The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-10-01
The United States senate.

who attend.
The United States senate.
Wheeling Register.
The organization Of the Senate,
which body ought to be convened by
President Arthur at an early day, is
a matter that is just now eliciting
general comment.
The country is interested to know
who will be the next man selected to
stand in the line of succession to the
Presidency next to Mr.. Arthur, and
from what party he will be chosen,
Democratic or republican.
The Washington Euening Star of
the goth inst. says:
'.There has been a good deal of cor
respondence going on among Demo
cratic senators of late in regard to the
organization of the Senate. Several
letters have been received in the past
few days from senators who have
been making canvass OF the Demo
cratic members Of the Senate to as
certain how they intend voting when
the Senate meets. The canvassing
has developed the fact that there is
not a bit of sentiment among the
Democrats as regards what action
they shall pursue. They all give it
as their opinion that the Senate shall
proceed to the organization before the
two new senators from New York
and the senator to be appointed from
Rhode Island to succeed Senator
Burnside, all of whom will be repub-
licans, are admitted. Senator Gar
land is the only Democrat who is
thought to entertain any other view
than this. He is only reported to be
in favor of allowing the new senators
to be sworn in before going into or
ganization. Senator Beck says there
is not single Democrat who enter
tains this view. The first step under
these circumstances will be to elect
President of the Senate pro tenn,
who will also be Vice President.
Upon this point there has been a
good deal Of canvassing among the
Democrats. The general drift of SEN
timent evoked is that Senator Bayard
is the member of the Senate who is
generally favored for that Office"
The accession of Mr.. Arthur to
the Presidency leaves the Senate with
3S Democrats, including David Da-
Wis, and SO republicans, including
Malone, and the new senators from
New York and Rhode Island.
The three latter, however, cannot
be sworn in until after President
pro TEN. has been elected. The Uni
ted States Statute at Large provides
"Section %. The oath of office
shall be administered by the Presi-
dent Of the Senate to each Senator
who shall hereafter be elected, previ-
Gus to his taking his seat"
Therefore until q President pre-
tenn. is elected to swear in the new
senators, the body will stand SO Dem
ocrats, including David Davis, and
30 republicans, including Mrhone.
The Democrats will thus have g
majority Of three and are entitled tc
the presiding officer as we'll as the
Secretary and other officers they
may choose to appoint. They viii
come into possession of this advan
tagc not by any sharp management
or political trickery, but honestly
and fairly through the ever shifting
mountains of time to which all par
ties are subject. They owe nothing
to their political opponents in thu
way of concessions in the organiza
ton. They will simply proceed &C
cording to law in the discharge 0
this duty and each sitting membe
will vote his preferences for presid
ing officer. They could not admi
the new senator's until after Presi
dent is chosen, if they would. Their
would be no officer to entertain mo
ton or to swear in the new member
until one is regularly elected.
Moreover the Senate was so event.
balanced between the two parties a
the last session that it was impossi
BILE to transact any business when tn
party lines were drawn. Now sine
the scales have been tipped in favo
of the Democrats by force Of circum
stances. there can be no valid reaso
why a Democrat should jump owe
into the other balance out of mer
sympathy or sentiment toward tn
republicans. Time and circumstanc
has turned an evenly balanced bod
and broken the dead lock. Let tn
verdict stand. Let the Democrat
elect man who will both grace tn
presiding officers chair and give cor
fidence to the public that in the ever
of succeeding to the Presidency tn
government will be safe in his hands
They will accomplish all this by tn
election of Senator Bayard to the pr
sition.
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