Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-23

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WEDNESDAY EvKN'a. NAB. %. 1881.
The Senate Organixatiso.
The Republican senators propose to |
change the officers of the Senate and to
make Senator Anthony its Temporary
president. They cannot execute their
purpose II the Democratic members
choose to prevent it, since they have but
thirty eight votes, and 1t takes thirty
nine to make majority and q quorum
Of the body. That the Democratic sena-
tors will not consent to present change
Of oncers Is reasonably believed. They
are warranted in using their power to
preserve the present organization OF the
body, in which they are numerically as
strong as their opponents, who have but
the advantage over them Of the vote OF
the vice president, who is not . senator,
and whom many senators believe to be
without the constitutional right to cast
his vote in the organization. 1t is also
objected to . change Of officers at the
present time that the session has simply
been called to consider executive busi-
ness, and the Senate does not sit as
legislative body. Further than this,
there is Q belief on the Democratic side
that their natural power has been taken
from them by improper means in the pur-
chase Of the vote Of Senator Malone !;
and the Democratic senators may justly
object to aid in transferring to Malone
that part of tho consideration for the
bargain which is shown in the nomina-
ton Of Zone Riddleberger, of Virginia. TO
be sergeant-at-arms. There was man
Of that name, and probably the same, in
the Legislature of Virginia, who pro-
posed a semi reputation measure,
known as the Riddleberger BILL" to
settle the state debt, which was sustain
ed by the L" readjuster" faction Of repu-
diationists of whom Malone Is the lead
er. Such a man, introduced under such
auspices, as the beneficiary of the disrep-
utable bargain which enables the vice
president, exercising a doubtful con-
stitutional power, to give the Repub-
cans q majority in the Senate, can
hardly expect to take his plundel
through Democratic complaisance.
There are some legislators who do moi
think it right to withhold their votes tt
prevent the making of a quorum, and il
is in the expectation of finding some Of
these among the Democratic senator!
that the Republicans have determined tt
make an effort to change the Senate
officers. The seek power by their OWL
extraordinary indecency and the extra
ordinary decency Of their opponents
How they get it they care not; it is vel
come however it comes. They are likel!
to be disappointed in their expectation o
succor from the Democratic side, be
cause the situation is not one which ap
peals to the argument upon which il
based the conscientious legislators re
fusal to break quorum. That argu
ment is that the majority of the body i
responsible for its acts and that the mi
nority should not prevent the majorit!
from exercising its legitimate power
We consider this position to be strongl.
taken, and doubt whether it is proper fol
. minority to refuse to vote, t.
paralyze a majority. But in thu
present state of the Senate neithe
party is in a majority. The body beini
equally divided, the .tatas quo should b.
maintained in its organization. The Re
publicans have no claim to count TIN
vice president as q senator, for he dis
tinctly is not one, and the vote he exer
cises is, as many believe, usurped one
except in the case in which the constitu
tiOn expressly authorizes him to vote
namely, when tie exists upon meas.
ures of legislation.
As the Republican side avails itself o
doubtful power to change the Senst
officers, the Democratic side is warrante'
I'm exercising a doubtful power to retail
them. At present it is said the Republi
cans have but thirty-four votes in tn
Senate, owing to the absence of member
who are paired with Democrats. It i!
not likely that they can flu fn;:r,cr evel
one Democrat, to vote with them t
make quorum under existing circum
stances at this session.