The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-03-28
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS.
A Difference of Opinion Among the
Members of the Senate.
Lincoln, HaIsted, Rice. LorIne, Egan,
Ryan and Hicks.
Sketches Of Yesterdays Nominees
for Important Foreign Posts.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-In the Senate
today, the resolutions heretofore offered by
Mr.. Butler, declaring that the tenure Of
the president pro tempore does not expire
at meeting of Congress after recess, but
is held at the pleasure of the Senate, was
taken up and Mr.. George made constitu-
tional argument in opposition to them. He
argued that the president pro TEN. could be
chosen only for the time during which the
necessity might exist. That was during the
absence Of the Vice President. The Vice
President was appointed, not by the Senate,
but by the people. No arrangement should
be made that would tend to show that the
presence of the Vice President was not ma
terial.
Mr.. Turpie took the opposite view of the
question and argued that the words of the
constitution indicated the term of service of
the president pro tenn. The words were :
I'm the Absence of the Vice President" 1t
would be noticed that the word absence"
was written in the constitution with capi-
tai A, indicating that the word included
every occasion of absence and referred to all
the absences of the Vice President. The
president pro TEN held his Office subject to
the pleasure of the Senate. The Senate
might choose new substitute for the Vice
a
tute for all the absences of the Vice Presi-
dent
Mr.. Reagan coincided with the views ex
pressed by Mr. Turpie.
Mr.: Evarts had proposed this resolution
which he thought cover all points,
ResolUed- That it is competent to the Senate to
elect president pro tenn. who shall hold office
during the pleasure of the Senate and until an
eother other Is elected, and shall execute. the dhties
thereof whenever the Vice President is absent.
Mr.. Butler thought the question ought to
be settled but there could be no great incon-
yenience in letting the matter remain as it
was.
Mr.. Hoar said that when the question was
nrst presented he had been opposed to the
resolution, but he had become satisfied that
the best OF the argument was in favor of the
power OF the Senate to choose an officer who
might take the chair in case of repeated
absences OF the Vice President without a
new election.
Mr.. Dolph argued against the propriety
OF such construction of the constitution as
would authorize the Senate to choose an Of
hcer to perform the duties of the president
OF the Senate during the successive absences
of the Vice President.
Mr.. Dawes argued against the resolutions
as at variance With the construction given by
the Senate for 100 years and at variance with
tne contemporaneous construction given by
Jefferson and the trainers of the cOnstitu-
tion. 1t appeared to him an absurdity to
choose president pro tenn before he was
needed or when not needed.
The resolutions of Messrs. Butler and
Eyarts were referred to the committee on
privileges, and elections.
Mr.. Allison offered resolution which was
referred to the committee ON military affairs
reciting that an appropriation of 100000
was made in 1885 to enable the secretary of
war to acquire good and valid title to the
Fort Brown military reservation in Texas;
that documentary evidence on file in the
War Department showed that $4,000 was a
large price to pay for the property, and in-
structing the committee on military affairs
to inquire into the matter and the secretary
of war to withhold the payment of any part
of the sum.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of executive business and at $50 ad-
journed.