Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-13

,ROWDED GALLERIES-THE STANDING COMMIT
QUESTION AGAIN DISCUSSED.

QUESTION AGAIN DISCUSSED.
The Senate galleries were pretty well filed to
lay, in anticipation Of some excitement over an.
other election for President pro tem There wer
comparatively few Senators present when tn,
Presidents gavel called the body to order During
the delivery of the prayer Senator Davis, OF ILL.,
nois, entered at the main door on the south side o.
the chamber. He took his stand just back of the
outer row OF desks, and calmly surveyed the Ser
lte as If in search of sign OF coming struggk
involving higher honor for himself. Secretary
kirkwood and Attorney General Macyeagh madt
their appearance upon the floor early, and wert
very cordially greeted by the Senator's
The Senators were all in their seats before the
reading of the journal was concluded.
Mr.. Lamar offered resolution requesting the
President to advise the Senate whether any action
has been taken by the government since the last
and interests of the United States in the project
an interoceanic canal at Panama. Laid on tn,
table for future action.
Mr. Edmunds called up his resolution continuing
the standing committees OF the Senate as they
were constituted at the last session.
Mr. Garland offered amendment providing that
only the following committees shall be continued
Foreign relations, finance, commerce, military
ana1rS, judiciary, post offices and roads, public
lands, pensions, and Indian affairs. In submitting
this amendment Mr.. Garland intimated that the
democrats have no purpose of making contest for
tne committees. He contended that the commit
any work to do during the special session.
Mr. Edmunds opposed the amendment There
were were, committees M which were not provided for
TO perform the work OF the session He instanced
the committee On privileges and elections as one
which should be organized. There was on the table
now petition presented by the Senator from New
Jersey r McPherson), said to seriously affect the
right OF Senator from New York to seat in this
BODY: That ought to be inquired into Then there
was the committee On railroads which might have
work TO do. 1t was known from public report that
tnere @ mad been an Important officer suspended for
some supposed failure to perform his duty, and by
law IL was required that such suspension Should
De reported to the Senate. The committee on con-
tlngent expenses was also a necessary committee
Mr.. Garland stated that he would modify his
amendment so as to continue the committees OF
privileges and elections and contingent expenses.
He thought that it would then include all the
committees Which 1t was necessary to organize at
this time.
Mr.. Garland's amendment was retected-yeas 35
nays 37-Davis, of Illinois, and Malone voting
with the republicans.
Mr.. EDMUNDs RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr. Edmunds' resolution was then adopted
yeas, 81; nays, 35
as constituted at the last session, and the Presi-
dent pro tenn. Is authorized to fill any vacancies
Which may exist
Resolution to Elect NIr. Davis Presi-
dent Pro TEN.
AS soon as the result was announced Mr.. Logan
rose and offered resolution for the election OF
David Davis Senator from Illinois, as President
pro teDe of the Senate.
Mr.. PendletOn asked that the resolution lie over
one DAY under the rules, and it was SO ordered
Ihen Senate then (at IL: 40 went into executive
Mr. DAVIS ELECTED PRESIDENT PRO TEN
When the doors We're reopened at / o'clock the
chair was occupied by Mr.. Harris, of Tennessee,
who called the Senate to order
Mr.. PendletOn then rose and said: When the
senator from Illinois r Ioganl Offered his reso-
lution Tor the election OF President pro tern in
asinuch as it was offered without previous notice.
objected to its immediate consideration Since
then, upon reflection and consultation with SeDa-
tors on this side Of the chamber, have concluded
10 withdraw my objection to its immediate consid-
The presiding officer (Mr Harris) stated that
there being no further objection the resolution was
before the Senate.
Senator Jones, Of Florida, maintained that the
Senate having filled the chair, had no power to
now choose another presiding officer. He said
mat tn the speaker OF parliament is chosen for
legally ousted. He read from speech Of the late
william f. Seward, who held that when the chair
was nlled another presiding officer could not be
The yeas and nays were called. When Mr.. Bay
ards name was called he said he would withhold
MS vote; that he had never obtained Office by his
own vote and he would never retain it by that
vote. When Mr.. Davis name was called he re-
NAMED n3 silent The vote was SO yeas to "a nays
MessIs Bayard and Anthony were appointed to
escort Mr. Davis to the chair. He was escorted
TO his position with smiling countenance.
MR. DAVIS REMARKS.
On taking the chair, Mr.. Davis Oily made a brief
speech, in which he said that the high honor con-
1erred upon him came without any expectation on
his part If the compliment had carried any party
ODilSat0n with 1t he should have felt constrained
to decline it.
Mr. Edmunds moved that the thanks of the SEN
ate be expressed to Mr. Bayard for the mpartiality
he had displayed in the administration of his ofics
This created ripple of laughter, and it was plain
. tnal IL was regarded as piece of irony. MI. Ed
munds IN saw the impression created, and undertook
TO correct 1t by saying he was entirely sincere in
his motion; that Mr.. Bayard had held the position
at time when partiality or partisanship might
mOusly adopted.
Mr. Kelloggs resolution calling for the papers in
the case OF Vlncenzo Rebello was adopted, and
resolution Tor the striking OF gold medal In honor
OF James A. Garfield, late President of the United
states, was referred to the committee On library
The Senate then, at l 80, adjourned.