Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-24
THE NEXT SENATE.
SpeculatiOns Regarding Its Complexion
senator Davis Successor.

senator Davis Successor.
Washington Dispatch to Boston Herald.
The complexion of the various State
Legislatures is a matter of considerable
interest among politicians who are can
vassing the probabilities as to the COM
pleXiOn of the Senate after the 4th of
March next. For day or two there has
been considerable doubt expressed as to
the Illinois Legislature, which, in the
general smash-up, many Republicans
were disposed to yield to the Demo-
Gratis, along with everything else.
1t has been maintained for months,
among many of the friends of
Senator David Davis, that the
Legislature is not Democratic, but
would have a majority Of mixed Indepen-
dents, Democrats and PrOhibitiOnists, the
result Of which would be Senator Davis
reelection. That position has finally been
abandoned, however, in view of the ad-
vices to the effect that the Legislature was
certainly Republican on joint ballot, and
the question of Senator Davis successor,
as acting Vice President, has assumed
new interest. 1t was supposed that should
he by any chance be reelected to the
Senate, he might again be chosen as pre-
siding officer, but this is now considered
out of the question. The Republican eau
Gus nominee for the position of Vice
President pro tempOre will undoubt-
edly be Senator Anthony, of Rhode
Island, who is the senior
member of the body, and
was unanimously supported at the begin
ming of the last session, when the Demo-
Gratis, being in the majority, elected Sena-
tor Bayard, who occupied the seat for
three days. The Republicans then, in
caucus, decided to change their tactics,
and moved the election of David Davis,
who. declining to vote, effected his own
a tie. Counting him with the Democrats,
and Malone with the Republicans, should
the Senate not have a Republican major
ity on the 4th of March next, the Demo-
Gratis will probably, in retaliation
for the trick by which Senator
Bayard was Ousted, vote for him, and
Democrat Will thus be acting as Vice
President, and will stand first in the sue
cessiOn for the Presidency should accident
or resignation make a vacancy at the
White House. The following Senator's
gan, ChilcOtt, Salisbury, the successor
to Senator Hill of Georgia, David Davis,
McDill, Beck, Kellogg, Frye, Hoar,
Ferry, Window, Lamar, Saunders, Rollins,
Mcpherson, Ransom, Grover, Anthony,
Butler, Coke, Johnston and Davis of West
Virginia. Another has been chosen to
succeed himself, Dolph, Republican, in
place of Grover, Democrat, Riddleberger,
in place of Johnston, Democrat, and
Randall Gibson, Democrat, in place of
Kellogg. The Republicans, counting
David Davis successor, would thus gain
one and lose one, and the Senate would
then stand forty Republicans and Read
justers to thirty-siX Democrats, This is
with the presumption that all the South
ern States may be safely relied upon to
elect Democratic successors to their out
going Senators, about which there is not
the slightest question. The returns
also indicate the reelection of SEN
ators Mcpherson and salisbury from New
Jersey and Delaware. Maine, Minnesota,
Michigan and other Northern States
which elect Senators next winter must
also return Republicans, without eXcep-
tiOn, to insure this result. The reports
from Colorado and Nebraska, each of
which elects a Senator during the coming
winter, tends to cast doubts about-the re-
suit The Democrats claim to have
majority of the Legislature in Colorado.
while in Nebraska it seems to be about
evenly divided between Democrats, Re
publicans and -MOnopolists. What
may be the outcome of an election
in such a Legislature it is difficult
to foresee. Should the successors
to Messrs, Saunders and Chilcott fail
TO be straight Republicans, the Senate
might again be tie, and 1t is an open
question as to who may be the acting Vice
President from the 4th Of next March un-
til the Inauguration of the next Executive
in 1880. 1t is understood that the Presi-
dent will call a special session of the Sen
ate, to convene at Il o'clock on the 4th of
next March, to elect a successor to Vice
President pro TEN. Davis, whose term ex-
pires at that time. Some Of the friends of
Senator David Davis have suggested that,
even should he not be reelected to the
Senate, he might be chosen by that body
as Vice President pro tenn, but this prop0-
sitiOn is, of course, out of the question.