Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1883-12-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

a SENATE +
WASHINGTON, Dec. l3.-Mr. Dolph introduced
q bill for the admission to the union of the
state Of Washington. It provides for the ad-
mission of Washington Territory and portion
of Idaho. -=.z
MIR. Morrill, introduced bill to provide .
commission of liquor traffic. It is the same bill
which passed the senate at the last session, but
which failed in the house. ....
On motion of Mr.. Frye the senate took up the
consideration of the report of the committee on
rules and proceeded to consider the new rules
seriatim. .4., -
The first proposed rule read as follows:
First, In the absence OF the vice-president the
senate will choose president pro tenn. Second,
In the absence of the vice president and pend
ing the election of q president pro tenn the
secretary of the senate CT in his absence the
chief clerk shall perform the duties of the
chair. Third, The president pro TEN shall have
the right to name in open senate, or if absent
in writing, what senator shall perform the duties
of the chair and the senator designated may
discharge such duties for a period not to ex-
CeGu
order.
Mr.. Bayard asked the senators to contemplate
the effect Of the proposed rule which gives the
vice-president the right to designate the person
who by a possibility may become the acting
president of the United States. Suppose the
senator from Vermont (Edmunds) should be
absent three days and during that time the
president of the United States whether by God
or public enemy should be removed from life,
such senator as may be designated would, under
this rule, become the acting president. He in
quired if the senate proposed to add to the diff
culties clustering around the law in regard to
the presidential succession, by lodging in the
president pro tenn Of the senate unchecked and
uncontrolled designation of the man who shall
possess the enormous, incalculable powers for
good or evil which may attend the temporary
possession of the functions of the chief magis-
trate of the republic. This course seemed
to him entirely in opposition to the theory of
our governments, and was fraught with very
grave dar gers. This should not only be gov:
ernment of law, but government of public
opinion, and the clause lodging SO vast possible
power in the hands of one man might defeat
the well-considered feeling and sentiment Of
the country. In his opinion the provision
proposed admitted of hostility. The sena-
tor designated by the president pro TEN to
temporarily occupy the chair of the senate by
going back of the presidential Office would per-
haps veto measure he was unable to defeat in
the senate. There never has been shown in the
senate any disposition to take petty advantage
of the absence of members of either side Of the
chamber, and he hoped the senators would pause
before agreeing that q person who may happen
to be for three days the president pro TEN OF
this body of men, in case of the presidents
death, resignation or disability, would succeed
to the presidency without any control of con-
press and upon the nomination of a single in
dividual. He knew the contended clause he
referred to was not Objectionable in the charao-
ter claimed and did not admit of the construc-
ton put upon it, but he bad given the matter
due consideration and believed it open to the
objection advanced, and the only safe course in
a matter so serious was to leave nothing open to
doubt.
Mr.. Edmunds offered resolution that the
senate proceed to the election of a president
pro TEN, and asked that the resolution be laid
on the table. After an executive session, the
senate adjourned until Monday.