speaker, and there lie
no appeal from hs decision.
What possibilities are thus placed in the
hands of the clerk has, already, been once
shown in our history. 1t was at the open
ing of the first session of the Thirty-sxth
congress, in December, 1889, when two
sets of representatives appeared from the
state OF New Jersey. The clerk, Hugh Ii.
Garland-acting in accordance with usage
had prepared roll and presided until a
speaker was chosen-called the roll in al
phabetical order of states, and continued
until he reached New Jersey, when he re-
fused TO proceed further or to entertain
any motions looking to solution of the diff
flculty For three days had the house been
unable to organize, 1t seemed powerless to
do anything to extricate itself from its en-
barrassment, and the fourth day opened
with confusion triumphant, and why =? Be-
cause, as John Quincy Adams said "The
clerk of the house, tie mere clerk, whom
1--WE create, whom we employ, and whose
I" existence depends upon our will, usurps
q" the throne, and sets us, the representa-
" tives, the vice. gerants of the whole peo-
"ple at defiance, and holds us in con-
"tempt And what is this clerk of yours !?
60 Is he to control the destinies of sixteen
- millions of freemen? Is he to suspend,
"by his mere negative, the functions of
government, and put an end to this con-
." gress?' Fortunately, a way was found
out of the difficulty and by an unusual pro-
ceedlng, the house was temporarily organ
| lied by the choice of Mr.. Adams as tenn
porary speaker, without compliance with
| the usual Formally of ascertaining who
L ,,oro Ioro1l., cuol;GoJ IN ynta
The clerk then was simply acting IN ac-
cordance with the usage. yet it required a
resort to almost revolutionary proceedings
to effect an organization of the house.
Now the clerk, by law, determines who
are members there is no appeal from his
decision lie absolutely controls the organ
ization Of the house. II present appear
ances are to be relied upon, the next house
will have but very small majority OF
either party, say eight or ten. Should the
elections next year SO result that only sucl
majority will be secured to either party
the clerk of the house. if he is so disposed
has the power TO throw the organization
INTO the hands of either party. He can dc
this, aud, at the same time, seem to, per
haps actually, retain his honor and integ
rity. There are always more or less case
of contested election-enOugh generally t.
determine the political complexion of
house as close as we have supposed-and b.
accepting credentials, or refusing to recog
nize them, the clerk could make a repuh
llcan or democratic organization. BY law
he alone is to judge who shall participant
IN the organization Of the house, and 70
his own sake, as well as that of tn
country, it is important that only man o
the strictest integrity should be mad
clerk. We have thus written to show tn
vast importance of the clerkship, and nc
with the idea that the democracy will b
careful to select man who, following th
strict line of duty, would give the house
the republicans by from one to ten majority
when it would be SO simple and easy to d
the other Thing. We all know what
governor and council did in New Ham,
shire, and, judging therefrom, what ma
c we not look for when the organization {
! the national house of representatives is tn
D stake?