Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-16
A ADEMOCRATIC DODGE
Governor Beavers Nominations Hung
Up in the State Senate.
SOME THREATS OF RETALIATION
Upon the Future Executive Will Probably
Cause Compromise.
FOUR PERSONS NAMED FOR THE ToGA
rrnoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT ]

day it looked like an exciting crisis in the
Senate, which threatened to resul. in clash
between the Republican Legislature and the
incoming Democratic Governor at the very
outset of his administration. Mr.. Pattison
himself was not party to the trouble. 1t
was known that at to-day's session of the
Senate Governor Beaver would send to the
body voluminous list Of appointments
which he has made during the year and q
half since the last Legislature adjourned.
To confirm such appointments in the
Senate, a two-thirds vote is required. That
is "a. This year there are 10 Democrats in
the Senate and 81 Republicans. The Re-
publicans, therefore, lack three votes of
possessing the twc-thirds majority. Know
ing this we'll, the Democratic Senators held
secret caucus this morning, and decided
that until the new Governor is in charge of
the State administration they would oppose
the confirmation of all the retiring Govern
or's appointments except notaries and mag
istrates.
Beginning of the Trouble.
The Senate began its session, and after
other business had been disposed of, the
printed list of Governor Beavers appoint
ments during the year was taken up. A
great many notaries and aldermen were con-
firmed without murmur, and at last Sena-
tor Robinson moved that the appointment Of
William M. Martin. of Chester, as Factory
Inspector of the State for term OF three
years, be confirmed Instantly Senator
Ross, the leader of the Democrats, slipped
over to Robinson's seat and Informed him
quietly of the intentions of the Democratic
members of the Senate.
Robinson at once recognized the gravity
of the position and hastily withdrew his
motion. Confronted by the fact that if the
Democrats were in earnest the 81 RepubIi
can Senators we're absolutely powerless, the
Republicans made an adroit move. 1t had
been intended to adjourn the Senate until
Tuesday next, but this dilemma stopped all
that, for that was equivalent to laying over
Beavers appointments until Pattison be-
came Governor. A recess was therefore
taken until tomorrow morning at II
o'clock.
10 make matters worse, six OF the Repub-
lican Senators were not in the city. They
were Messrs Showalter, Critcbfeld. Porter,
Newell, Upperman and Finn. The Demo.
Gratis were all present but two.
A Republican Caucus Convened.
The Republican Senators therefore imme-
diately called a caucus for 8 P. NJ. The pro.
ceedings of this gathering are kept secret,
but it was ascertained that it was decided to
telegraph for the six absentess to be in Har-
risburg by morning. The attempt to con-
firm the appointments will then be renewed,
and the caucus decided that if the Demo-
Gratis then persist in objecting to the con-
frmations that they, the Republicans, will
resort to a retaliatory course with the very
first appointments which Governor Pattison
sends to the Senate.
The first appointments of Governor Patti
son will be those of the members of his
Cabinet, viz: Secretary of the Common
wealth, Attorney General, Adjutant Gen
eral, and their various deputies. These will
come into the Senate for confirmation on
the very day Pattison is inaugurated, Tues
day next. 1t is equally within the power of
the Republicans to prevent the confirmation
of these men as it is for the Democrats to pre-
vent the appointment of Governor Beavers
men.
All interest centers on to- morrow's session,
and House members generally are staying
over in the city to witness the struggle.
George Handy Smith and Republican Sena-
tors generally laugh at the sudden move of
the Democrats as one of the most impolitic
steps ever taken at Harrisburg.
Merely Display of Power.
They accredit it to two things, one that the
Democrats knowing the lack of a constitu-
tional majority OH the Republican side, sim
ply wanted to make the majority party real
ize how the minority is able to worry it this
winter. The other theory is that the lead
ing spirits In the movement are factional
enemies of Governor Pattison. aud took this
method Of placing him in an embarrassing
position at the outset.
1t is fact that Pattison has not got
ii nfoA,,
yet on the floor of the Senate How many
enemies he has remains to be seen. On the
other hand, Senator Ross explains that the
inwardness of the movement is this: There
may not be single appointee of Governor
Beaver whom the Democrats may wish to
vote against, but it is deemed wisest to de-
lay executive matters of this kind until the
policy of the new Governor is sufficiently
foreshadowed to indicate his wishes and
until the policy OF the Legislature toward
Pattison is also indicated.
Read between the lines, and it would
seem as though the Democrats are making a
high-handed effort to "hold up'' the Repub-
licans until some compromise is offered the
minority party by which they may secure
fair treatment in this Legislature.
More Conservative Counseis Prevail,
At late hour Tonight there were unmis-
ening. Senator Ross says that if Republ-
cans mean what they threaten, then mani
testify neither side can gain anything, and it
is the farthest from his mind to antagonize
the majority party and thus embarrass Gov
ernor Pattison. He says, however, no formal
action will be taken tonight other than
what the Democratic caucus resolved upon
in the morning, but he intimates further
caucus may possibly be held tomorrow. He
says the Republicans did exactly the same
thing with Pattison's appointments when
Beaver took hold, and they simply re-
quested a like courtesy.
The principal appointments of Governor
Beaver which were delayed confirmation
are those of D. j. Waller, Superintendent
of Public Instruction; State Librarian w.
b. Egle, Factory Inspector Martin and
managers OF various State institutions, penal
and charitable. L. E. SToFIEL,
MANY BILLS INTRoDUCED