Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-19
URited states Congress.


WASHINGTON, December ISth.-In the Senate the
following bills were reported from committees and
placed on the calendar:
BY Harrison Providing civil government for
Alaska
By Hoa--In regard to election Of President and
Vice President.
Van Wick offered resolution calling on the Sec
retary of the Interior for copies Of the mortgages
given by the Texas Pacific Railroad lands granted
by the Act of March 3, 1881 also, to inform the
Senate OF the names Of railroad corpo atious claim
ing lands not earned during the lifetime Of the
grant, together with the number Of claimed by
each road. Agreed to.
At the conclusion OF the morning hour the Senate
proceeded to the election OF officers.
On the division the choice for Secretary within
strict party lines, Malone and Rddleberger voting
with the Republicans. General Anson G. McCook
was chosen over L. Q. Washington.
The remaining Republican nominees were then
elected, and the Senate went into executive session
When the doors were reopened the Senate went
into Committee Of the Whole for the purpose o
continuing consideration of the new rules.
Cameron OF Wisconsin thought several Sen
ators were absent consideration Of the new rules
should be postponed, and moved an adjournment
Lost-22 TO 27.
The question pending was the adoption Of the first
Of the rules relating to the election of Presi
dent pro tempore, and his right, in case Of his ah
sence, TO name substitute who would perform the
duties Of the Chair for three davs.
motion of Garland for division was agreed TO,
to permit the first two clauses, which not
objected to, to be voted upon separately.
On the question OF adding the third clause, which
gives the Nice-President power Of substitution, n
debate arose.
Bsysri stated that he had not been al e TO dis
charge his mind Of grave objections existing in re-
gard to this clause, owing TO the complications
which might ensue in uf the death of the PreS-
dent and Vice President. He thought it placed the
question of Presidential succession in a very danger
Gus position. This is matter in which it will not
do TO say the weight Of argument rests on one side
a he r'a in ,ph a r,-s ,u
that there is absolutely no doubt about it, and he
could not see that the arguments advanced by those
who favored 1t were at all satisfactory.
Jones, of Florida, and Blair thought it dangerous
to clothe the President pro tempOre with such
power
Haxey remarked that this proposed clause was a
change in the rule which had been in force sixty
years, and was practically 4 departure from that
theory which he defended for it was only meant to
fit a temporary necessity. While under the con-
strucuon now held If time could be made the three
days could be extended to thirty days. He opposed
the provision.
Frye. who reI orted the clause as Chairman Of the
Committee on Rules, said he could not see how by
any possibility the rule could touch the question of
Presidential succession, how it raised consti-
tutiona question. There being no Nce-Presdtut Of
the United States and the President pro tempore
the Senate being necessarily the presiding officer for
the next two years, the question is whether in case
Of days sickness, a day or tSo's absence, the
United States Senate transact business without
Dtll1 COmpellel 20 Oust place 10 WnlCf
it has elected him. Under the rule standing now, if
the presiding officer is too sick to come to the Sen
ate, it obliges, under the Chaifmanstip Of the See
retary, the Senate to elect a new President pro
tempore, and that President pro tempore will be
clothed with all the powers which, under the Con
stituton, is attached to other officers.
Bayard stated that the Constitution provides that
the presiding officer of the Senate shall be Vice
President and if the Vice President is absent it can
not nominate, but must elect one man, and if tie
Vice President comes back the next day the Senator
who temporarily presided goes out of Office ipse
fscto. On ehe occasion the President in doubt
whether the fact that Henry Wilson was in the gal
lery, and so within the walls, did not yaca,e the
President pro tempore made by his absence the day
before.
FRYE pointed out that in the House Of Represent
atives the Speaker has power to appoint a substi-
tute for period of ten days, and it has been
objected to. He called for aye-aud-no vote on
the adoption Of the clause Objected to.
Ingalls, offered the customary resolution, which
agreed to- that the President and House of Re-
resentstives be notified Of the election Of the new
Secretary Of the Senate.
Pending vote on the rule, the Senate adjourned.