Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-28
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE U. 8.
SENATE

Tie organization Of the new Senate,
which will probably take place imme-
diately after the inauguration OF Gen.
GARFIELD. is occupying the attention Of
politicians quito as closely as the inau-
guration itself. The political complex
ION of the Senate il, Democrats IS,
Republicans 81, Independents, the latter
DAVID DAVIS and MALONE, having the
balance Of power. Should DAVIS side
with the Democrats aud MALONE with
the Republicans, the Democrats would
have one majority, bu, should both OF
them vote with the Republicans, the
latter would have On3 majority.
But the death Of Senator CARPESTER
disarranges the plans, which 1t Is be-
lieved had been made for a reorganiza
tior OF the Senate after the Ilh of March.
/, has been the invariable custom for
the outgoing Pr, sidtut to call an extra
ordinary session Of the Senate on the
4th of March, 10 confirm the Cabinet
Officers of the new Administration, and
such other important appointments as
he may choose 70 make at the beginning
of his term. The Forty sixth Congress
expires at noon on March 1, the end OF
the third Legislative day Of the month.
The new Vice President is sworn in few
moments before noon on the 4th; the
proclamation converting the extraordin-
ary session Of the Senate is read, and
when the new Legislative day begins
the Senators elected from the 4th OF
March take the cath, and the Senate as
sists in tine Inauguration OF the Pres.
dent. II is believed that the RepubL-
cans intended, shortly after March 4th,
to attempt the election Of new officers OF
the senate, relying upon the votes OF
Senator MAuoNE and Vice President
ARTHUR to give them majority for that
purpose. Mr.. CARPENTERS death rem
ders it impossible to adopt such a pre-
yramme unless the President should
deem il wise not To convene an extra
ordinary session OF the Senate on the
4th of March. The Wisconsin Legisla-
ture is now in session, consequently the
Governor cannot appoint. Under the
Law the Legislature cannot elect until
the second Tuesday after the vacancy
occurs. Even should there be no pro-
tracted struggle for the honor OF filling
Mr.. CARPESTEk's seat, a new Sesator
cannot be sworn in from Wisconsin be-
fore the 18th of March. The two
Houses OF the Legislature will meet
separately on the S.h proximO to choose
. Senator. IL there is no delay the
Houses will elect in joint convention on
the dav following. Three days will
necessarily elapse before the credentials
teach Washington, and the new Senator
can he sworn i'm. Ii the President con-
venes an extra session on the 18th OF
March the Democrats, being ina major
itv, will Immediately proceed to the
reorganization of the committees.
The Executive business will be
disposed OF, and the Senate will adjourn,
placing it out Of the powerOt the Repub-
licans to reorganize until next winter,
and possibly not for long time to come.
Changes in the strength OF the two par
ties in the Senate NAV occur before next
December. 1t is within the power Of
Mr.. HAYES to give the Republican party
material assistance at this iuncture.
The Senate is perpetual body, and the
presence of the twenty-five Senator's,
whose new terms begin on the 4th of
March is not indispensable TO the insug-
prstiou of Gen. GARFIKLD. Mr.. HAYES,
by calling an extraordinary session Of
the Senate to meet on the 18th Of March,
or by calling no session whatever, lesv-
ing that duty to be performed by the
President-elect, would obyiate the diff
culty. In so doing, howeN r. the prece-
dents Of the past would be disregarded.