New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-19
LOUISIANA IN THE SENATE.
ALL CREDENTIALS REFERRED, AND THE STATE WITH
OUT A sENAToR-A RAFTING sKlRMIsH OWE



ALL CREDENTIALS REFERRED, AND THE STATE WITH
OFT A sENAroR-A RAFTING sKIRMIsH OVER
THE SUBJECT.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNRl
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1S-The Republicans in the
Senate by shrewd management have held their
PARTY together on the Louisiana Contested Seats
question BY sending Judge Spoford to the COM
mttee on Privileges and Elections where Mr.. KEEL
logg is already held in limbo, they have postponed
the dreaded day when they must deal with the issue
on its merits. 1t is true that in doing so they de-
pnve a sovereign State OF the representation she is
entitled to but after witnessing for four years the
spectacle of one seat from Louisiana kept vacant by
their refusal to let it be filled. They Will not be
much distressed if the other remains empty for a
time The conclusion cannot be avoided that this
action is controlled bytheir unwllingnoss to dlmln-
ish their small majority by admitting two Democrats,
but at the same timo it must be admitted that on
the questions presented to them for their votes they
were able to appeal to consistency and precedent to
justify their action.
The first question to-day was taken on Mr..
Mchels substitute for Mr.. Humans resolution
70 admit Judge Spohord. The substitute proposed
20 refer the credentials TO the committee At first
there seemed TO be no disposition to say word on
either side, but just as the roll call was about to
begin. Mr. Edmuuds rose and asked Mr.. Thurman
Mr. Thurman did in a clear five minutes speech.
Mr. Edmunds took about the same time to reply.
Then there was pause and again the Secre-
tary rose TO call the roll. when Mr.. Nit
chcu who. in the absence of Mr.. Morton,
is acting Chairman Of Privileges and Elections
felt it incumbent on him to make some remarks
which seemed to furnish just the extra irritation
lacking to stir up general debate. Mr.. Bayard
followed on the Democratic side and Mr.. Howe on
the Republican. Mr.. Edmunds and Mr. Thurman
gave an exhibition Of the sklful fence Of Tepartee
in which they delight to engage. Mr.. ConllnS
threw in a dash of his cutting SATIRE and Mr.. Wad-
leigh, less cautious than the rest about treadng
among the torpedoes Of past political controversy,
talked about White Leaguers, bayoncts, and re-
volvers.
MI Chrstiancy spoke last and as he had been
counted upon to support Judge Spohord, ms an
nouncement that he should vote to refer the creden-
tias, dashed the Democratic hopes of success On
roll call all the Republicans stood together, Con-
over Patterson. and Spencer answering AYE" as
promptly and cnergetically as Blaine and Conklng.
The solitary Independent voter, Judge David Davis,
sided with the Democrats, and the result was SO
noes, 80 ayes.
Anticipating defeat the Democrats had ready a
resolution, which was instantly offered by Mr..
Whyte, instruCdng the committee TO report OIL or
before November irst In his speech supporting it,
he stated in plain words, the apprehension felt on
his side Of the chamber that the Privileges and Flee
tons Committee would make the absence of its
chairman, Mr.. Morton, an excuse for not acting on
the case and that its chairman pro tenn, Mr.. Mitch
ell, would be restrained by nice sense Of decacy
flom calling the committee together
Mr. Edmunds was shocked at the insult to the
committee aud the violation of Senatorial custom
sN-. l.
made within a specified time. Mr.. Mitchell said two
weeks were not enough to consider the case Mr.
Thurman thought two hours would be enough in
view Of the fact that the committee had gone over
Ex-Governor Kelloggs case last Spring and gotready
10 report and the further fact that all the circum-
stances Of Judge Spoffords election were matters Of
story of which every Senator was bound take
tee. lie limited that Republicans might want to take
three OF four years to examine this case they did
Mr.. Pinchback's. After hour of sharp running
debate the resolution instructlng the committee
was rejected 10y a strict party vote.
To preclude any question as to the stains OF the
Kellogg credentials, an amendment, directing the
committee 20 consider them, was put on the org
NAL resolution, and II was then adopted without "a
discussion
Mr. Thurman then moved that J. b. Eustis he
sworn i'm rs a Senator from Louisiana. Mr. Eustis
was elected on the 18th Of January, 1876, by the
undisputed Wheeler compromise Legislature, after
the Senate had rejected Mr.. Pinchback. lie pre-
II
thePryileges aud Elections Committee reported that
be not entitled TO the seat, because Mr.. Pinch
back had been duly elected. As the Senate held n
contrary opinion about Mr.. Pinchbacks election, the
logic of the committees report, taken together with
The previous act Of the Senate entitled Mr. Eusts
70 be sworn in. The Senate however, took no fur
Their action. and the seat remained vacant AT the
extra session of last Spring the credentials were
again presented and referred to the committee.
Nj. C0nklng insisted to-day that they were still
under the rule. To settle all question about juTis
dic,On over papers referred 10 committees last
session, Vice-President Wheeler made SEN
N6le decision that the intention OF the
rule was that all papers referred in one
session should be returned to the Secretary at the
END OF the session. and by him Tedistnbuted 10 the
committees the beginning Of the ensuing session.
without waiting for appeal he put the question
OF sustaining the ruling, to the Senate. The
Democrats exhibited indefensible partisanshp
N voting solidly IN the negative, because the
decision, whose parliamentary merit they ignored,
Kept them from getting directly at Eustiss case. The
rtpubhcans, Of course, sustained the ruling Mr..
thurman at once moved 20 discharge the committee
nom the consideration Of the case and on Mr.. Ed
hunds objection the motion went over I'LL to-noT-
row.
II the Republicans keep both the Louisiana cases
~ The committee. and thus deprive the tate OF all
Iepiesentaton this session, il will be evident that
nelf real motive Is 10 preserve their slender majority
"Oiu further diminutiOn as long as they can.
CHAT ABOUT APPOINTMENTS.