National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-03
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE SENATE WITHOUT A HEAD.


At the hour OF assembling the acting secretary
Mr.. Frnncis Il. shoter, read a noe from President
pro iempore Davis as follows: "As shall DO absent
from the opening Of the session this morning
under tho provisions OF rule 4, namo the Hon.
John j. Ingalls, Senator from the State OF kans s.
to perform the duties Of the Chair until the adj
journment to-day"
Mr. Vest made the point that the President pro
tempore had not the power to delegate Senator to
take place whichundcT the circumstances, could
o ~ dnr e .g Dy s eS Snt Mr. MEALS bc declared
the presiding officer for the day lie desired to
avoid a protracted discussion ut this time His
own opiIlon was that The action of the Pr sdent
of the Senate, in designating member 10 lake his
place, was not more binding upon the chamber
than would be designation by that officer OF a
ruling by himself upon parliamentary question.
A prutractgd and somcwhat animated discussion
nSo wcS Moi S RO sRo bo mHde w
:hc right of the President pro tmporc 70 select or
by the direct ac'ien q re Senate; The records
applicable 10 the ca e, aud rule was read, as FOL.
lows: 4" In the absence OF The Wee President, the
the presiding officer shall have the right to name
Senator to perform the duties of the chair but
5uch substitution shall not extend beyond nh "u'
MIR. Vest dsclaimed having raised the question
In any hypercrtrai spirit nvhh any pe as tbc
obligation devolved upon the Senate by tho Con-
stiiution to cho, SO Its presiding officer In the nb
scnce of the officer previously chosen to preside.
He quoted from the proceedings of the Senate IN
1870 to show that the right to delegate the power
was then questioned and very generally denied,
the occasion being the cause Of some debate and
yhe designation then made being ratified bya vote
ofthe senate. subsequently similar designation
'oy Vice President Wheeler was ratified by unan-
lmous consent but II was not denied that vote Of
the Senate was essential to make the appointment
valid.
"for the day" In his proposed declaration, lie
did not believe the Senate had the institutional
power to elect president Of tho Senate for day
only.
60 elect at all carried with 1t the power OF election
MIR. Morgan urged the gravity Of the question In
ITS ,nstitntional aspect and tho dangers attend:
ing its solution. No Vice President ofthe Untel
States now existed, and the Senate had repeatedly
und uniformly held that the President of the Sen.
ute is elected only for the time he is In attendance
and that the body has power to supplant him at
Senate at any time to designate II member who,
upon the death Of the recent Vice. President aud
now President Of the United States, would succeed
to the Presidency He held that the absence ofthc
President of the Senate this morning created va
canoy in that Office as completely as II its incum-
bent had been removed by vote of the Senate.
Ii tho President Of the United States should die
during the day the Senator now, chosen President
of the Senate being clothed with all the legal aud
constitutional responsibilities Of this Office would
succeed to the Presidency of the United States
even though he had been chosen to preside only
for the day.
MIR. Lapham suggested that the Senate could re.
consider its action, If necessary, in that cOntin-
Mr. Morgan replied that II the incumbent of the
chair became President ofthe United states in the
contingency no had suggested, he would have
passed f,m the jurisdiction of the chamber, and
his constitutional light to hold the presidency
by the President Of the Senate was admitted, and
that officer, MS well as the President of the United
States, should die during the day, we would have
as President Of the United States man who had
not been chosen by the Senate to preside over II,
SS as si npT S1S by Mr. Hale Mr RoTs asserted hs
constitutional duty Of the Senate to choose its pre-
siding officer In the absence Of the chair nOtwth-
Btanding tho rules. He suggested that the whole
difficulty showed the necessity for romodeling
Of the laws concerning the devolution Of the pres
Messrs Mcmillan, Hoar, and Logan followed in a
debate, which at times was attended by considerable
floor and speaking at the same moment The
main point elaborated was as to the alleged lack
Of constitutional power of presiding officer,
itself No direct dissent was expressed from
tho view stated by Mr.. Ferry that the President
TO act in his place only when he himself was pres
ent for this purpose, and that otherwise the desg-
nation was dependent for Its validity upon the
acqucscence OF the Senate. A designation under
similar circumstances of Senator Eaton by Judge
Thurman, when the latter was President pro TEN
pore of the Senate, was cited us precedent, bu
the statement was promptly made that in tina
case the designation was valid by reason OF unan
Motions TO adjourn In order to avoid the diff
guilty were repeatedly made.
