Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-04
The Caucus Plan.

THE PROGRAM AGREED UPON FJR DISPATCH Of
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE.
The adjourned republican caucus yesterda,
afternoon resumed the discussion OF the fore
noon as 10 what should constitute a contested
nomination, and finally the report of the CON
to make the doubtful features clear, and adopt
ed with entire unanlmlty In the shape OF 8
resolution which provides, In substance. thai
executive sessions shall De held forthw {tht
first one today for the transaction OF accu
mulated business in the following order: First
the reference OF nominations now on the table
to appropriate committees; second. the consid-
Grafton OF the pending treaties. and, third the
consideration OF all nominations heretofore Oh
hereafter reported from the Senate committees
which. respectively. are not objected 10 bv one
of,ce appertains or from which-in the case o.
national or territorial appointment-the nom
inee is to be appointed. It was further ex
pressIy provided that as soon as the uncontest
ed cases shall have been disposed OF. the caucus
shsll again assemble for the purpose OF deter.
mining what additional business should theL
be considered by the Senate; and that although
Id the meantime the contested cases. (as
above defined) shall not be allowed to impeie
the transaction OF other business, the caucus
Is left wholly unpleGged as 20 its future action
In regard to them.
THE MEANING OF THIS LINE OF POLICY
Is just this: IL the republicans should without
some unity OF action agreed upon in advance
60 into xecutive session, the democrats would
TO all inten;s and purposes control the Senate
The democratic leaders know quite well the
subjects OF controversy between certain repub-
lican Senators and the administration. Now,
IL there were 10 caucus agreement aud an ex
ecutive session was held, It would naturally
follow that democratic member would move
the discharge OF the committee having In
charge, cay the nomination OF Judge Robert.
SOD, with solid democratic vote favoring such
molten, and such republicans as are the friends
of the nominee 1t would prevail. Hence, IN
this wise the democrats would control the ex-
ecutiye business. 1t was to guard against any
such contingency the committee OF safety was
APPOINTED. The aim OF the republican leaders
was not to have an executive session until the
republican Senators agreed to stand solid. and
there was complete understanding as to
what business should be transacted when such
sessions were held. The agreement made In
caucus yesterday, OF course destroys the power
OF the democrats to do harm This for the rea-
son that the policy outlined was the unanimous
voice OF the caucus. II now democrat should
move the discharge OF any committee having
The custody OF any nomination, the considera-
tion Of which would brew trouble In the repub
lican ranks. they would not have the necessary
votes to accomplish the object, for the reason
that the republicans would vote solidly against
them.
But THREE t'CoNTEsTED' NOMINATIONS UNDER
THE AGREEMENT 4
The debate in the caucus was spirited, but
not violent The greater portion Of the time
was consumed In discussing what should be
properly clasSed as contested nomination. IL
was hnally decided that a contested nomtna-
tion should be construed to be one to which
either enc or both OF the Senators, hatling from
the state from which the appointment was
made, entered objection. As q matter OF fact
under this construction there are but three
such cases-cne Is Judge Robertson. to whom
both Senators Conkling and Platt object; the
second. VIM. E. Chandler, to whom Senator
Don Cameron objects; and the third Lionel
Sheldon, a territorial appointment) n0mina-
ted to be governor of New Mexico. to whom
Senator Sherman objects. There is reason to
believe that all save these nominations will be
promptly confirmed when the Senate gets on
the calendar OF executive nominations. The let
ter written by the President to Senator Dawes
WAS not read at the caucus.