Daily globe., 1881-05-18
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, May 7.-Senator Davis
West Virginia, after reading the of journal in
quired ironically of Dawes whether he was
now ready to proceed with consider
tion of the resolution for election of Senate
| officers.
Senator Dawes replied that whatever the
majority of the Senate should decide that re-
| solution he would bow to. He would not be
found resisting the will of the Senate itself
If the Senator from West Virginialhad become
from an accidental occurrence, on the Re-
| publican side, ready to submit to the will oi
| the majority, because he believed that there
was majority on his side, he (Dawes) had moi
a word to say, but was willing to bow to the
majority for him, or against hun.
Senator Davis said he was glad the Senator
| from Massachusetts was willing to proceed
with the pending business, which he has been
SO anxious to get on with during the past
months.
Senator Dawes regretted that the Senator
was anxious to expose the ground on which
he stood. One would suppose that when a
United States Senator took a position incon-
sistent, radically, with the fundamental prin-
| ciples of the government, that the majority
should not rule unless the minority would do
| as he wanted, he would not be ambitious to
| discover himself in the minority. He Oawes)
would remind the Senator that the scriptures
spoke in no .commendable terms of men who
| made themselves bare to the gaze of an indlg-
| nant public, exposing themselves and their
| shame. The Senator had had no
higher ground for his opposi-
| tion to the resolution that that he
was conscious that the result up to yesterday
would be against him, and now he wakes up
| to an alarming and new zeal for the passage
of the resolution, simply because an accident
al IN had
| cured. But as far as he Dawes) was con-
cerned, no motion which the Senator might
make in regard to the resolution would meet
with any opposition beyond the force of his
vote.
Davis regretted that the Senator should
have referred to the scriptures to support him.
1t did not come from the right direction.
He would like to know how long this "acci-
dental' majority was going to continue
The Democrats had had this "accidentap'
| majority three or four times. He had ask
| ed more in pleasantly than otherwise
whether the Senator from Mississippi desired
| to proceed to the consideration of his resolu
tion. He Davis had no wish to force the
question.
Mr.. Dawes moved to 60 into executive ses-
session and declined to yield to Burnside to
call up his inter-oceanc canal resolution.
Burnside therefore said he would call it up to-
one way or the other. The Senate then went
into executive session.
When the doors reopened Senator Saunders
submitted the following preamble and resolu-
ton, which was ordered printed
WHEREAS, the auditor of railroad accou nts
in letter dated February ID, 1881, and ira ns-
mitted by the secretary of the interior to Con-
gress on February Is, 1881, sets forth that
| while the amount of earnings of the Union
nj fin haa
| 1874, that of the Central Pacific has nearly
as steadily decreased and,
WHEREAS, In this same connection, it Is
also set forth that this is owing partly tor the
fact that the Central Pacific has diverted
| business from subsidiary roads to leased lines,
| which leased lines are principally owned by
| the Central Pacific, who are paid high rentals
| therefor; and,
WHEREAS, The commissioner of railroad
accounts recommends the secretary of the in
terror to include in his recommendation, to
wit: that the sinking fund law of May 7th be
changed as relates to the amount required
from the Central Pacific, that so per cent. OF
| the net earnings of that company be applied 10
the payment of the debt instead of 25 per cent
as the law now is; therefore be it
| RESOLVED, That the committee on judiciary
of the Senate be directed to inquire into these
matters, and particularly touching the rela
leased lines and other corporations, and espe
cially those lines and corporations in which its
stockholders are enterested, and report to the
Senate at the next regular session what, il
their judgment, is proper and necessary tc
most effectively protect the interests of tht
United States.
Senator Morgan offered resolution, which
was printed, looking TO the classification o.
officers and employees of the general land of
flee.
Senator Cockerell offered a resolution calling
on the secretary of war for a report of tht
survey of the Usage river. Adopted.
Senator Bayard offered the following, whicl 1
was laid on the table for future action:
RESOLVED, That a committee consisting o.
two Senator's be appointed by the chair to wai
upon the President and inquire if he has any
other business to lay before the Senate. Ad
| journed.