The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-23
Pairing on.

Though the Democrats have a working
majority in both branches Of Congress- they
are frequently powercss for lack OF a quo
rum in the Senate or the House. This is
generally owing 10 the fact that many DEM
ocrats who are actually present in their
seats are paired or with Republicans.
Then. too, the Republicans are in the habit
Of blocking the business by retiring 10 the
cloak rooms and refusing TO answer to their
names on the call 81 the roll, and thus leaving
the House or the Senate without quorum,
though enough Democrats are present To
constitute quorum. but tho mouths OF
twenty OF thirty OF them are closed because
they are paired or.
In its practical workings this custom
leaves the Senate and the House at the
mercy OF the Republican minority; and IL
the Democrats hope TO beat the most auda-
cious party ever known in American history,
they must abandon the practice.
This bad custom first entered the House
in 1910, and the Senate ten years later. When
II appeared in the House it was met by JOHN
QUINCY ADAMS, the oldest member, and n
model OF devotion to duty and diligence in
business, by offering this resolution:
R,-tei That the practice frst openly avowed at the
present session OF Congress Of pairing or involves.
the part OF the members resorns to IL the violation Of
the Constitution Of the United States, u express rule
Of this House, and Of the duties Of both parties in the
transaction to their constituents TO this House and
their country
This resolve went on the calendar, but was
not reached during that session. When the
practice first crept into the Senate, it re-
ceived an equally singing rebuke from
THOMAS II. BENTON.
But the number OF the ADAMsEs and BEN
TONS in Congress nowadays is small; and
thus, by pairing of, the working majority Of
the Democrats is often reduced to a nullity.
Any man who thinks he can promote his
ambition to reach the White House or the SEN
ate by helping to suppress the GLOVER report
will find out that he took wrong course.
We printed ON Saturday q curious lcttor
from a Seadcr in Springfield, Massachusetts.
1t appears that this reader is a Splrituallst and
that on Lass Wednesday evening he, with others.
attended a scance, as it is called. at the house
Of Springfield medium. This medium. wo-
man. after exhibiting some OF the physical phe-
nomena OF suftocation, began to utter in q deep
voice what purported To be a communication
from tho late JANE LAWRENCE DE FORREST HULL.
The gist Of ii was that the supposed murder on
Forty-second street was not II murder at all. but
Il suicide. II is evident that the value Of this
communication depends upon its genuinencss.
If it could be conclusiyely proved to the salts
faction Of the Coroner and his jury tho District
Attorneys onlce. tho police authorities. tho do
tectiyes and the general public, that the veri-
table wife Of Dr. HULL Was present in spirit at
the house Of the Springfield medium on We'd
md "A 1,
statements attributed to her. that would end the
matter
The articles which were missing. she said
would not be found, and 1t was not important
that sho should tell whore they were" This
seems to us mistaken view OF the case. Ger
tanly it was important for the furthoranca Of tho
ends OF justice that the missing watch aud jow-