The state journal., 1883-12-22
IN THE SENATE.

:
Business
WASHINGTON, Dec 19.-In the Senate
yesterday, several bills were reported back
from committees and placed on the cal
endar. Among them one by Mr.. Har
rison, from the Committee on Territories,
providing civil government for Alaska,
and one by Mr.. Hoar, from the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections, to fix a
day for the meeting of the electors for the
President and Vice President, and Tor the
consideration of questions arising thereon.
This is the bill which has passed the Sen
ate heretofore, but failed in the House
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution call
ing on the Secretary of the Interior to
furnish copies Of mortgages given by the
Texas Pacific railway on lands granted
by act of March 3, 1871 also to inform
the Senate of the names of railroad cor
porations now claiming lands that were
not earned during the lifetime of the
grant, together with the number of acres
claimed by each of said roads. The reso-
luton was agreed to.
Only one of the numerous roll calls of
the session attracted any attention, and
that was the first, on Mr.. Sherman's res
olution to proceed with the election of
officers. The resolution was adopted by
a vote of "a to 30. Senator Malone and
Riddleberger voted aye, and Senator
Anthony was also present to cast his
vote with the party. The list Of officers
is: Secretary OF the Senate, Chief Clerk,
Principal Executive Clerk, Chaplain and
Sergeant-at-Arms Mr. Sherman moved
that Arson @. MCook be and he hereby
is chosen Secretary of the Senate. Mr..
Pendleton moved an amendment strik
ing out the name of Arson G. M'Cook
and inserting that of l.. O. Washington
This amendment was defeated and the
main resolution was adopted. On the
intimation of Senator Miller of New
York, that General NJ Cook was present
and ready to be sworn in, he was invited
by the Chair to come forward and be
sworn in. General NJ Cook then. es-
corted by Senator Miller, of New York,
came forward, and the oath of
Office was administered to him by the
President pro tempore of the Senate, Mr.
Mr. Edmunds To make the matter
more binding and to add to the ceremony
Mr.. M'Crook was required by Mr.. Ed
munds to sign printed oath to the reso-
luton electing him.
The next nomination made was that of
chief clerk of the Senate, for which office
Mr.. Sherman nominated Mr.. Charles w.
Johnson, of Minnesota, who was elected
by 80 to 30, a strict party vote.
The election of principal executive
clerk was then proceeded with. Mr.
Sherman nominated for the Office James
r. Young of Pennsylvania, who, not
withstanding Mr.. Pendleton's expression
of confidence in the incumbent, was
elected.
Mr.. Sherman then nominated Rev.
Elias Dewitt Huntley, of the District of
Columbia, as chaplain, and he was elected
by vote of 80 to 80.
The next nomination was that of VIM.
p. Canaday for sergeant alarms. This
drew protests from Senators Pendleton
and Beck, the latter calling upon the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Sherman),
who offered the resolution, to state what
special fitness the new nominee possessed
for the office to which he was nominated.
Mr.. Sherman replied that he was doing
just what the gentleman from Kentucky
(Mr. Beck) would under similar Circum-
stances do with straight face and with
out apology, and Mr.. Sherman had no
apology to offer. After some further dis
cussion, the election of Mr.. Canaday was
effected by vote of 80 to %.
The Senate then went into executive
session, during which a number of ap-
pointments were confirmed, among them
al Ell &c
Massachusetts, to be United States
Marshal for the District of Massachusetts;
Colonel Samuel B. Holabird, Assistant
Quartermaster General to be Quarter
master General, with the rank of Briga
der General, and John S. TOoker, of
Michigan, to be Secretary of the Territory
of Montana When the doors were re
opened, the Senate went into Committee
Of the Whole for the purpose of continu-
ing the consideration CT the new rules.
After the rejection of a motion to adj
jOurn, the pending question was taken
up being the adoption of the first of the
new rules, relating to the election of a
President pro tempore, and his right in
case of his absence to name substitute
who might perform the duties of the
Chair for three days.
On motion of Mr.. Garland, division
of the rule was agreed to, so as to permit
the first two clauses, which were not OBJ
jected to- to be voted upon by them
selves, On the question of agreeing to
the third clause, which gives the Vice
President the power of substitution, con-
siderable debate followed, and finally
Mr.. Frye called for yea and nay vote
on the adoption Of the clause objected to,
which, however, was not taken at the
time of adjournment.
Mr.. Ingalls, offered the customary reso-
luton, which was agreed to- that the
President and the House of Representa-
tives be notified Of the election of the new
secretary of the Senate.
Pending the vote on the rule, Mr. Frye
moved an adjournment of the Senate,
which uraaH IN