Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-31

to refer the Hoar resolution to this sub-cam-
mittrc.
The democracy turned red in the face and
bit is lip,. but did not answer the question
senator Blaine then enqdiriugly called at
tcnton to the fact that the Senator from Del
aware had voted in favor If an Adjournment
on Tuesday when the republican, had distinct
Is asked an opportunity to discuss the matter
further. He asked il II took forty-cight hours
for the honorable senator To recall to hi,
memory the fact of the great readiness of his
party to debate question, of public import
ancc.
The senator from Delaware replied that he
would not allow any Senator 90 impugn hi>
motives He furthermore declared that h~
party was not ruled by King aucus but King
Constitution.
Mr.. Blaine said this was the first time in
the history of Congress when notification
was made that a proposition pending in the
Senate must wait until a caucus committee of
the democratic party had come to the same
conclusion with regard to it. and the senator
from kentucky had not limited Iii statement
to the pending question: but had told the Sen
ate that the caucus was actually faiuriGggc
cral legislation to be laid before the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES. and therefore the Senate
House had first passed upon pending questions.
He said he had been in the Senate for four
sessions and in Congress for many years be
fore. and he had never known an instance
during republican control where caucus Of
that party had attempted to perfect measures
of legislation. The caucuscs had frequently
discussed and sometimes decided upon IL"
order in which it was best to transact bust
ness.
Senators Bavard and Beck attempted then
to have it understood that the resolution had
been postponed on Tuesday because of the
absence of Senator Thurman, who they
thought might wish to discuss ii.
senator lIoar cut in with an inquiry rs to
what senator Thurman had to do with the
resolution any more than any other senator:
and he pointcdly asked the senator from Del
aware if ii was not because he was chairman
of the Sub-C Committee of the democratic eau
Gus and that the democratic Senators could
not Judge whether Il certain course was rcyo-
lutionarv or not until they had received their
orders from the caucus.
senator Bayard had had enough. and al
though he was especially inquired of he only
replied by a sickly smile.
Mr. Beck said that he made il a plan, when
he knew what his enemies wanted to do just
the reverse. He showed signs Of wander
ing mind. and said the republicans were seek
ing to infusc backbone into the President. and
that senator Iloar was Il cat's-paw to pull
chcstnuts ont of the fire.
Senator IIoar was mcrcilcss. and repeated
the words of the Senator from Kentucky, in |
which he said it was improper to discus, mat
tiers which were being considered by the dem
ocratic caucus committee.
At last it came. Senator Beck said, eff ]
said that | didn't mean it, | knew what
measures were to be brought before the eau !
Gus but didn't wish to assume what would be |
the form in which they would be fought /
out.
This was glory enough for one day, and the
republicans would have ceased their inquiries |
but Mr.. VOORHEES, felt called upon to add Il
few words which he felt confident would put |
a new face upon the matter, and he succeed !
cd in three minutes in giving the whole buSi /
ness away. He was willing. nay proud, to
have il known, and he thought the people /
would approve that the d, mocrats were pro- |
cecding carefully, and pertccting, andsmatur |
ing and considering important measures be |
fore they were acted upon. He wasn't afraid
to admit that they had committee of safety |
as the gentleman from Maine had termed it |
and if the republicans had such a committee
during their time they might not now be in
the minority.
Senator Blaine seized his new opportunity |
to say that that was all he wantc |. merely to /
show the country by the deliberate admission |
of democratic Senators that measures which I
would naturally 20 to the Judiciary Commit /
tee of the Senate, such as the repeal of the
election laws, and measures which would nat
nrally go to the Military Committees, such as !
the Army reorganization, were under the /
present state Of things being considered all /
in a subcommittee of democratic |
caucus, after which they would doubtless, Il,
a matter of form. be referred to the commit |
tees of the Senat" and there ratified.