New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-05-03
rur RFprBLICAN CAUCUS.

THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
.,,,r- ne ,.sp COMMITTEE or SAFETY TO BE
,nDy ro-pAY-DIFPIcULTIEs WHICH STILL
vxIsr--sySAroR coNKIISG's PosIuoN-THE
SITUATION IN VIRGINIA
TRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSEl
WASHINGTON, May 2.-lt is UNDERSTOOD lh'' .no
paurhl;can Senators win hold another caucus TO
morrow to receive a report Of progress nom tne
Committee of Safety. AS ate as this afternoon the
committee had not completed its deliberations ana
il is probable that when the caucus assemblies To-
morrow the committee will be Obliged 10 report
that certain difficulties, which it was instructed 10
consider and, if practicable, to compose SUN REMAIN
unsettled.
IL IL believed that the committee VIII recommend
that the majority decide to proceed with certain
execntiye business, including the Chinese and
other treaties now pending, and certain un-
contested nominations to Office. If these recon-
,eDdafions are favorably considered by the
caucas. probably an executive session VIII
he held tomorrow Wednesday. There seems
IN be some confusion of ideas as to the meaning OF
&he term "uncontested nominations certain Sena-
tor holding that they include only such as are
favored by both the Senators if Repubheansl from
the State in which the appointment is to be made
while other Senators maintain that an uncontested
nomjnation, is one which has been fayorably re-
,,orted bv the committee TO which it was referred.
Hinder either of these definitions the nomination
,rb;ch ia the chief bone of contentiOn-that OF
yudpe Robertson-would be excluded. Both the
Senators from New-York are opposed to 1t, and II
win not be favorably reported from the Committee
ON Commerce unless Mr.. Conklng shall con-
scut This nomination creates the difficulty which
the Committee of Safety is unable to compose.
For weeks various plans have been suggested to Sc
cure its withdrawal, The President has been urged
again and again it is said to withdraw all rhe New
York nominations and begin over again, ard he has
steadily declined to do so. The Committee OF Safety
has suggested Withdrawals for the sake Of party
harmony. The President has remained firm. There
has been some talk among Republican Senators to-
day of another plan, which involves the postpone
ment of action on all the New-York nominations
until the regular session. This plan, it is believed,
does not strike Mr. Conkling aud his friends favor
ably. Some Senators who are in the confidence Of
Mr. Conklnx declare that he is now master of the
situation
D.. They claim that the Committee on Commerce
stands as follows For Robertson's confirmation
Senators Conger, Coke and yest against confrna-
tion-Senators Conkling, Mcmillan, Jones' of Ne
yada, Kellogg, Ransom and Farley. They say,
therefore that Mr.. Conkling can very easily prevent
the consideration Of this nomination at the present
session. becanse senatorial courtesy" and prcce-
charge the committee from its consideration should
such a motion be made Senator COnkhng is re-
ported to have said TO members of the Committee
of Safety that he would be willing that action upon
Judge Robertsons case should be postponed until
next winter believing that by. that time President
Garfield would become convinced that the appoint
ment was unwise.
There Is some reason 10 believe, however, that Mr..
Conkling meditates an attempt TO have the nomina-
ton rejected at this session. His friends count con-
fdently on twelve Republican votes and fromtwelve
10 fifteen Democratic votes. Should an attempt be
made and this expectation be realized, with thin
Senate Judge RObertsons confirmation would be
defeated by a snail majority. OF course Mr.. Conk-
ling wOud not decide upon this course unless he was
very certain of success and II IS quite probable,
therefore, that no such attempt Will be made at this
II is believed that the consideration given 10 the
Virginia case by tho Committee of Safety has re-
suited in a virtual agreement that all legitimate
assistance and ENCOURAGEMENT practicaOie hhall De
rendered to tho Independent movement, while at the
time due consideration is given 70 the interests
OF the Republican organization IN that state BOth
these objects, it Is believed, can be secured at the
same time and thus all friction working at cross
purposes be avoided during the coming political
Campaign. Republican Senators who have read the
outline of General Aahones views in regard TO tariff
and currency questions which was published in THE
TRIBUNE to-day express much qualification at hnd-
ing his opinions sound and well defined, and
declare that the frank avowal of them has greatly
strengthened his position.
Congressman Dezendorf win hold a conference
with the Committee Of Safety tomorrow morning
regarding the situation in Virginia. Mr.. DezendOrf
takes the ground that the Republicans of Virginia
ought TO preserve their organization intact and hold
state Convention as usual. Then II they lind the
candidates and platform If the Readuster party
such as they can support, ne thinks tho Republicans
ought rightly to pass resolution fayOring the Re-
adjuater ticket, and recommending Republicans to
support II. These views, Mr. DezendOrf says, are
shared by Congressman JorgeDsen, Judge Hughes.
ex-senator Lewis and the other prominent Repubh-
can leaders IN Virginia with very few exceptions.