Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-14


Ihe Old Committees Continued
The Diplomats Visit the President
Nominations.
WAsHINGToN, D. c., October 13.-The
Republican Senatorial coup was accom-
plished to day without any trouble. David
Davis was elected President pro tenn. to
succeed Senator Bayard. and the latter went
out as the small boy says, "Just as
easy" When the Republicans broached
the subject this morning there
was no objection, except one which came
from Senator Pendleton. He wanted the
resolution for the election of Senator Davis
to go over one day. He voiced in this the
sentiments of number of Democrats, who
were Of the opinion that fight should be
made against the Republican upsetting Of
Senatorial things in general.
Shortly after Senator Pendleton entered
his objection the Senate went into execu-
tive session. A general interchange of
opinion among the Democrats was had
there quietly, at which it was decided that
it would be the better, after all, that
no obstacle be offered to the
contamination of the Republican ends,
which, by fixing David Davis, they
had accomplished. So Senator Pendleton
withdrew his objection, and Davis was
made President pro tenn in place of BaYard
without any opposition on the part of the
Democrats, except in a speech from Senator
Jones, of Florida, who contended that there
was fxity of tenure about a man elected
to the office.
Senator Bayard said tonight that he
knew very well last evening that the Re-
publicans intended to make the change
which they accomplished to-day. He said
he did not care anything about the Office,
except that it was given him voluntarily by
the Democrats of the Senate, and as such
he priced it.
Senator David Davis may be said to have
been put of the fence by his acceptance of
the Office at the hands of the Repu blicans.
He mas long nourished an ambition for the
Presidency. Seeing that he could never
reach that position, he is glad to get the
Pr sidency of the Senate under any circum-
EldLCEEf MulCuy VIII IL III INC pTtbSub COIL
dition of affairs, carries the office of Vice
President of the United States. If
the Democrats had put him up
as a candidate, instead Of Bayard,
he would have accepted the place at their
hands. David Davis has, however, made no
pledges to the Republicans 1t is pretty
certain that none of the Democratic officers
or employees will be removed.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, Mr.. Lamar offered a reso-
luton requesting the President TO advise
the S-nate whether any action has been
taken by the government since the last ses-
sion Of the Senate towards protecting the
rights and interests of the United States
iu the project of an inter oceanic canal at
Panama. Laid on the table for future ac-
tion.s
Mr. Edmuuds called up his resolution
continuing the standing committees of he
senat4 as they We're constituted at the last
sessios.
Mcfarland offered an amendment pro-
viding that only the following committees
be continued: Foreign Relations, Finance,
Commerce, Military Affairs, judiciary,
Post OGlsas and Roads. Public Lands, PEN
sions, aHi Indian Affairs. He contended
that the committees named were the only
ones which would have any work to do dur
| ing the special session.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the amendment
| There were comm ittees which were not pro-
vided for, which, in his opinion, would be
| necessary in order to perform the work Of
| the session. He iDstanced the Committee on
| Privileges aud Elections as one which shOnld
be organized. There was on the table
now a petition presented by the Senator
| from New Jersey (Mr. McPberson). said to
| fba 10Th Of tbn
| from New York to seats in this body. That
ought to be inquired into. Then there was
| the Committee on Railroads, which might
have work to do. It was known from pub
lie report that there had been an important
officer suspended for some supposed failure
to perform his duty, and by law 1t was re-
Quired that such suspension should be re-
ported to the Senate. The Committee on
Contingent Expenses was also necessary.
Mr. Garland stated that he would modify
his amendments so as 20 continue the COM
mittee, and OF Privileges and Elections and
Contingent Expenses. He thought that it
would then include all the committees
which 1t was necessary to organize at this
time
Mr.. Garland's amendment was rejected
yeas 35, nays 37-Mr. Davis {Ill } and Mr.
Mahone voting with the Republicans. Mr..
Edmund's resolution was then adopted
yeas 81, nays 35.
The standing committees are therefore
continued as constituted at the last session,
and the President pro tenn Is authorized to
fill any vacancy which may exist.
As soon as the result was announced, Mr..
Logan rose and offered q resolution for the
election of David Davis, Senator from
Illneis, as President pro tenn, OF the Sen
ate.
Mr. Pendleton asked that Ae resolution |
lie over one day under the ru,ts, and 1t was
ba 2anafa then IL 1D.d0 went |
into executive session.
On the resssembling Of The iSenate Mr.. |
Pendleton withdrew his obje zion to the |
consideration OF the resolutiCI, contem- |
plating the election of Mr.. DAVIS as Presi-
dent pro tenn.
Mr. Jones, of Florida, opposed the reso- |
luton. He said that before theP resolution |
was submitted to q vote he wisht{i to reit- |
crate the protest which he had once made |
here on this subject by denying the power |
of the Senate to do this thing. 1t |
was said that this question |
was no longer open; that precedent had |
been established in the FOrty-nin6l Con-
gress by which the right of the Senate to |
choose at will its presiding officer had been
affirmed. He hoped that that action OF the |
Senate would not be regarded as prece- |
dent. Congress by the acG OF /
1892 had declared that the presiding /
officer of the Senate should succeed IN Ger
Ialu COnbiuECuClCc " buN " AANc@NNhb
of the United States. He contended that
the President pro tenn, having once been
elected the Constitution fixed the tenure Of
his office. A more unwise precedent had /
never been established by the Senate than
that which declared that that body should
have power, in case of anything unfortunate
happening to the present incumbent OF the /
Presidents office, to enter into q contest
for the Presidency of the United states
The vote was then taken on Mr., LOgan's |
resolution, and It was sdopted-yeas SO, /
nays "a. Mr. Davis. of Illinois, refrained 1
from voting, and Mr.. BaYard, when his
name was called, saidi
81 propose to withhold my vote. 1 have
never obtained Office by my vote, and l
never shall retain it by my vote. am glad
the question was taken up to day
Mr.. Davis, of Illinois, was then escorted
to the chair by Messrs. Bayard and Antho-
nv, the respective Democratic and Republi-
can candidates for the same office.
n, &al~ hair Mr. Davis said.