New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-10-11


The United States Senate met in special
session yesterday and the Democrats carried
out their purpose of excluding the Republican
Senators-elect from New-York and Rhode
Island from the privilege Of taking part in the
organization. Mr.. Bayard was elected Presi-
dent pro tempore. The Secretary of the
Treasury has issued a circular relatiYe to the
redemption of bonds. The movement to erect
at Washington hospital. as a memorial of
General Garfield is taking definite shape.
THE MEETING OF THE SENATE.
THREE REPUBLICAN SENATORS DENIED THE RIGHT
TO TAKE PART IN THE oRGANIzATION-MI.
EDMUYDs PROTESTS WITHOUT AVAIL AGAINST
AN ARBITRARY USE OF PowER-MR. BAYARD
ELECTED PRESIDENT
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The first act in the politi-
cal drama now on the boards at the Capitol was
played to-day exactly in accordance with the Demo-
cratic caucus programme. Senator Bayard was
elected TO the Presidency of the Senate and to the
heirshp presumptive of the Chief Magistracy of the
Nation. The Senate was called to order at II
o'clock, and at quarter before o'clock the newly
elected presiding officer was escorted to the chair,
upon assuming which he drew from his pocket some
sheets of paper from which he read q speech, thank
ferred upon him. and promising to do his best in the
situation to which he had been called.
His position is not an enviable one. The
means adopted to place him in it were
such as to justify the resort to any means which
honorable Republicans devise TO Oust him. and
il is certain that tn will be the watch constant
ly for an opportunity Moreover, the honor which
should attach to such n position is more than neu-
tralized by the calamitous nature of the circum
stances which created the Democratic opportunity
so eagerly seized upon.
The debate was not an exciting one, and in the
nature of the case could not be- for every feature of
the situation had been exhaustively canvassed by
the press in advance. Some things were shown,
however, which 1t is well TO note. Senator Ed
munds, who was the only Republican speaker,
made il very plain, by extorting adj
missions from the Democrats that they
deliberately excluded two States from partici-
patton in the business for which the Senate was
convened IN extra session, simply because their ad
mission woald make it impossible for the Democrats
20 turn the occasion to their advantage. IL was
admitted that the Senate might, if it chose so to do,
administer the Oaths of Office 10 the three Senator's
elect before proceeding to the election of presiding
officer; this admission being frankly made by
Senator Garland. 1t was made plain to all who
listened that TO law requiring the election OF pro-
siding officer before admitting the SenatorS-elect
existed. The law OF 1889, upon which the
Democrats had relied for their justification,
was shown to have been passed by Senate
no member OF which had then AIKEN the oath of Of
fee. and signed by a presiding officer not at the
time under official oath While precedeDts for
either O. the two causes were abundant, 1t was
shown that in no instance where the question had
been raised, had the Senate ever refused to admit
ffalo nnltgpmtp1
their seats in advance of the transaction Of the reg
ular business of the Senate 1t was shown that the
precedent now being established might lead by legal
processes TO the exclusion of three, four
or even twenty States from their rights
under the Constitution; that, If the SEN
ators-elect were excluded from participation
in the first regular act of session, so they might
with equal justice be excluded from subsequent
participation in the proceedings, and the exclusion
might continue during the entire term for which
the Senators were elected.
The position of the Democrats was simply and
avowedy this An accident and the folly of GER
tain Republicans have deprived certain States for
the moment Of their constitutional representation
here and although the vacancies have been made
good In 40 far as the States themselves are con-
cerned yet propose 10 secure certain advantages
which have been refused to us by the people at the
The debate was courteous throughout and
was without noticeable incident. The purpose
of the Democrats 10 seize the Presidency was fully
known, and thoir power to do IL was acknowledged
by the Republicans The sole purpose OF the debate
was to place upon record the motives of the Demo
Gratis, and this was slalfully done by Mr. Edmunds,
as all who read the debates will admit The vote OF
Senator Davis of Illinois, was the only unknown
quantity in tho problem. and his course was
watched closely not because his single vote could
change the result hut because future action might
hinge upon It, Consistently with his avowal OF last
session Judge Davis voted with the Republicans
upon all questions of principle but when 1t came 10
men he aDstanod from voting. Now that Mr.. Bay
ard is seated IL is not probable that judge DAVIS
will vote to displace him. Should the RepuDncans'
however, after securing the admission OF tne oehA-
tOrs-eect, conclude TO nominate Judge DAVIS hiiii-
self for to position OF President pro teinporc ino
proprietics aud customs of the Senate, Tor Whicn
Senator Davis has "a high regard, wOu!u,. WllhouC
doubt, influence him 10 abstain from Young upon
his own candidacy. This, should no accident nter-
vene to reduce the Republican mem bers, would give
them majority and Mi. Bayards glory would he Oh
brief duration. -. -, NJ,
Ednunds renewed his motion that the oath OF oihce
be administered TO the Senators-eiect iroin New
York and Rhode Island. MIR. PehdlcIoh lhterP0Sod
n motion to adjourn. Senator Hoar asked IL IL
would not bo an act of dscourtesy To tue fresidehI
to adjourn without formally notllylng mn hlin
of the organization Of the senate. SchS VI W
dleton intimaUed his Willingness TO withdraw ms
motion for the purpose suggested, but SENATOR
Edmunds asserted that the right Oh the WAITING
Senatoe-elect involved questions of higher prlv-
lege even than the notification TO the freslueht,
whereupon Mr.. Pcndeton renewed ms motion W
adjourn, order he said, TO give the senators sn
opportunity to examine the credentials oil the new
Senator's 81, s, q
There are two reasons for the refusal Oh
the Democrats to admit the new senators,
after the election of presiding officer. They nave
not yet fully determined in their own minds wheter
il will be safe and expedient to go on ana solzo .1
Sccrearysnip while they have the opportunity anu
they wish to consider the possibility of defeating
any movement of the Republicans oking 10 the
elevation Of Judge DAVIS to the rresiaJnoy, py
withholding for an indefinite period the lght Oh al