Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-11-29


claiming that they have majority in the
next House, the Democrats still iaaist
that, with several districts in doubt, the
chances are favorable to their having
majority Of one or three. Mr.. Quay end
Mr.. Dudley do not attempt TO disguise
the fact that they fear the Democrats may
attempt to organize the Honse, snd Re-
publicans generally are quits loud in
their expression of suspicion of fear as TO
the PURPOSES Of their opponents Sena.
tor Hawley said 10 Star reporter to-day
that be had mot che least doubt that the
Republicans hsd the House, but that he
expected, or rather feared, that the Dem
ocrats would steal it.
The situation will probably remain uu-
changed until the certificates ore isaued.
The most serious aspect of the affair
arises upon the possibility Of ihe Demo-
Gratis showing up with q majority OF one
or three. There ia hardly room for doubt
that, feeling as they do now, the Repub-
hcanB will NOT permit the Democrats to
organize the next house without resist
anoe. These is much talk Of withdraw
ing and perfecting an organization of
their own under tnose circumstances.
This talk comes, too, from men who are
not in the habit OF speaking wildly.
A very serious situation might arise
from both parties claiming the organi2a.
tion. But the chances are that this may
be avoided by the Democrats not making
very desperate fight 10 keep contsol.
Many OF them are disposed 70 regsfd il
as TO their advantage to be in the
minority and axe especially opposed 90
any further 9istanGe to tine admission
of new states into the union.
THE CLERK $ ABSOLUTE POWER.
The somewhat sensational suggestions
which are made as TO what may happen
II the clerk of the present House ehall
place arJun the roll OF the next House the
names OF members who, in the opinion of
some Republicans, were not elected, may
serve to Call the attention of the public
to another weak spoti in our governmental
system.
Rule of the House provides that the
clerk and other officers OF the House shall
continue in office uptil their successors
are chosen end qualified. The revised
statutes (Sec. 81 prescribe the duty OF
the clerk of tho House with respect to the
roll Of the members of the next House.
That section provides:
Before the flrst nesting OF each Congress
the clerk OF the next preceding House OF
Representatives shsll make a roll of the
Representatives. elect; and place thereon
the names OF those persons, and of such
persons oniy, whose credentials show that
they were Regularly elected ia accordance
witn the laws OF their states respectively,
or ths laws OF the United States.
In the event of the death OF disability
OF the clerk the duties are dsYolTed IN
succession upon the sergeant-at arms, and
In case OF his death or disability upoa
the doorkeeper. II ell should die or be
disanled from any cause ri the tine OF
the meeting of the succeeding Congress-
there Is no provision whatever for tue or.
ganization of the succeeding House.
The power Of the clerk is not only ALSO
Int as to the roll, bnt according to the
preeedants established by Republicans,
the house itself is without any power to
amend the roll. Since She Organization
of the house of representatives OF the 3StL
ooia.'ess inc cletE hss nu,'o.,n y de1HneC
20 sQtertsi4 AIltloAs q TeaOintions Ii
amend the roll Of repregentatl Fes.sIsct
which section 3lst revised statutes, he
quires him to make, and has furtha,
declined to entertain appeals from sucl
decisions. This appears very fully fEou
the decision by Mr.. Edward Mcpherson
III the proceedings in the organization o.
the house, hrst session. 41st congress
March An, 1863. The game position wa
reafirmed by Clerk Adams, Democrat.
In casa duplicate certificates shall b
sent to the cleIk OF the House frum ina
state governments, that OH er ie the SO!
judge as to which certificates he VII
place upon the roll, and, once unon tn
roll, it appears TO be discretionary wit
him whether be will recognize any sag
ges.ions from the House to as amend
ments The clerk OF she House, ia ahoti
seems to b9 the only officer Of the Unite
States who is absolute, from whose d.
clsion there is no appeal; who owes !.
allegiance TO any one, the body who
created him having passed out Of. ezis
enee o. the time. OF taa organization 1
tbs encceeding House.
0aly one way has bean suggested her
In khe eVsst that tbs contingency shcul
arise as she result of which the RepubF
cans should be convinced hal The Denc
cEats were given q majority OF The certit
Cstsg of representatives, elect IN prcpePi,
Tbst suggestion il thst tha SeAa:e IN
the President of tue United states eN
refuse to reaogn;2s House so conEt
tuted.
NO oAusE FOR lbAGM,
On this subject iLV Washington corr,
sp1ndept of the PkiladelBhin EeaGer say,
There il cpnSi2arsDla silly taiS h sax,
newspapers about d1al oFgGuga.
this ntxi House Of Representatives. l.
assumed that the Democrats q engage
in 40 attempa 10 ss.aal Tia House, IA
tine s'hald u mai' is TO he stt5tche
forth 70 prevent tha glRn3 iardGny.
too "haad OF MARI should fg,I. az
CLERK CLARK eh0Uld p3ysisE ia masing I!
roll continuing nprs iAaA lG} aem
cratic Members eject, then The Rspqi
LEANS arc TO sscede or blll. ST ID
E5use OF kepreae HraFi7e8 Tor taJ.asssy
and obtain recognition rs Go arl
nate branch" from the Senate snd IA
PRECEDENT. This kad Of talk Il not Cpi
say bat wicked baiug calculated 10 ID
nects sa!iIy excite and alarm tL0 paaii
mlad, IAera cGa be 40 suGh dl4.1l
ogGc the ntggu zljign Il Till IoQs5
wsuld Led 20 colt md the satsius u5
second aau3e. Fort tta.eiU lie rs
governing III ihis cese il 81 spec /. aa
mandatory tat nothing violent II
be juNiisd. Iasra cau ba DO al
understanding 81 to wno oo0s islta /,
representa- elect. Itla. ia stiou
decided oy the laws q Tie fasEeati
stated Of tlis uEttd Stats and no at
whose nSae is wgilten upon ta1 cgrti
cate elnRua.ipG from TIE g6|aYa9r me-