Huntsville gazette., 1885-12-05
THE SUCCESSION.

The Diversity Of Opinion As to Who VIII
BE President Pro Tempore of the senate
The Choice Apparently Between Ed
munds and Logan--Democratic PREFER
ence for the Former-A Precedent for the
Latter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December L.
The Republican Senators continue to talk
Logan for President pro tempore, while
the Democrats persist in expressing the
opinion that Mr.. Edmunds is entitled to
the place. Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
said last evening that the position should
be rendered Mr.. Edmunds, because he
was the oldest Republican Senator in
service; because he had occupied the po-
sition before, and because he is eminently
fitted for it. He thought General Logan's
claims had been settled by the people.
If Senator Edmunds would not ac-
cept the position, he thought either
Senator Sherman or Senator Morrill,
well calculated to fill it to the
satisfaction of the Senate "Of course"
he said, sunless the President should die,
the position is merely that of presiding
officer, and think Senator Edmunds is
better fitted to preside over the Senate
than any other Republican member. AS to
the probabilities of the Presidents dying,
think they are decidedly small. I am
glad, however, to hear he is not going to
Indianapolis"
Representative Springer, of Illinois, is
also of the opinion that Senator Edmunds
is entitled to the position. He said that
in his opinion Mr. Logan could not afford
tn appnnt the rnSitinn nn6 for tho
publican members to put him in the
place would seem like defying the will of
the people. Besides, he said, Mr.. Logan
was lacking in all the attributes of
presiding officer. The question now is,
will Mr.. Edmunds accept the position if
it is rendered him? He is not known to
have expressed an opinion on the sub
ject, but his colleague, Senator Nor
rill, and others are said to have
expressed the opinion that he would not
accept. A prominent Republican Sena-
tor said he was firmly convinced that Mr..
Edmunds was not candidate for the
position, and would not be under any cir
cumstances. He said that last December
when Logan came back to Washington,
Edmunds proposed to several of the Re
publican Senators that he should with
draw from the Presidency of the Senate,
so as to admit of the election of Genera
Logan. Mr.. Edmunds, at that time, said
he thought it was due the General, who
had been the candidate of his party, and
was therefore entitled to the best place
that his Republican associates in the
Senate could give him. About this time
came the legislative fight at Springfield
and Senator Edmunds was made Presi-
dent. The published statement, that SEN
atOr Logan is not eligible to election as
President pro tenn. of the Senate is not
true. The following abstract from the
Journal proceedings of the Senate of
Monday, March 5th, 1877, is pertinent,
establishing, as it does, a precedent in
Senator Logan's case.
The Senate having been called to order by
the Secretary and the proclamation OF the
President of the United States converting the
Senate for the transaction of business
having been read, on motion of Mr.. Hamltn,
and by unanimous consentA
Resoiued, That the oath OF office be admin
stered by Senator Timothy o. Howe to
Thomas w. Ferry, Senator elect from the
State of Michigan, and that he be, and
hereby is, chosen President of the Senate
pro temrOre.
"The oath prescribed by law was accord
ingIy administrated to the Hon. Thomas W.
Ferry, and he thereupOn assumed the chair.
"rhe credentials of the following Senators
having been heretofore presented, the oaths
prescribed by law were administered to
them and they took their seats in the Sen
ate"
When the Senators meet, if they agree
on Senator Logan, it will be very easy for
Senator Edmunds TO take the chair for
five or six minutes and then give way A
private letter received from Don Cameron
says he is for General Logan. Don
Cameron is the chairman of the Repuh
lican caucus.