Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-10
THURSDAY. APRIL 10, 1890.
w,Dthe Senate Follow the House

Wilthe Senate Follow the House?
In order 10 perpeluate the power of the
Republican party the Republicans in the
House of Representatives have, If we may
trust the indications of to-day, determined
10 change the law under which tho Clerk
of that house makes up the roll OF men,
bers-elect so "a TO empower him to enter
only the names of persons certified by the
Federal supervisors 20 have been elect
cd TO that body. The powers Of the
State Boards Of Canvasscrs will then
be as nothing. Their duty under
tho HoAs bill will be to certify
the election of the candidates IRE
reiving the highest number of votes y;
but this qualification amounts TO nothing
when the State boards have to take the
certificates of the Federal supervisors as
conclusive of the question as TO what can
didates received the highest number Of
votes" In word. law which has Ope-
rated satisfactorily for years, and which
recognizes the several States as having
some rights which the Federal Govern
ment is bound TO respect, is to be repealed
in tho interest Of the Republican party
and a law substituted for it which makes
the State officials mere registrars Of the
edicts of Federal supervisors, thus fulfil
ling the prediction of PATRICK HENRY and
causing the States 10 bear tho same rela-
ton 10 the Federal Government which the
counties bear TO the several States.
SO much for the expected action Of the
House OF Representatives. In like manner
the Senate will. we have no doubt, initiate
Mr.. Speaker REED rulings in the House OF
Representatives as far as such a course
shall be found necessary. That Is to say,
the Senate will adopt certain new rules be-
fore its present session expires. and among
these new rules will be one providing for
the previous question III that body. From
the foundation Of the Government mp to
the present time the Senate has regarded
Il a. beneath its dignity to resort TO the
previous question as IA means of closing
debate. Whenever that body, or the ma
jority of it, concluded 10 bring the Senate
70 vote this end was accom-
plIshed by "sitting out" the minority.
That is to say, the senator having
charge of a bin gave notice that on
a certain day he would ask the Senate to
continue in session until that bill was dis
posed of. A small minority could not
make speeches or offer amendments indeh-
nitely; and so the result generally or al
ways was what the majority desired it to
be. But there is now in the Senate a large
minority notwithstanding the seating of
20 many new Republican senators, and
Democratic senator has said that
this minority would sit up night and
day and protract the debate in the Senate
indefinitely rather than allow an objec-
tionable national election-law to be passed.
viii the Republican majority allow the
rules TO stand as they are under such cir
cumstances? Hardly. The HoAB bill is
no bad a bill that the Democrats in the
Senate cannot be expected to allow il to
pass 80 long as they can by any allowable
dilstory motions or speeches prevent such
q deplorable act. IL, therefore. as
all signs seem TO foretell, tho
Republican senators are bent upon
passing national election-law, they
will have to change the rules of the Senate.
In order to the seating of the two bogus
Republican senators from Montana. 1t is
at least possible that the Democratic sena-
tors will deem it their duty to begin the
struggle for the life of the republic at
once, and refuse TO allow the Montana
senators to be seated so long as they can
stave off that result by resort to dilatory
motions and speeches.
But cannot the Democratic minority pre-
vent the rules Of the Senate from being
changed? We know not; but we are sure
they will DO all that lies in their power
10 prevent such changes. We are not
hopeful. The Democrats in the House of
Representatives tried 10 prevent the rules
OF that body from being changed in the
interest of the Republican party, but were
unsuccessful. The Senate may have a
RsED. and he may count the senators so as
10 effect whatever changes he desires to be
made in the rules.