National Republican., 1883-02-20
The Succession to Acting Vice President
Davis.

| inc SUBJECT OF organization mas noI Deen
agiated in the senate yet and, in fact, does
not seem to have been discussed A leading
republican said to-day that he had not ex-
changed word with any ono on the subject.
IL seemed 80 clearly the proper course for Senator
Davis to resign his position as president pro tenn
shortly before the end Of the session, that he TOOK
II for granted he would do so. Some holding |
over senator would then be elected In his place,
and probably no changes beyond this would be
made,-New Fork Tribune Washington dispatch.
There is good deal of inwardness in the
above, the study of which is amusing. The
organization of the senate embraces presi-
dent pro tenn, who must now be the acting |
vice president of the United States secre-
tary, sergeant-at-arms, chief clerk, and ex-
ocutive clerk, and the standing committees |
If the subject has not been "agitatcd in the
senate" it has been and Is being discussed
among senators, rs IL ought to be, in
view Of tho near approach Of the
fourth Of March On that day the term of
Senator Davis, of Illinois, will expire, and as
he is the president of the body, successor
will have to be chosen. Some people are dis
turbed over the assembling of the senate in
extra session. They know that when that
body convcnos the republicans and their re-
adjustor friends will together have a majority
of four. They fear that this majority may not
in every respect conform to their wishes. 1t
maynot agree with them in keeping up fac
tional divisions or breaking down victorious
anti-bourbon coalitions. 1t is evident that
tho Tribune correspondent has been lis
tening to some such people. 1t is plain that
he has not conferred with senators, because
we have his own word for IL that tho matter
is not, within his knowledge, a subject of
discussion among them. But as Dckons's
escaped convict Magwitch, frightened Pip
with his description of an invisible "young
man compared with which," said he, l am a
angel of light" so the Tribune man puts on
y the stand an equally formidable invisible
witness in the shadowy form of "a leading
republican," compared with whom we may
| suppose he is himself an equally seraphic
character. Tho "leading republican" does
not show up as senator. Senators
are not discussing He is the particu-
lar "leading republican" who murmurs
state secrets in the whispering gallery of
the Washington bureau of the Tribune, or
perchance conldcs to the telephone connect
ing herewith the purposes of senators who
have not spoken them to mortal cars. 1t Is
only with his tale concerning the presidency
II of the senate that we have now to deal. This
al | In ma boa hon a
q word on the subject" He has so clear a
% knowledge of the proper course for Senator
Davis to pursue that he takes it for granted
that he will resign his position shortly before
e prcviousnessi is rather obscure. The only reason
assigned by this man in the paper mask is
v that some holding Oror senator WOud then be
~ elected in his place, and probably no change
+" beyond this would be made" Now, however
T. apparent to the mythical republican leader
and his kind it may be that democratic
=" officials appointed in 1879, avowedly fol
u partizan reasons should not be displaced
W and however necessary it may be for tn,
~ senate to refrain from filling the ofilct
of secretary, which has been vacant for
10 year and half by reason of the death o.
;" Col. Burch, it is not at all clear why som,
made acting vice president of the United
VI States in place of Mr.. Davis. What this
~ shadow Of n shade means to say to the faith
full chronicler in the Tribune is that no sena
lg tnr ,,hnua torrn axnirau ~, tIn cou.tb n
nS March, and who has been reelected, must b.
Ut considered eligible. If there was to b
u no extra session of the senate this woul,
W. be the proper view. But as the Presidcn
III must, in any event, occur in the chair of tn
e senate at the close of the present session, and
cd this fact would alone insure the calling b,
nc him of an extra session, there would seem Il
oil be no reason for confning the choice of pre-
H. siding officer within that portion of the rC
publican senators whose terms do not expir
on the fourth of March. 1t is not likely tina
any avoidablo course will be pursued whic
30 would place at a disadvantage in the consid
-'' Grafton Of the presidency pro tenn. SEM
w. tors old in the service, merely becaus
" they have just been reelected and hay
Nv to be sworn in anew. Unless a sprin
'o session is omitted for the first tim
iN in moro than twenty-five years. thel
~ is no occasion for choosing a presidir
- officer before tho fourth of March. ]
"a however, Senator Davis desires to I
u sign, and if the honor should go to oI
w whose term is about to begin again he couI
y" be ro-elected at the extra session. 1t is tru
49, that at IL o'clock on the fifth of March III
-" senate would then be without presidir
w. officer But so it was on the fifth of March
''I 1857 and again on the same day of 1877 III
senate in such cases orders one of its membe
on to swear in the senator it desires for presde
'or pro tenn.
len On March 8, 1857 the senate was called
ar order by the secretary, and the following res
ers luton, offered by Mr. Douglas, was unar
''h mously adopted:
po Rcsolrsd That the oath Of oilice be administer
ln- by the Hon. James A, Pearce 10 the Hon. Jam
or NJ Mason, senator elect from the state of Virgin
an bat ha M M is ph gIa IN