The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-10-08
THE NEWS.
Senator Bayard to be Pres
ident of the Senate.
Indictment against Guiteau
Presented to-day.
Fires, Accidents and Various
Other Notes.
SENATORIAL CAUCUS.

with quite an attendance. At least not
more than democrats and republicans
being absent. The three new Senators
Lapham, Miller and Aldrich were at the
republican caucus. After remaining in ses-
sion an hour or more inidiscussing the stu
alton, the republicans appointed com
mite to confer with democratic commit
tee on general subjects of organization. The
caucus then took recess for an hour. But
little disposition was shown in the repubh-
can caucus to offer any unreasonable
opposition to the election of democratic
president protenapore, before the new SEN
ators are sworn in.
THE DRIFT
of the discussion points to a respectful and
firm protest against such action on the
part of the democrats and not to fillibuster
toprevent it.
The democrats still remain in session
and have decided to proceed with the elec-
ton of president pro tenn, as the first step
Monday next Bayard was unanimously
decided upon as their candidate.
THE PRoGAMME.
chairman 1e0Ql6IOu sO1 Tic QelnOC1 dl4S
caucus thinks the democrats will determine
to elect president of the senate the first
thing Monday, and then will swear in the
new senators. He also thinks that the
democrats will not, at the special session,
offer to go into the election of the secretary
of the senate unless the republicans
enforce it by endeavoring to elect one of
their party. In this case, he says the
democrats would nominate and vote for
candidate IF none but minor nominations
are sent to the senate, Pendleton thinks
they would be confirmed, viva voce, and
the formation of committees delayed until
December.
DEMOCRATIC.
In the Democratic caucus there were
only five absentees, Fair, Farley, Slater,
Grover and Ransom. The sentiment in
favor of electlng Bayard president of the
senate the firstthing on Monday was over
whelming. 1t was agreed to, without even
suggestion to the contrary 1t was then
formally resolved that Bay ard be elected.
The next question was of the right of dem
ocrats to elect secretary of the senate be-
fore swearing in the new senators. This
was taken up anda longdiscussion ensued-
Some senators held that the secretary should
be properly elected before the swearing in
of new senators, and others that it would
be right of the new senators to partici-
pate in their election. This positive action
of the democrats will probably render un
nf a
committee. The matter of selecting sec
retray and of forming committees, viii
probably be left for discussion after the
organization of the senate.
Democratic caucus, after appointing the
conference committee, adjourned.
COMMITTEES.
The democratic caucus appointed com
mittee consisting of Senators Pendleton,
Garland, Voorhees,, Pugh and Davis of
West Va, to meet republican committee
and confer with them in relation to the
senate organization. Senators Edmonds,
Logan, Allison, Sherman and McMillon
composed the republican committee.
The democrats did not confer on their
committee any authority whatever to enter
into any negotiations or arrangements but
simply, they say, as a matter of courtesy
to meet the republican committees The
democrats did net recede from their con-
Sclusion to elect Bayard and several of
them say they will not. Both caucuses
have taken recesses for committees to meet.
Senator Edmunds, in. behalf of the Re-
publican baucus, has sent communica
ton to Chairman Pendleton; of the Demo
cratic caucus, informing him that the he
publicans had taken a recess to hear from
the democrats as to what course they in
tend to pursue, and that they are ready To
receive any communication or any commit
tee of theirs for the purpose of a confer
ence. The Democrcts are now consider
ing the Republican proposition for con-
ference.
SOME DEMOCRATS
favor conference, but it is urged that if
they meet the republicans they must not do
so with any previously arranged pro-
sTanme' The important question under
o1scusslon Is whether the democrats shall
all stand by their plan of proceedings,
with the election of a President for the
purpose of meeting the republican confer
ence. Some favor doing this, while others
insist upon sticking to the programme of
the election of Bayard. All agree, how
ever, that if they consent by going to con-
ference they must do so without any nre-
arranged plans, and thus submit the whole
question to the conference
THE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
informed the republican committee that
they coul1 confer only on the understand
ing to start with. that democrats must
elect the President pro TEN, that the demo-
cratic caucus would not make any conces-
SION as to the President but insisted upon
the election OF their man. The republi
cans refused to enter into the conference
on this basis, saying they desired to con-