Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-20
THE EVENING STAR.
"WEDNESDAY. ..Apstl 20. lssl.
The Senate Deadlock.

fSsi'toN OF TEE DEMOCRATS STATED By A nkNo-
Graf.
tWsssington Special New York Bsr.Ia1
very prominent democrat who has c4vau
close attention TO the Senatorial dead lock laws
Gown Tie foAowfng thirteen propositions a. IN
bis judgment governing the case. Ra has
studied the grounds OF the dispute care,nnx
and intenigently, and the thirteen points which
he presents deserve attention not only for tha
strength fth which they are presented, but
also because they represent ia a rorclble way
the grounds upon which the democratic Sens
tors Justify their course. The following are the
thirteen propositions:
First-A party cannot be considered 20 have
majority In a legislative body when II Is I'M
, aole TO take single step or adopt single mo-
uon unless some one OF the alleged minority
viii aid II by voting and thus making the de-
sired and necessary quorum.
SscoDo-The republicans In the Senate. with
ManoEe added, nave just one-hah the Sen
ave. | Mess some member OF the democratic
haf lends bis aid the republican Senators plus
Manone, cannot command a quorum, and can
adjourn.
Third-The vote OF the Vice President cannot
pe mace available until The democrats shall bs
obng1ng enough TO create the tie which he Will
then be able TO unloose. OF original power tina
Vice President has not one Particle ana the
republicans are enraged because the Democrats
Will not so vote as 10 give the Vice President
the opportunity 10 turn out democratic orice
holoefs who are faithfully discharging their
DUTY.
Fourth-The Vice President has never In the
history or the government, save In a single In
stance, voted In the election OF Senate officers
AND that was Ia case where vacancy was 20
De nlled- il a vacancy were TO be lied to day
every democratic Senator would be perfectly
Wiling 10 have the Vice President vote IL a tie
should occur but the democrats affirm and win
10 tle enc maintain that the Vice Presidents
vote shall not be used to create a vacancy
where no accusation is made against the in
cumoent and where the change Is TO be made
Tor political purpose only.
Fnh-The "ruie OF the majority about
which the republican Senators talk so loudly
is the rule" which they VIII enforce n one or
more democratic senators VIII help them 70 do
Sixth-The republicans are irritsted because
Tie democrats Will not lend their aid TO the
e eSdnss OF the Malone bargain by tho
SeVenth-At the opening or this session aad
Tor seventeen days after, The democrats had a
the republicans interposed dilatory motions
every Time the appointment or committees was
proposed, and they held the Senate ia a totally
unorganlzed II not disorganlzed condition until
the vacant seats Were flied and the trade
with Malone was completed.
Elghth-When the republicans got ready TO
appoint committees the democratic Senators
ihterposed no objections, because committees
were essential TO the proper organization of
the body, and they submitted quietly 10 having
all the ehalrmanships taken from them and
never ought to have done this, ana they set an
evil precedent In allowing IL, which must be
corrected at the very first opportunity.
Nlnth-But when ft is proposed 10 take an
other and needless aggressive STEP one entirely
needless except TO give Malone his pay and
turn out two excellent ard acceptable officers
simply because they are democrats, The demo-
cratic senators say:-"No, you shall not DO ft,
and we viii stop you Dy precisely the same
means which you employed for seventeen days
TO stop us from organizing the committees"
Tenth-Wheneyer the republicans shall have
majority, even OF one, In the Senate, no dem
ocrat VIII interpose single diiatory motion
against the election or new officers; but so long
as the republican Senators united with Malone
have only one-haif or the Senate aud the demo-
erals have the other half the democrats will not
ala directly or indirectly In turning out demo-
cratic officers
Eleventh-The republican Senators may make
up their minds that neither at this session nor
at the next session will they be able TO turn
Messrs Burch and Bright out OF Office unless by
some means they nrst acquire majority OF the
Senate.
Twelfth-One word more. When committees
are to be appointed next December, n the
Senate continues evenly divided as now, fair
warning Is given TO the republican Senators
that the democratic Senators VIII insist on a
fair and equitable division OF the committees
and chairmanshipa There are thirty EIGHT
Senators on each side or the chamber. and
common fairness demands an equal partition OF
the committees.
Thirteeptb-For the republican Senators to
demand all the committees and all the chair
manshfps by the casting vote OF the Vice PreSf-
Gent Is simply TO empower the Vice President
TO appoint the committees. That has never
been consented TO until this session, when, for
the sake OF peace, the democrats permitted it.
IL VIII never be permitted again, and due and
fair warning is now given TO that effect
Ii Is held by democratic Senators that these
propositions present their case ia the clearest
manner and entirely justify, to any one even
but slightly familiar with the rules OF iegtsla-
tive proceedings the course they have adopted
and which they persist Ia.