Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-10

'Che House Vacancies and the Extra
Session.

Five republican memberS-elect OF the next
House OF Representatives have been promoted
'"ur to the Senate and one to the position OF U
= minister 70 France. The vacancies must, In
,Ccordanee with law, be filed by special cleo
uens, and upon the result OF these elections the
political complexion Of the next House Will de-
pend. IL Congress should be convened Ia extra
session before these vacancies are flied the five
empty seats would be fatal to republican con-
troll Therefore, this is an important matter In
considering the ACCESSIBILITY OF calling an extra
session OF congress. A proclamation from the
governor of a state directing special election
for CcDTT6ssme must give the people of the
district thirty days notice. The governors of
tie states In whose delegations a vacancy
'xists are al republicans save one Hence the
special elections to choose representative to
succeed Senator Hawley, from Connections;
senator Mitchell, OF Pennsylvania; Senator
Conger, OF Michigan, and Minister Norton OF
New York, could be called and the elections
held by the middle OF April. But the governor
Of Maine is democratic greenbacker and he
might Lot choose to hurry himself In issuing
the writ of election for a successor for Mr..
Frye, who IS soon to be elected U. S. Senator
outside o. this calculation. however, comes the
important question, "Can the republicans fill
all these vacancies With men OF their own
In New York city which contains democratic
majority, but his popularity Overcama this Ii
Is claimed by the democrats that no
other republican can carry the district. The
democratic and greenback vote combined is
somewhat in excess OF the republican vote la
Mr.. ConCer's district, and fusion movement
against the republicans has already been inau-
gurated there. Representatives LadI and
Murch express the opinion that the fusionists
can elect q member to succeed Mr.. Frye. In
Mr.. MitchellS district In Pennsylvania the
combined democratic and greenback vote IS
several thousand larger than the republican
vote. AS already stated, these five special
elections can determine the political control OF
the House; IL the opposition get four, or even
three OF them, combination would no doubt
be effected that would prevent repub-
hcan supremacy Including these five districts
the republicans had only 146 straight members
of the Eext House. They relied. and still rely
upon Mr.. Smith, OF Brooklyn, and several
greenbaek members-el OF republican antece-
dents to vote for republican organization.
Should they lose three OF the vacancies It VIII
reduce the reliable republican membership to
143. Because OF the Importance of these special
elections every inch OF ground In each district
viii be contested The republicans and the
opposition will each make the best fight possible.
and the important stake at issue will attract
general interest to the result. In view Of the
probability or an extra session. 1t Is likely these
vacancies will be filled by the first OF MAY.
The chances are favorable to the republicans
In all the districts as they have the preSt of
nsti0n2l success With them.