National Republican., 1881-02-28
WASHINGTON, D. C, FEBRUARY IS, 1881.
Population Of the National Capital, 100000.
Call for an Executive Session OF the
Senate.

Call for an Executive Session OF the
Senate.
At noon of Friday next, with the adj
iournment of Congress, the Senate will
lose one-third of its present members,
and all its committees will cease to exist.
New committees have to be organized at
each session, whether regular or special,
legislative or executive. The officers hold,
without any definite term, during the
pleasure of a majority of the body. The
Senate has usually been called to meet in
executive session Immediately upon the
final adjournment of the regular session
on the 18th of March, although we think
such ilas not been the uniform practice. OF
course the time for assembling the Senate
in executive session is matter within the
discretion ofthe President Neverin the
history of the country has the Senate
been divided so nearly equally as now.
There is a vahancy in the body caused by
the death of Senator Carpenter, of Wis
consin, which cannot lawfully be filled
before the 9th of March, on which day
the Legislature Of that State, being in
session, can choose a successor. The ere
dcntialS cannot well reach here in time
TO allow the new Senator to take his seat
before Saturday, the 18th.
On the 4th of March, Therefore, should
the Senate be called together in execu-
tive session, that body would be composed
Of thirty-seyen Democrats. thirty-siX Re-
publicans, and two Independents. Should
either of the two latter vote with the
Democrats, it would give that party the
control Of the Senate up to the 18th in
slant. This would enable the enemies of
General Garfeld's administration to form
ali the committees, to which should be
referred Cabinet and other nominations.
Indeed. it would enable them to reject
any and all nominations. 1t would ena-
bic them to embarrass the administration
at the very outset as no administration
was ever embarrassed before.
A remedy is being generally discussed
and that is that the PTesident-elect may
fix upon q later day than the 4th of
March for the extra session. This would
be an unusual, but not, we think, an un-
prccedented proceeding. 1t could be for
a day on which the Senate would be full.
The Senate is a part of the execu-
tive branch of the Government. At
the presidential election it was de-
clared to be the will of the people
that the executive department should
be placed in the hands of General Gar
field. 1t would be most proper that his
Cabinet should be submitted to a Senate
composed of full representation from
each State, and very unfair that he should
haye to submit it to a Senate in which
Republican State is but partially repre-
seBted.
On the l2th of March there Will likely
be full Senate. If either Senator Davis
or Senator Malone should decide to aid
in tie formation of committees having
q majority of administration Senators it
would tie the Senate, and the Vice-Presi-
dent would, under the Constitution, de-
eide the question in each case presented.
If such condition as this should ap-
pear to exist the question to be decided
by General Garfield this week would be
whether an anti-administFation Senate
shall assemble March 4, or an administra-
ton Senate assemble, say on the 18th
or 18th.
If there is no objection to having
Cabinet appointed by our new Republi-
can President, by and with the advice
and consent of a Democratic Senate, then
the extra session may as well be called
March as later. But if this would be
Objectionable, then a Postponcment of
eight or ten days, while it would create |
no inconvenience, violate no law, and |
work no possible injury to any public
Interest, would enable either Senator |
Davis or Senator Malone to aid the Re-
publicans to such extent as either might !
deem best in forming committees friendly |
rather than hostile to the new admins
tratiOn.
SENATOR CARPENTER had the character |
istics Of both Webster and Choate-the !