The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-06
Special Senate Session.

The Washington correspondent of the Gin
cinnati Commercial thus outlines the work Of
the special session of the Senate:
The business before the Senate when it meets
in special session, will be the election of a
President pro tenn who, according to the rules
and precedents of that body, will hold only
from day to day, or at the pleasure of the Sen
ate. The new Senators from New York and
Rhode Island not having been sworn in, the
/ Democrats will have temporary majority,
and will, of course, elect Democratic Presi-
dent pro tenn. After that the credentials of
the new Senators will be presented and they
will be sworn in. If at any time the Republi
cans have a majority they will have the right
to elect another presiding officer. The tenure
of the office OF President pro tenpore was fixed
by resolutions reported by Senator Morton
fropthe Committee on Privileges and Eiec-
tons, in January, 1876, and adopted by the
Senate after elaborate debate. 1t was then
resolved,
First, That the tenure of a President pro
temp0re does not expire at the meeting of
Congress after the first recess, the Vice Presi
dent not having appeared TO take the char.
Second, that the death of the Vice-Presi-
dent does not have the effect to vacate the
office of President pro tempo,e
Third, that the Office OF President pro tenn
pore is held at the pleasure of the Senate"
| 1t is believed that in view of this well estab
lished rule of the Senate, there is not likely to
be prolonged controversy over this office at
the opening of the extra session. The Demo-
Gratis will avail themselves OF the technical
advantage given by the fact that three Repub-
lican Senators whose title is undisputed have
not been sworn H. and the only chance of re-
versing their action rests upon the remote con-
tingency that David Davis may vote with the
Republicans for the electing Of a presiding
officer after the new Senators have been adj
mitted. plentiful crop of Democratic can
didates for Secretary OF the Senate has been
bred by the accidental advantage the Demo-
Gratis will have at the opening of the session.
But as new Senators will demand admission
as soon as the presiding officer is chosen, it
may not be an easy thing for the Democrats to
seize the Secretaryship. The Republicans
haying an equal numerical strength will be in
position to compel the Democrats to go
slow The Democratic candidates are: EX-
Congressman PIERCE Young, of Georgia; L.
! @. Washington, of Virginia; Rees Edmonson
Senate clerk; Neil Brown, of Tennessee, a
Reading Clerk of the House, and Mr.. Nixon,
| financial clerk of the Senate. John G. Thomp-
son is also frequently mentioned as one who
casts longing eye in that direction, since the
control OF the House is about to pass into
Republican hands, but Thompson's friends
deny that he has entered for the scramble. 1t
is thought by some Senators that, as the par
ties will be evenly divided in the Senate, some
arrangement will be made by which the COM
mittees will not be recognized during the ex
ira session, so that any contest in relation to
that matter may be postponed until the regu-
lar session. The work of the extra session
can be most quickly done by referring Presi-
dent Arthur's nominations to temporary com
| mittees, to be named for the purpose from day
to day. II this plan is adopted, no reason now
appears why the session should last longer
| than ten DAYS.