Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-24
THE SENATE PATRONAGE.
Struggle for the OFFICES.
Democrats Resisting n Change.

toE Edmunds the democrats win still have It In
their power to prevent the success OF the
movement Dy breaking quorum.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM.
The democratic Senators In their caucus de
termined to begin their resistance of the repub-
1can program to elect officers by making
repeated motions and demanding the yeas and
nays on each one. 1t was pointed out that
more effective method would be to refrain from
voting and thus leave the Senate without a
quorum. Mr.. Bayard objected to this. saying
he believed 1t the duty OF Senators to vote on
every proposition. The more aggressive demo-
Gratis, however, insisted upon the plan OF break
ing quorum II that procedure became
necessary, and the determination to break a
quorum If 1t becomes advisable was expressed
by some democrats. There was no apparent
weakness In the democratic ranks
Interesting Proceedings atTo-day,s
Session OF the Senate.
In anticipation OF a contest over the election
of Senate officers to-day, the Senate galleries
were crowded and many were pressing from
the corridors for admission. When Mr.. Dawes
called up his resolution for the election of
officers
SPEECH OF Mr.. DAVIS, OF ILLINOIS.
Mr.. Davis, OF Illinois. said: ON recent occa-
sion l stated the reasons that determined my
vote On the organization OF the senate, not ex-
PectlDg TO satisfy a class OF politicians accu5-
toned to party discipline, and unable to appre-
Glate fl6, lfee thought and independent action:
Ialr criticism Is always entitled to respect, ana
the public man who shrinks from 1t, even when
harsh, does not deserve forbearance. An at
tempt has oesa made to have it appear
TO the Senate contained a republican ma.
joritY, and that the state OF Illinois on
the popular vote was also largely republican.
Both these assumptions are unfounded. The
legislature at that time stood as follows, ac-
cOrdng to the official compilation OF the sec.
letary OF state: RepUblieans-senate q; house,
pendents-senate, 5; house, .. 1t is thus seen
that the republicans and the democrats were
almost equally divided and tnat a few inde-
pendents turned the scale. For President,
Cooper Il 1888 votes Hayes clear Ina iortty was
;S9s III a pol OF over half million.
These These tgures prove how closely bal
More than 90 per cent Of the votes voluntarily
cast Tor me as Senator were from democrats.
Without pledges. conditions or correspondence
cal antecedents, and they also knew that
neither the honor which was freely conferred
upon ne nor any other distinction that could
be offered would alter any conviction / had
termed or defect me from the course OF duty as
1t appeared TO my best Judgment. Having ac-
cepted THIS generous trust under these cltcum-
stances. good faith required Inc 10 sustain the
organization of the Senate as it had existed Ia
the last Congress. No principle was Involved
but merely the control OF committees and OF
oliieefs: ! nave voted steadily against Change.
End shall continue In that way until the end
Is reached, being answeraDle only 10 my con-
science and to my constituents for this act.
what my friend, the distinguished Senator
tulIonal majority Was. disclosed 'Unnsil When
III TITS ocGS yfs ne cssDs asf vss sn9sr Fer e
committees. However tieetlng Or fractional
that majority may De we are commanded to ac-
cept i, and to obey IT, The ma jority that chosc
ne committees IS fairly entitled TO choose the
olncefS Oh The senate. one naturally goes with
hn rz,-
This conclusion Will L5ither be delayed nor ob.
structed by any vote OF mine. and Il cannot be
leached TOO soon for the puoiic interest. 10
not regret at all that the new administration
which has to confront the country with its
policy should have control OF both
branches OF Congress The responsibility FOR
measures TO be proposed cannot be avoided .rlth
the power to Initiate all legislation. The ma
ioTiry is rot large enough to indulge n rash
experiments, and the minority IS suficentiy
strong TO check any tendency 10 excess BE
tween these two elements the great voice OF in-
dependent opinion can always &c heard wifh
effect, and the country has every prospect OF
peace and prosperity.
REMARKS HY Mr.. PENDI.ET0S.
Mr.. Pendleton hoped that the Senator from
Massachusetts would not press bis resolution
which would obstruct The transaction OF bu5i-
ness which the Senate had been cal ed to trans
act.
Mr.. Dawes said that It was In order to bring
this executive session 10 a close As n,IiclZlv as
possible; that he felt 1t his duty TO press this
resolution which looked to the proper organi-
Zation OF the Senate.
Mr. Pendieton said that he desired to expe-
dlte public business, and for that reason wished
that the resolution should be laid aside 80 be
called up when The Senate should have done
That Which IL had been convened to do. When
Tie resolution was offered yesterday he had
supposed that IL was intended as a kind
OF reminder to the democratic side OF
the III chamber ;Ii3t that ,, the po*er had passed
dmprOperly. he thoughO the "constitutional
majority was With the republicans. He had
Considered 1t as a gentle reminder that the
democrats had no monopoly OF the distinction
which had been go frequently commented
upon, that confederate brigadiera sat only on
their side-that they were no longer TO hear
the statement that the majority ruled the Sen
ate, the caucus the majority, and the confede-
rate brigadlers the caucus. 1t had rather
,st see med IL, 10 m him that the Introduction of the
resolution had meant 70 give notice OF one OF
two things-either that the control OF tae
caucus was exercised in other than democratic
caucuses, or that the republicans were as well
pleased WITH the eApe,iment which they
to 90 a little farther by giving ne Ihe
Senate and the confederate brigAdier to
preserve order on the lioor. without the least
disposition to transgfess in any degree the de-
corum and moderation which should charae.
ter!ze the intercourse Of Senators, he would saw
that this resolution would not speedily pass
the Senate.
Tlereupon Nj Harris, declaring that his
understanding was that the main. IL not the
oHlt, opject vi Inc SptClai session was the con-
Sideration or executive business moved that
the Senate go into executive session.
L0st-yeas 81, nays 33--Mahone and Davis
ulil voting With the republicans In the mega
tive.
Mr. BRCk ON Mr.. RIDDLEBERGER
After explaining that he thought the
Onces ought to go with The committees Mr.
beck alluded TO the nomination OF ktddIeberCer
a democratic readjuster. who had originated
and supported q bill for cutting of portion of
Nug1nlas debt, which was vetoed by the gov
ernor, because OF It's repudlating features. Mr.
Beck moved 10 adjourn. which was defeated
oy vote or 50 to 81. Mr.. Jones. OF Florida,
read from the proclamation OF President Hayes
the words convenlng the special session for The
consideration OF such communications as would
De sent from the Executive. lie had observed
that an executive communication had just been
Tecel1eo, and was Oh the Vice President'S desk:
therefore. hc moved to go Into executive ses-
sion.
TIE VOTE.
The vote On Senator Jones motion wa,
strictly partisan, the democrats voting aye and
tie republicans no. The motion was defeated
by the casting vote Of the Vice President. Il
having been made tie by MI Davis, OF HI,
voting aye with the democrats Mr. Harris,
said that fnaSmuch as the Vice PraStdaDt "