Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-08
The Senate Organisation.

UNANIMOUSLY CHOSEN By THH DEMOCRATS AS
THEIR CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE SEN
ATE PRO TEMPORE
The republican and democratic Senatorial eau
cuses met at the Capitol at about eleven o'clock
this forenoon. There was quite full attend
ance at both of them, not more than five demo-
Gratis and four republicans being absent. The
three new Senators-Messrs. Lapham. Miller
and Aldrich-were present at the republican
caucus. After remaining in session an hour or
more. discussing the situation, the republicans
appointed a committee to confer with the demo-
Gratis on the general subject Of organization.
The caucus then took recess for an hour. But
little disposition was shown In the republican
caucus to offer any unreasonable opposition to
the election of democratic president pro tenn
pore before the new Senators are sworn in. The
drlft OF discussion pointed to respectful and
nrm protest against such action on the part of
the democrats and not to tilibuster to prevent it,
The democrats have decided to proceed with the
election of the president pro tenpore as the first
step on Monday next. Mr.. Bayard was unani-
mously determined upon as their candidate.
1t was decided that Immediately after the chief
the resolution to elect Mr.. Bayard shall be SUBJ
mitted. After having decided upon this first
step, the democratic caucus got into discussion
as to whether they can elect a secretary before
the swearing in of the new Senators or not
Some of the democrats insisted that the newly
after the election of the president pro tempore.
CONFERENCE PROPOSED.
At this point Chairman Pendleton received a
communication from Senator Edmunds, inform
ing him that the republicans had taken a recess
and were ready to hear from the democrats as
to whether they had any communication to
make or desired to confer.
The democratic caucus took up the republican
communication proposing conference. Quite
F1ll
proposition of conference be accepted the dem
ocrats must meet the republicans with
out any previously adopted program
on their part and in shapetO abide by whatever
determination the conference might reach.
This was opposed by some who saw no need of
conference. They argued that the democrats
had majority, and it was their duty to go
right ahead with the election of a President and
the organization of the Senate; that the repub-
licans, under the same circumstances, would
that it would not be fair
to go into conference with any predetermined
plan OF action; that if the question of OrganiZa-
ton was to be submitted to conference and COM
promise it ought to go as whole.
CONFERENCE AGREED UPON.
At o'clock the democratic caucus took re-
cess, after appointing a committee to confer with
the committee appointed by the republican eau
Gus. Senator Pendleton is chairman of the DEM
mittee, of which Senator Edmunds is chairman,
and ascertain what the republicans desire to
submit. The democrats did not authorize their
committee to enter into any arrangements or
agreement looking to the organization, but di-
rected it to report back to the caucus as soon as
practical the propositions of the republicans.
The republican committee consists of Senators
Edmunds. (chairman,) Allison, Logan Sherman
and Mcmillan. The democratic committee is
Pendleton, Chairman Garland, Voorhees,, Pugh
and Davis, of West Virginia. The committees
Immediately met far the purpose of conference.
They are composed of men who are anxious to
avoid any sort of contest over the organization.
FAILURR OF THE CONFERENCE.
The two conference committees met in the
room of the committee on private land claims
The democrats stated that they had no authority
to enter into any conference with regard to the
election of a president of the Senate; that their
caucus insisted upon the right of the democrats
to elect this official. The republicans
replied that their purpose was to
confer with regard to the entire organization.
The democrats declined to consider the presi-
dency of the Senate as at issue at ALL and
upon this basis the republicans refused
to hold conference and the committees sepa-
rated within fifteen minutes after meeting, and
reported back the facts to their respective eau
cusS es