New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-09
PRICE FIVE CENTS
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE.
MEETING OF COMMITTEES FROM THE PARTY cAU-
cusEs-THE DEMOCRATS REFUSE To DISCUSS
THE QUESTION OF THE PRESIDENCY. AND THE
REPUBLICANS REFUSE TO DISCUSS ANY OTHER
SUBJECT - PROSPECTS OF A BITTER PARTY
STRUGGLE.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBUSE.I
WASHINGTON, Oct. S.-The meeting of the Senats
on Monday will probably mark the beginning of .
session of bitter party strife for the mastery be
Democrats will elect their candidate to tho Presi-
dency of the Senate but that will be only the be-
ginning of troubles. The session may not be long
one, but the contest will be carried over into tho
regular session and renewed then, to continue, in
all probability, through the session. There is, I'M
fortunately, something and deeper than tho
Senate offices to quarrel over. There is principle
at stake, and one of vital importance. The Demo-
Gratis have treated all suggestions of the possibility
OF General Arthurs death as absurd and farfetched,
but, in view of the fact that the ostensble
purpose i'll calling extra session was to make
provision against just such contingency, the force
of their argument is not apparent. Ihey have
made all haste to push forward man into the
place where he would be the beneficiary of the act
of any possible Gueau OF the future and they have
done this deliberately 1t will not do to say that
the Republicans have sought to do the same thing
in naming one of their own number for the Presi-
dency pro tempore. The people, by undisputed
majority have decided once for themselves and for
the country that they desired t. have a Republican
Administration and the selection of Senator Bayard
orthe hership apparent of the Presidency has vir
tually been done to-day by the Democratic caucus is
open and violent reversal of the Judgment
This Is tile opinion expressed with some Indignation
by Republican Senator'S tonight. THE Demo-
II ~ =
spite of their desire 70 have harmony and peace,
they are reaching out their hands to grasp supreme
power from the hands where it legtimately belongs
and. while may submit to what cannot pre-
vent, yet it ustifes us in resortng to any means
may find available to secure rights"
1t has been said that the question of President
pro tempOre is not important. since il the Pres
dent should die his could only hold office
until there could be a special election Republican
Senators generally think that grave and
impor ant questions involved in the subject Ii
a Democrat could be seated for only six months in
the Executive chair, it would be time enough in
which to turn out of Office every Republican office
holder, and to reverse The entire policy of the Gov
ernment.
The Republican caucus this morning was q short
All the Republican Senators save one were
present. committee, consisting of Messrs. Ed
appointed to confer with any committee the Demo-
Gratis might appoint for the purpose. The Republi-
cans had not decided upon any line of action pre-
vious to the formation of the commit ee,
leaving all matters until they could h,ar from
the Democrats The proposition for conference was
not acted on at once by the Democrats. but after
three-quarters of an hours delay Senators Pendle-
ton, Garland voorhees,. Pugh and Davis, of West
Virginia came from the caucus and met the mem-
bers of the Republican Committee.
Senator Perdeton announced that the Presidency
of the Senate not to be made subject ot dis
| cusson at the conference, inasmueh the Demo-
cratic caucus had already decided hat its members
| should support resolution 10 be offered imme-
diately after assembling on Monday to proceed to
| the election of presiding officer.
Senator Edmunds replied for the Republicans, in
effect that it customary for conferences to
fer and the Republicans did not understand that
they were selected to receive and act upon the flats
of Democratic caucuses
This was the end of the matter. The Republicans
declined to consider subordinate questions when he
chief question was taken out of the conference by
| the act of the Democrats. The Republicans
turned to their room, and when they had made their
report. Senator Anthony was formally selected for
the nomination to the Presidency pro tempore after
which the caucus adjourned until Monday morning.
The Democrats were in caucus during consdcr-
able pOrliol of the afternoon, and reassembled in
| the evening Senator HILL, of Georgia, who was
reported to be unable To talk made a long speech.
| The Dem crlts have been talking nearly all day
about the adviSablity of electng Secre ary before
| swearing in Senators-elect They have been hunt
| ing precedents and talking over the law points IN
| erteasO. They have found, they believe law
under which the Senators are required To take
the oath OF Office bef re President of the Senate,
bat they have not yet found anything under cover
of which they can seize upon the Secretaryship on
| advance of the swearing ia of the Senators.
| This evening Senator Slater arrived and enter
tanned the caucus with long account of his adyen-
lures on his eight days journey from Oregon. The
caucus adjourned without having decided upon any
thug except to elect Senator Bayard % the PreSl-
dency OF the senate in advance OF any other aclon