Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-15

As all the bills that are introduced in Con-
gress must, under the rules. be referred 10
committees for consideration and report. il ia
apparent that the various committees have
immense power in shaping legislation. In
deed, the interests Of the country have be-
come so vast and the two Houses SO numeri-
cally large, that nearly all the legislation of
Congress is now performed by the commit
tees. In the 10th Congress, lust closed the
Democrats had majority of every commit
tee in each house, and, consequently, bills
that were deemed to be in any way opposed
to the interests of that party were either new
er reported or reported adversely, the Dem
ocratic majority In both houses sustaining the
reports. In the present Congress the Demo.
Gratis concede the control of the committees.
with all their power, to the Republicans.
Even in the Senate, where the two parties
are evenly divided and the Vice President has
the casting vote, the Democrats, at the open
ing OF the present session, acknowledged that
a majority upon the committees and their
chairmanships belonged to the Republicans.
This was not any act of courtesy. TWAS the
concession of right to the Republicans 10
control the Senate, and the Democrats sur
rendered the power which they could no
longer hold.
The right to appoint the committees car
ried with it the right TO elect the officers of
the Senate, as each depended on the voting
power of the Republicans but when the
election was attempted the Democrats at once
changed front, stultifed themselves in their
recent action, denied that the other party had
the requisite majority to carry such an cleo
ton, and, for forty days, by flibustering ex-
pedients, have prevented the Republicans
from completing the organization, which it
was agreed by both sides, they had the right
TO begin.
Is this great struggle, which is threatened
to be prolonged until the regular session in
December, merely for the few offices of the
Senate, or for something more important?
If nothing were involved but the offices, the
Republicans would very likely waive them
till December, although they are entitled to
them and probably can secure them with as
little difficulty now as at the regular session.
But much more is at stake. Senator Malone
Is the leader OF new era in Virginia and in
the South. His advent upon the political
arena of the nation is the signal of a depart
ure by large element in the Southern states
from the Bourbon Democracy which has
ruled that section of the country so long. He
comes announcing as the grand article Of his
faith, IAN honest vote and fair count" In
this he and the Republican party are in full
sympathy and accord Because he and Col
Riddleberger are the fearless advocates of
this doctrine the denuneiations of all the
Southern Senators have been hurled upon
them day by day during the entire session.
They well know that with free ballot and a
fair count Bourbon rule is ended, and they
mean 70 break these men down and to teach
all Malone Independents that they and their
doctrines will not be tolerated
On the other hand, the Republicans are
bound to give Malone and Riddleberger their
full support, and by the election of the lat
ter to the Office of sergeant-at-arns, to confer
upon him whatever prestige and influence at
tach to that Office, to aid in Carrying Virginia
in the fall election, and, more than this, 10 en-
courage the spirit of liberty throughout all
the South. On the one side, then, it is a
struggle to secure fair elections, on the other
a struggle TO prevent them.