Mr. Garland quoted 'fol Cushing in denial o
the ri yht Of n President pro tenpore, when absent
TO designate member To act in his place, and IL
rupport of the view that this presents an occasion
.or the election Of presiding oEcer Constituting
:he term by analogy he npprehended thai eieC
tion meant the choice OF a temporary ptesdni
oficer TO obvinte the difficulty, he suggeste,
the adoption of resolution Affirming the deslg
nation Of Mr.. Ingalls.
tndisposition of the Senate TO commit itself b.
positive action upon the important question whic
had been precipitated upon II, moved an adjourn
ment, which was greed to unanimously,
The Senate accordingly adjourned until Monday
House of Representatives.
Immediately after the reading of the Journa
the House resumed the consideration of the Ala
bama contested election case of Lowe vs. Wheeler
Mr.. Thompson, owa, submitted an Gigumer
in favor of the claims Of the contestant and Incl
dentaly denied tho statement made by Nj
Wheeler last evening to tho effect that he had nc
Mr.. Mills spoke in advocacy OF the right Of tn
sitting member to retain his seat, and was folowe'
by Mr.. Jones, of Texas, in favor of the contestant
Mt Atherton consumed his hour in the Ieadn
OF the report of the minority, only calling attell
ton to the fact that but three Republican MON
cising such inattenion on the part of the judge
who were to, decide the case. i had bee
charged that there was an agreement between Ger
tain gentlemen on the other side (alluding TO til
Greenbackers) and the Republican party,
Mr. Jones, of Texas-l pronounce the charge
Mr. Atherton-ycry we'll, will show you that
Republican paper Itself charges 1t. lie then quote
ION THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, of Washington
to the effect that the Greenbackers had Beer
stcadfast and true to the Republicans in the rocen
election cases. aud that the latter were bound Il
honor tosee Justice done to Mr.. Lowe.
Several Republicans-That is it-justice.
Mr. Atherton replied that soon itwould be foun
whit Justice meant in the Republican ranks
There were now tweny-siX Republicans in tn
chamber but when the matter came TO vote on
hundred aud fifty would come without known
nnthng about Q case raise the axe, and tax
the head Off the sitting member.
Mr.. Horn entered Into an ironcal eulogy upo
the great intellectual energy and statesmanshi
alown by the Democrats during the recent tllibus
tering movement. He characterized Mr.. Randall
US the Napoleon of the con est, Mr.. Blackburn q
Arc, llaughterl and he ridicued the Courageou
manner in which they came up to make motion
to adjourn over, The latter gentleman had nC
entered into the contest until after Waterloo an
nutil Napoleon was on his way TO 81. Helena. tn
Democrats then got upaset of" whereases,' In tn
belly of each OF which were words that woui
Btagger any one who pretended to commo
honesty, and which ended up with an insult
the House that had unanimously voted TO su Nal
the 81 enker in the ruling which he male The
"whereases" now 10y upon the table Writing !
their own nastiness Then passing on 10 u revei
OF the Chalmers case, and referring to the state
ment that he was coming over to tire Repuboi
party, declared that that party had stood u goo
deal from the Democrats, but that they could NJ
pass Chalmers off on H. lie belonged to III
Democratic party by nature,
Mr. Manning-W. i thegentlomAn come down
Mississippi this fall aud make that Speech ail
help me beat him2
Mr.. Horr-Ycs; aud IL l can't do as good to 20
as to Chalmers then give IL up, Nothing woul
please me better than to compare tue Sames
twins. lLAugherl
Mr. Alherlon-Will You keep Secretary ChRndlC
from helping to elect him, according 10 contract
Mr.. Horr--I don't believe It; It isn't true and
II is Chandler Is In low bu' iness.
AZ MI hat %