Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-03-30
POOR BILLY MAHONEO OUGHT TO
GO AND LIVE WITH HIS
FRAUDULENCY.
SENATE.
WAsUINGTON March

WASHINGTON, March II.
Mr.. McGill, of Iowa, and Cameron,
of Wisconsin, took the oath of office.
Mr.. Pendleton called up the resolu-
tlon previously offered by him relative
to the reorganization of committees.
Mr.. Pendleton made brief speech
regarding the various rumors afloat
concerning the organization of the SEN
ate. He did not know what arrange.
ments, or prohers, or suggestions had
been made or accepted, but the omni-
present and omniscient gentlemen of
the press had whispered about the
Capitol and bad put into their news
papers that there had been unusual
and extraordinary visits to the other
end OF the avenue, and they had con.
nected the name Of q distinguished
Senator with the dispensation Of Fed.
oral patronage and the organization of
the Senate. 1t had been whispered
that there had been conference in
the Capitol in which champagne and
satisfaction had been equally present
and those too had been connected with
the statements as TO the organization
Of the Senate. He did not know what
proof there could be TOR these sugges.
tions, but they had filled the air for
the last few days. The imputation
which had been put on the Democratic
members was without foundation.
This attempt to organize the Senate
was an honest attempt to do great
public duty, duty enjoined by the
Constitution, by the rules of the SEN
ate and by patriotic desire to exc.
cute speedily and properly and intelli.
gently by the Republican party had
chosen and had convened the Senate.
1t was an effort to discharge public
duty, failure to do which would sub.
ject the Democratic members of the
Senate to weird criticisms of the coun.
try for being willing to paralyzc one
great body of the State, either by rea.
son Of imbecility or something worse.
He argued the working machinery of
the Senate was incomplete without the
formation Of the committees. Never
had an extra session of the Senate last.
ed until the 14th of March without
committees having been organized.
The Democratic Senators were now
met with the proposition that if they
would withhold a number OF votes Of
the Senators who were here present
equal to the vacancies which existed
in this body and pair their active Sen.
ators with the gentlemen who were
not elected and might not be, than the
duty Of organizing the Senate might
be performed, The Democratic ma
jority had sought to fulfill its duty by
organizing the Senate. This was the
foundation for the imputation that it
was seizing with undue haste and
wrongful spirit on the power which
the organization OF the Senate gave.
1t had been met first by obstruction,
next by points Of order, and now by
proposition which was unparalleled in
the history of this Congress or any
other legislative body, of which he had
ever heard, 1t was not for HIM to say
at this moment how that proposition |
should be received, but he would say
1t was most extraordinary one, cal. |
culated from dangerous precedent.
This proposition to establish system
Of pairing active Senators with men
who had not been elected would awak.
on apprehension, il it should be accept.
ed, hereafter. He, for one, here and |
now, entered bis most solemn warning
in order that it might not grow into a
precedent.
Mr.. Bayard called attention to the
fact that the Senate had been oonven.
cd by Republican President, not at
the request or representation of the
Democratic members of this body.
The President had performed the func
tions Of his office and had sent in the
promptly, without hesita.
tion. The Senate had confirmed the
Cabinet appointments, but other nom.
nations had been sent to the Senate,
and should be acted upon. If the Re.
publicans could show they had ma.
iOrity, the Democrats would readily,
hesitation, without flibuster-
ing, hand over the power they had ex-
ercised for two years. lie hoped the
Republicans would not think so badly
Of their Democratic colleagues as TO
say they were ohattering about the
Of that body for n few
poor days or weeks. What had they
10 gain from control Of the Senate for
he next ten days. Money! Not a
iarthing. Power2 None. But to con.
firm the nominations Of the Republican
President. Referring to the PROPOSE.
lion that tho Democrats should with.
hold number Of votes equal TO the
number Of vacant seats on the Repub-
lean side, he thought il rather dan
yorous TO stretch tho rules of the COM
nitteo so as to agree 10 count as mem
bers persons who are not and may
never be members.
A motion made by Mr.. Allison that
The Senate 60 into an Executive ses.
zion was supported by the Republicans
md opposed by tho Democrats. Quite
l sensation was created by tho fact
hat Mr.. Malone voted with tho Re.
publicans. There was slight applause
n the galleries, but promptly checked.
The motion was reiected-yeas 80,