Morning journal and courier., 1880-11-09
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL. Vote a Very Important Faetor-Inter. esting Question Involved i'm the Con. tingency of Ills Acting with the Re- pubIicans-The Prospects of New Leg islatIon.
 WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-The iStn7 this even. ing prints the following:
 If General Malone, the Virginia Senator, should refuse to act with the Democrats and thus tie the Senate, very interesting ques- ton will at once arise in the Senate as to the right of the Vice President to cast the decid- ing vote on any resolution or motion affect ing the organization of the Senate promi- nent Democrat says he has no right to vote on such organization for the reason that he is not a member of the Senate The right is conceded to him to cast the deciding vote on all matters of legislation, because to deny such right would place the Senate in a per petual deadlock when the two parties were evenly divided. There is no doubt but that on the 4th of March next when President elect Garfield convenes the Senate in extra ordinary session to confirm his Cabinet the Republicans will endeavor to reorganize the Senate and thus secure control. The i'm portance of having control reaches 8 good deal further than securing the few offices which are attached to the patronage or the OenaLe. The pOlnG IS 10 secure the committees. All important legis- lation is shaped by the committees, and the Senate as a body is more of a debating school to discuss such measures as have thus been promoted. If the Republicans secure the organization they will not only have the chairmanships of all the respective commit tees, but have majority representation as well on each committee. Hence the legis- lation of a session would be absolutely under Republican control in both branches of Congress. While the Democrats will re- sent the claim that the Vice President can vote on the question of the organization of the Senate, the Republicans will hold to the theory that such power is vested in him. The very pertinent question will then arise as to what the Democrats will do in case he undertakes to act upon the Republican the ory. Take this as hypothetical case. Sup pose the chairman of the Republican caucus committee, MT. Anthony, of Rhode Island brings in resolution to this effect:
 Resolved, That the following be and hereby the members of the standing committees of the Senate.
 A vote is then taken and Malone votes yea. The Senate is tie. The Vice Presi- dent casts the deciding vote and declares the motion carried. There is left but one re- course, and that is an appeal from his de- cision. This must be settled with debate of course. When this question comes up the Vice President would not vote, but on an ap- peal tie vote would be decided as an afr nation. Then again, on such an appeal it is very hard to say how David Davis will vote He will no doubt vote with the Democrats to retain the organization, but on appeal from such decision here outlined he is just as liable to vote with the Republicans as the Democrats
 As to the business of the session but little ia the shape of legislation can be expected. The tariff question having been magnified in the recent canvass, no tariff bill will be passed, but divers resolutions will be offered to force record vote. Neither will there be time between December and the 4th of March next to pass bill to refund the five and six per cent bonds, which fall due respectively in May and June next. The probability is through the failure to pass a refunding bill by March next President-elect Garfield will call an extra session of the Forty seventh Congress. Another occasion for calling the new Congress will be the failure of the pres ent Congress to pass bill making an appro- priation to pay for the services of deputy marshals used for election purposes It is not anticipated that the new Congressional apportionments will be fixed by the present Congress because of the census data which is behind in its compilations and for want of time. The sugar interests of the country will make a combined raid to have the present rates of duty revised, but will probably fail to accomplish anything. The most serious ques- tion which must be settled by the present Congress is the manner in which the electoral vote is to be counted It is serious, not be- cause there is liable to be any dispute over Garfield's election, but because it involves the question of fixing President for the fu- ture