Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-31
THE COMPROMISE BILL.

Special Telegram 10 the Inter-ocean.l
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 24.-There is
much significance in the fact that
Judge jeremiah S. Black, who has
hitherto pronounced the compromise
bill unconstitutional, and argued act
lively against it, to-day entirely
changed his sentiments, and is now
working with the zeal of new con-
vert for the passage of the bill. He
is an active democrat. and one of Til
den's advisers.
George w. McCrary, of Iowa, stat
ed to your correspondent to-day that
he had thousand times moro faith
that Hayes would be elected under
this compromise bill than if the two
houses came together with no under
standing whatever. Tho attitude of
Mr.. Conkling and other Republican
Senator'S regarding the functions of
the President pro TEN. of the Senate
as presiding officer of the joint con-
vcntion while counting the electoral
vote, was such that he feared that the
position taken, that he alone had the
power to count the votes, could not
be sustained, and the republicans
would be oil adrift under this bill.
He believed that the only points in
question would be the legality of the
action of Governor Grover, and the
subsequent action of Cronin, and
whether Congress had the power to
go behind the returning boards of the
states. He believed that the commis-
sion from the Supreme Court would
hold that the will Of the people OF
Oregon shown in the selection OF
three Republican electors, should be
respected, and that the certificates OF
the returning boards should be re-
spectcd. Judge McCrary says he will
not accept an appointment as a mem
ber Of the commission, and has so in
formed all his friends who have
kindly suggested his name, He thinks
Mr.. Garfield, Mr.. Hale or Mr.. Kelley
who were in the south, and had per-
sonal cognizance of the operations
there, should be appointed.
The use Of Judge Davis name in
connection with the Senatorship has
caused quite stir here because OF his
probable selection as one of the five
to represent the Supreme Court un.
der the compromise bill. While Judge
Davis has not formally announced
himself as candidate, he has fire.
quently expressed his preference fol
the Senate above the Bench, and it II
known here that the use of his name
has been made, not only with his con
sent, but at tho urgent solicitation Ol
some of his friends, who have conf
dental relations with him,and who
are understood to be the vehicles
through which he communicates with
his party. Even If he is not electe,!
the fact that he has been q candidate
of the democrats for so important al
Office asa Senatorship, places him il
position where he will not be sough
after by Republicans, at least, for tn,
fifth place on the commission. Man,
Democrats have favored the bill Will
the sublime confidence that Davi
would be the fifteenth man on tn,
commission, and that their fate viii
DC IN his keeping. If he should b,
elected Senator It will call ava,
many VINO are now supporting tn,
bill, for only Waite, Swaync .iiun
and Bradley, four Republicans, re
main from whom to choose. Thi
question was canvassed considcrabl,
at the Capitol to-day, and telegram
were sent to Springfield about it. Tn
democrats here were not please,
with the use made of Davis out there
because they say he will be of NOR
use to them as member of the com
mission. 1t is certain that his candi
dacy for Senator has lcssened hi
chances for place on the commits
sion, and 1t is probable that his con
necti0n with the commission has In
iured his Senatorial nr0snects.