South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-10-14
FROM WASHINGTON. /.

q tt OfSahlIdtlOn OF the SCDate. -
The senate OF the United States met
on Monday last, in accordance with
the Presidents proclamation, and or
ganized by the election Of the Hon.
Thomas f. Bayard, OF Delaware. rs
President pro tenn. The vote by
which Senator Bayard was chosen
was 4 party vote-thirty- demo-
Gratis voting FOR him & 81 republicans
against hin-Senator Malone voting
with the republicans aud Se,asnr n.
vid Davis not voting at AL The next
question the Baltimore Sun SAWS. ..will
be as to the tenure by which Senator
Bayard holds his position, aud the
right OF the Senate 1T any time to dis
place HIM and elect some one else in
his stead. This involves the construc-
ton OF the clause OF the constitution
which says that the Senate shall choose
II President pro tempore in the alb
sence OF the Vice-President. or when
he shall exercise the Office OF Prcsi.
dent. OF the United States Does
tins mean that the Senate shall choose
President who shall continue in of
lice until the Vice President arrives
or ceases to act as President, or does
1t mean that the Senate, if it pleases.
may have new President pro tenn.
every day? The question has never
been determined Senator Edmunds
IS on record as favoring the latter
view, and such, it may be anticipated.
Will be the view OF the republican
Senators. With parties so nearly bal.
anced that single vote may turn the
scale either way, the spectacle might
be presented OF the occupancy o. the
chair changing with every accidental
majority on the floor. The very fact,
however, that Ill The contingency Of
vacancy in the Offices both OF Presi-
dent and Vicc-President, the Presi
dent-of the Senate pro tenn. becomes
the acting President OF the United
States, would seem to imply that the
President CT the Senate is not an oc-
casiOual officer liable to be changed
every day, or two or three times a
day, II the senate so plcases, but u
permanent officer, like the speaker Of
the House, who comes next in the or
der OF presidential succession. The
question Is an important one, & Sena-
tor Edmunds's suggestion that the C.
lection OF Mr.. Bayard rs President
pro tenn. for y day only would be a
compliance with the letter and spirit
OF the law, indicates that it is one
which may SOON come under discuss.
ION. Whatever may be the views
or crotchets OF hair~spIitting constitu.
tlonai lawyers upon the point, one
thing Is certain, that the people OF the
United States desire certainty and
stability in the matter, and will be
slow 10 tolerate the idea OF the cons;i.
tutionai successor TO the presidency
being the occasional or accidental and
shifting choice of the Semitic, rs Sena.
tor Edmunds seems inclined to argue
is the case.
The Senate held short session
Thursday, but adjourned without
completing the organization. Mr..
Aldrich, the aew Senator from Rhode
Island, was sworn in Naturalization.
Mr. Mcpherson presented protest
against the admission OF the two Sen
ators from New York, signed by citi-
zens of that State, but said that be
had no knowledge of any of the mat
ters charged therein. No Senator OBJ
iccting, Messrs. Laphain and Miller
were sworn in. On motion OF Mr..
Edmunds, the standing committee
as constituted at the close Of the last
session be Continued Mr.. Harris
asked that the resolution lie over for
one day under the rule. So ordered.
The committee appointed to wait
upon the President reported that it
had performed lis duty, and that the
President had stated that nc would
communicate in writing with the Sen
ate tomorrow.
The Senate then, at 1850, ADJOURN
cd until tomorrow.