The Washington critic., 1886-11-11
THE BALANCE or POWER IN THE
SENATE,

SENAIts
There was good deal of what
Artemus Ward called "laughture on
the back seats, in the Senate during
the last session, whenever Senator
Van Wycl arose to ask the considera.
tion of resolution which went against
the grain of any fat and saucy corpora.
tion, or which strolcd any old purring
abuse the wrong way.
In like manner when Senator Rid
dleberger insisted on n hearing In OPP
position to executive sessions of the
Senate ne never seemed TO be in order;
yet, whenever he made the same point
Of order on another Senator, it some
way happened that the point which
was good as against him was not good
as against others.
These two Senators seemed to be
sometimes objects of ridiculo and at
other times objects of irritation to some
of their brother Senators.
Now it appears that they hold the
balance of power between the two
Republicans in good and regular stand
ing, then the Senate is not Republican,
If they could be disciplined by their
party associates at the last session for
entertaining and expressing indepen-
dent views on such nonpolitical ques-
lions as the control of corporations and
the rules of the Senate, they may take
il into their heads to discipline their
fellow Republican members now that
they have the power. That they will
do this to some extent seems quite
probable. The question of just what
direction 1t will take is one Of consider
able interest.
They may offer their vote to the
Democrats on two or three vital non
political questions, such as forfeiture
of railroad land grants, the reduction
of the tariff, the enforcement Of the
payment of the overland railroad debt
to the Government or the repeal of the
Civil-Service Reform law. This would
compel showing of the Democratic
Or they may conclude to revise the
Senate Committees. The committees
are, as most people know, chosen by q
majority vote OF the Senate. When
the Republican Senatorial caucus
meets to consider the subject of the
committees after the 9th of March
next, it will be well for them TO notice
whether Senators Van Wycll and Rid.
dleberger are present. If not it may
be well to see them and ask them ii
they are satisfied with the arrangement
of the committees as then proposed.
If this ceremony should be omitted, ii
would not be surprising TO sec them
vote with the Democrats for a resou.
tlon substituting an entirely different
list of committees. These two gentle.
men can give the committees to which
ever party seems disposed to treat then
with the courtesy due to theil
positions.
For example, Mr. Van Wyck would
make an excellent chairman Of the
Committee on Pacific Railroads, if al
lowed to have a working majority OF
those who are in accord with him. Mr..
Riddleberger would make good chair.
man Of the Committee on Naval Affairs
and is from State in which navy,
yard is located Then other commit
tees could be reformed. The over
shadowing Wall street influence in the
Finance Committee could be neutral
lied and the silver men given ma
jority of it, with either Jones of NevadI
or Beck at the head-according as thC
two balance-of.power Senators might
choose.
In short, the Balance. Power party
in the Senate can either make The
committees and dictate legislation, Of
they can force the members of botl
parties TO join hands in support oI
corporate and Wall street influence
and thus hasten on the Henry George
era.
The latter course has already been
hinted at by that stauuch Republican
Blaine organ, the Philadelphia Press
which says 1t might be better to have
the Senate Democratic than have it Re
publican by the aid Of such men a
Riddleberger and Van Wyck. uenc
there Is fun ahead.