Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-07
The Dead-Lock at Albany.

The balloting at Albany yesterday
shows,no material change in the situa-
ton, the falling off in Conkling's vote
from twenty-nlne on Saturday to twenty
six being explained by the fact that
several members had paired. The chances
for Conkling and Platt being utterly
hopeless, and there being little prospect
of the half.breeds, as they are called,
agreeing upon candidates who will unite
the Republican vote, the question now
uppermost in the minds of members
seems to be as to how the deadlock may
be broken. The favorite plan of the
Democrats seems to be to pair down
until no quorum is left, when the Legis-
lature, under the existing law of the
State, would be obliged to.adjourn and
leave the choice of Senators to the Leg
islature to be elected next fall. An
Albany dispatch to the Washington Post
dated Friday night, says:
at 10 O'Clock there was reported as effected
twenty eight pairs the greatest number ever
made in political contest in this country.
The fifty six men thus paired are leaving Al
bany for their homes on every outgoing train.
As but four of the pairs are confined to Satur-
day this business leaves forty eight members
out Of the balloting just as long as the aosen-
tees choose. to remain away. Instead
Of disseminating, the pairing is more likely
to increase, especially If hot weather sets
in, ami it may reach that point
at which the joint Assembly VIII be left with
out q Quorum The law ordainS that ballot
bofT ha fol ar laaot 0QV of the
session. It was decided by the half breeds
Lass night, uader the advice of Chauncey NJ.
Depew. that the correct construction OF the
law compelled ballot to be taken every week
day until the Legislature adjourns sine die,
and that if one week day were passed without
a ballot any subsequent election could be held
10 be unlawful and could be successfully con-
tested.
1T was this advice which induced the half
breeds to defeat the motion to adjourn from
Friday noon until Tuesday. The motion was
voted for solidly by the Democrats and stall
warts. and was regarded with suspicion by the
half breeds as a device to prevent the election
of half breed candidates, not so much by open
opposition or coalition as by entrapping them
into fatal blunder. The question now raised
is whether the present extraordinary pairing
process is not new device to accomplish the
same end. If it goes on, the number OF As
semblymen present at joint conference NAV
be reduced below eighty-one, which is the
number required by law to make quo
rum without which there can be no bal
loting. The query is: II on any day there be
no quorum, and on that account there can be
no ballot taken on that day, as the law re-
Quires to be taken every day. will not that fact
disqualify the present Legislature from sub
sequently electing Senators, and will it not
subject any subsequent election they effect to
q successful contest? This question is being
seriously discussed, the more so as nearly
every pair made has been made at the solicita-
ton of the Democrats, who give all sorts of
urgent reasons for wishing to get home.
Robertson is doing all he can to put stop to
any further pairing, and says many of the
pairs already made are not the best that could
have been made.
1.-THE twenty-eight pairs already made re-
duce the vote in the joint Assembly from 1l9,
at the close of to-day's voting to 80, a close
approach to quorum of 81. Seven more pairs
added TO the list will reduce the vote below a
quorum, and there can be no ballot. 1t is held
tnat after that point is passed no lawful cleo
ton can be had. This shows the possibilities
of political finesse in the present contest.
Should the fears regarding this pairing be
well founded, and should the Democrats and
stalwarts persist successfully in it, it may
prove the most subtle aud ingenious method
of defeating an adversary ever devised in poll
tics ~