Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-25
Party Lines in Congress.

The changes made in the roll of the House
of Representatives since the Congressional
elections of last Fall, caused by designations
and death, have started discussion as to the
political complexion of the party that will
be in a majority when the Forty Seventh
Congress meets in December next. Assum-
ing that Mr.. Lapham of New York will be
chosen TO the Senate, it has been stated that
the number of republican members-elect who
have dropped from the House roll will leave
prevent that party from securing the organic
alton without the cooperation of the green
hackers. An examination of the list of
members elected to the Forty Seventh Con-
gress, as prepared for, and published in, the
Congressional Directory, shows that all cal
culations that place the republicans in a
minority are erroneous. The election re-
turns show that there were elected to the
Forty Seventh Congress as distinctive repub-
licans lJl members; democrats, l3l; green
hackers, 9, and readjusters, ,. Since the
election the republicans have lost, including
Mr.. Lapham, five members, namely, COnger
of Michigan; Frye of Maine; and Morton.
Miller and Lapham of New York, and gained
one in the election of a successor to Mr..
COnger, thus leaving the republican net loss
four. This would leave the present repub-
lican membership IA, or the exact number
necessary to constitute a quorum of full
house OF 293 members. Since the election
the democrats have lost two members by
death, Messrs. Wood, of New York, and
OConnor, of South Carolina. Mr.. O'Con-
nor's election is disputed by his republican
competitor, Mr.. Mackey, and all the testi-
mony in the contest was completed before
Mr.. O'Connor's death. The democrats held
an election recently to fill the so-caled va
cancy, but the man chosen at this election
in which the republicans took no part. will
not be admitted to the roll. Deducting these
two vacancies-Wood and O'Connor-from
the democratic members, leaves their mum.
Der l29. The nine members classified as
greehbackers are Murch and Ladd, OF
Maine, Hazeltine, Rice, Burroughs
and Ford, of Missouri; Hyatt Smith
of New York; Brumm. of Penn.
sylvania, and Jones of Texas OF these
nine, Messrs. Hazeltine, Rice, Burrows, and
Brumm, were elected as greenback repub.
licans, each of them defeating the regular
;. III,
Ford and Jenes were members of the last
Congress and may be regarded as distinctive
greenbackers with democratic inclinations
MIR. Smith was chosen as a democratic green.
hacker, but cannot with any degree of ac.
curacy be classified as between the two greai
parties. The two readjusters are also un.
certain as to political identity, but it is very
probable that they will not be induced to act
with the democrats
From this review of the membership of the
next House, it will be seen that the political
divisions stand as follows: Republicans, l47
Democrats, 1923: Greenbackers .: Read.
Justers, :; vacancies, g. total, 293. Deduct
ing the six vacancies, leaves the membership
2sl, of which IA is clear majority. The
Constitution of the United States prescribes
that "a majority of each House shall constitute
quorum to do business" 1t has been held
that under this clause quorum consists of a
majority of the actual membership, and in
this view the Republicans will have a clear
majority of four should the six vacancies not
be filled until after the organization, but in
any event the Republicans have AZ members
which will give them majority of the full
membership and enable them to elect a
Speaker and other officers without aid from
greenbackers or readJusters.
he pcbple VI are ldhlUS DTOmpl
steps to repudiate the action ftheir governor
in refusing to join with the executives of the
other states in recommending day of thanks
giving for the Presidents recovery. Leading
newspapers of the state severely criticise
Governor Roberts for his excessively cautious
views about church and state. At a mass
meeting of all political parties and religions
creeds, held in Dallas, a resolution declaring
that the citizens of that place will spend the
day set apart by other states as day of
jubilee and thanksgiving for the Presidents
recovery, was adopted. Other cities of the
state were advised to take similar action. and
no doubt such meetings will be generally held
This prompt action of the people of Texas is
rebuke to the stilted states-rights governor
that will be gratifying to the whole country.