Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-28
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE EXTRA SESSION SCHEME
ABANDONED.
The Contest In the Senate-The Re-
publfcans Resolve 30 Elect their
NOmInees-SOme Southern NOms"
natIOns-The Pay of the Nenate
Committee Clerks.

can Senators held caucus this morning, at
which it was determined to stand firm in
the pending contest for the possession of
the Senate officers, and to continue 1t as
long as may be necessary TO attain
success. 1t was agreed, however,
that an adjournment of the Senate should be
allowed at comparatively early hour this
afternoon, and that subsequently the eau
Gus shall reassenble to perfect arrangements
for resuming the struggle on Monday, with
the view of continuing it thereafter without
intermission.
At the Republican. Senatorial caucus,
held here this afternoon, 1t was decided to
adhere to the action taken this morning. It
is understood that for the present no at
tempt will be made to hold night sessions,
but the contest will be continued fro n day
to day.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Immediately after reading
the journal, Mr.. Dawes demanded the regu-
lar order, being the resolution for the cleo
tion of Senate officers.
Mr. Pendleton moved TO go into executive
session. Rejected--yeas 80, nays 90. Ma
hone was present and voted with the Re-
publicans. motion to lay the resolution
on the table was lost-Yeas %, nays 90.
Mr.. Logan said that during the special
session held by the Senate in 1858, the
officers of the Senate had been elected, and
led this to show that this was precedent
for the position now taken by the Republi-
cans.
Mr. Harris said that was the only prece-
dent that could be found, and called atten-
ton to the fact that at that time all the old
officers had been re- elected except the one
who had been removed for cause.
Mr.. Farley inquired Of Mr.. Logan If he
could find any precedent where the domi-
nant party had refused to go into executive
session to confirm or act upon nominations
made by its own President.
Mr.. Logan replied by inquiring whether
the gentleman could find precedent where
a minority had ever undertaken to rule a
majority.
Mr.. Farley replied that at this very ses-
sion che minority OF the Senate had for two
weeks filibustered against the organization
of the Senate committees by the majority.
Mr.. Morrill, read from speech made two
years ago by the Nestor of the Democratic
side, Mr.. salisbury, at @ tiIae when 8
change Of officers was proposed, advising
the Republicans to reconcile themselves to
their position as minority, and like Chris
tian gentlemen, to bear 1t manfully.
Mr.. Butler retorted by quoting from speech
made at the same time by the Nestor of the
Republican side, Mr.. Anthony, ia WHICH he
stated that he did not think he would ever
be found advocating the removal of officers
who had performed their duties faithfully
and efficiently.
Mr. Call opposed the resolution. There
was doubt whether majority of the Senate
had not been procured by means in viola
tion of the Constitution and laws and con-
demned by the just sentiments of the coun-
try, and those who did not oppose the reso-
luton might become parties to the CON-
mencement of a practice, the effect of
which might be to substitute mercenary and
venal considerations for the just and unbi-
ased Judgment of the Senate. He held 1t
his duty to resist tiis resolution, which pro-
posed to bestoW patronage on the coalition
of parties diverse in their political prinoi-
Piles and in their pledges to the country.
At 2:2O p. m. motion to go into execu-
tive session was defeated-yeas %, nays q.
Mr.. Beck referred to the statement made
yesterday by Mr.. Dawes that he supported
Riddleberger because he belonged to body
Of men who opposed that party which
had its heel on the neck of the black
man In Virginia, and desired to
call that Senator's attention to s scene
which had taken place In the Virginia Legis-
lature. Morse, a coored man, who proba-
bly, could neither read nor write, and who
therefore would not be entitled to vote In
Massachusetts, had arisen and made a rather
rambling speech, in which he advocated the
payment of the State debt, and had then
yielded to Riddleberger. That gentleman
thereupon had o1Icc.Sd resolution to expel
Morse, which was rejected. The man "hn
had sought to expel an ignorant but honest
colored man was the L9an who was cham
pioned by the Senator from Massachusetts
(Mr. Dawes).
Mr.. Groome-Does It appear whether Rid
dleberger proposed to expel him because he
was in favor of paying the debt?
Mr.. Beck-Poor man, / suppose he took
a double chance on him. Iaughterl.
A motion to go into executive session
having been defeated, Mr. Malone took the
floor to address the Senate. This roused
that body, which had been very dull all day,
into something like attention. He was un-
fortunate, he said, in having been absent
from the Senate yesterday when some allu-
sion had been made to Riddleberger and
himself. He had been indisposed and was
still too unweil to review the speeches.
Mr.. Dawes Interrupted and said that If the
gentleman would prefer to go on on Mon
day, he would move to adjourn, which mo-
tion was, at $50 O'Clock, agreed to.
THE QUESTION OF THE PAY OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE CLERKS.
5 The appropriation act of June 18th, 1880,
authorized the payment of six dollars per
day to the twenty two clerks of the Senate
committees during the session Of eight days,
but provided that they should be paid for
one hundred and twenty one days. An act
of March Sd, 1881, gave them thirty days
extra pay. The Senate committees at the
special session were not organized until
~R
date directed the Secretary of the
Senate to pay these twenty
two clerks, who went out of Office on March
4th, six dollars per day from the 5th to the
18th of March. The Secretary of the Senate
referred the matter to First Comptroller
Lawrence of the Treasury for his decision
as to whether or not the payment could be
made under the resolution. The First
Comptroller completed his decision on the
subject to day, in which he holds, First,
that thes act of June 18th, 1880, only
made an appropriation for the clerks during
the regular session, with no proViaion for
extra pay, and hence 1t did not authorize
any payment after March 5th. Second, the
appropriation act of March Sd, 1880, only
made appropriation for clerks to the com
mittees during the special session. Third,
as there were no committees until
the 18th of March, and there could be no
clerks to the committees prior to that date,
the act of March Sd made no appropriation
In their favor, and they could not be paid
by virtue of it. Fourth, the resolution d.
recting the payment could not make an ap-
preparation because it is not a law.
IL does not specifically refer to
the contingent fund, and ii it
could be held as directing pay
ment out Of that fund, section $3.50 Of
the Revised Statutes viii prevent that
course, inasmuch as 1t prohibits extra pay
to clerks out Of the contingent fund, unless
the clerks are authorized by resolution,
and as these clerks were not authorized by
a resolution prior to March 18Th, they can
not receive any extra pay prior to that time.
NOMINATIONS.
Among the nominations sent to the Senate
to day were the following William linden
stock, as Collector of Internal Revenue for
the Fourth district of Texas Jonathan 81.
Gray as Collector of Customs at Alexan-
dria, Va, and Edward J. Castell0 as Collec-
tor of Customs at Natchez, Miss.
NO EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.
The President has decided not to call an
nxfra aaecfnp nf 0on0raaS