The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-08
THE SENATEG
Remarkable Changes in the Nc.
bership of the Most Imports !.
ant Of Them.
An Unwritten Custom About Seats
Which Has all tho Force
of Law.
Interest as to Where Peirer and Kyle VIII
Vote ON the First Political
Division.

WASHINGTON, June THE changes in tn.
membership of the senate will result il
some very remarkable changes in the COM
mlttees OF that body Mr.. Spooner wal
chairman of the very important COMMITTEES
on claims and his successor, in accordance
with precedent, would be Mr.. Mitchell, ol
Oregon, who is second on the committee
But Mr. Mitchell is chairman of the COM
lnittee on railroads, and the understanding
is that he will prefer to retain that chair
manship. and he is not likely to have two
when there are SO many new senate who
have no chairmanships. Next to Mr..
Mitchell on the committee on claims is Mr..
higgins. of Delaware, who has done much
good service for comparatively new sena-
tor, and he will probably succeed to the
chairmanship. The committee on the
District of Columbia is one which has
very greatly suffered by the resignation
or defeat of its members. The first three
members of the committee were Ingalls,,
spooner and Farwell. This places the
fourth man, Mr.. MCMILLAN. of Michigan, in
the line of succession. Mr.. Mcmillan is now
chairman of the committee on manufac-
lures. but it is understood he has indicated
his desire to become chairman of the COM
mittes on the District of Columbia, and ar
rangements have already been made upon
that assumption. Mr.. McMillan's accept
ance of the position of the chairman of the
committee on the District of Columbia is
awaited with much interest here. II is
known that he devoted great deal of time
to the study of municipal improvements
and of municipal control. Mr.. Blair was
chairman of the committee on educa-
cation and labor. He is now minister
to China so far as the right to draw
She salary ID concerned. Wilson, of Iowa,
could succeed him if he should SO desire, or
to the committee on the revision of the
laws. of which he is now member. The
names on that list in their order are Stan
ford. Stewart and Washburn, who are
chairmen respectively of the committees on
public buildings and grounds, mines and
mining, and Improvement of the Missis-
sippi river. These are all important posi-
tions which may influence the total levou-
tron of another important committee. One
OF the most striking changes has been in
the membership OF the committee on judi
ciary. Mr.. Edmunds was for many years
chairman Of that committee; he has re-
signed. Mr.. ingalls, and Mr.. Evarts were
next in rank to him. They have also been
retired by the people. Mr.. Hoar. of Massa-
ohusetts, Is next III order, ana he is also the
chairman of the committee on privileges
and elections. 1t is not known whether
he would prefer to be chairman of the com
nlittee on the judiciary or to retain the
chairmanshlp on p ivileges and elections
! he impression is that he may be disposed
to accept the judiciary chairmanship, which
is regarded as the ranking committee. 1t is,
m, inn, orfn ntok
tees i'll that body. MIR. Evarts' retirement
leaves vacancy also at the head of the |
committee on the library, which in iupor-
tant, although there are but three members |
of that committee. Should Mr.. Hoar leave |
the craftsmanship of the COMMITTEES on |
privileges and elections, that committee
would also be pretty we'll dismantled. Mr.
Frye is next in order, but he would prob
ably much prefer to retain the chairman
ship of the committee on commerce, which
he now has and to which he for some years
asplred. MIR. Teller is next in rank upon
the committee on elections, but the impress
sion ls that he would prefer to remain
chairman of tho committee on patents,
where he now is. In that case, Eyarts and |
spconer. having made vacancies, senators
new to the duties of the committee
on elections would have to lead it.
1t is curious in all these changes that the
leading comnlttees--on appropriations, on
commerce, on finance and on foreign rea-
tlons-are so lightly affected. Mr.. Farwel
IS the only member to leave the appropria-
lions committee, and Mr.. Evarts and Mr..
Edmunds have left the committee on for
s1Rn relations. The changes in the demo-
cratic memberships will not be so striking
- the vacancies made by the retirement OF
Reagan. Hampton. Hearst and Wilson, of
Maryland, can easily be made good from
heir new recruits. The new men can
hardly be less significant factors in any
committee memberships than have those
members who have retired. The chance in
he seating of members will be interesting
'lso to know. Under the system which has
prevailed from iInmemoriai DAYS in the
enate the choice of seat is regulated by
little book which is kept i'll possession of
ne venerable doorkeeper of the senate,
Mr.. Bassett. There is no law or rule
customs which he's all the force of rule;
md although it has been suggested on
many occasions that these assignments
'uRht to be under the control of the score ,
AIRY of tue senate or sergeant-at-arms of
he senate. no one seems to be disposed to
Interfere with the ancient usage. Senator
Dixon, of Rhode Ialand, will succeed to the
eat 40 long occupied by the veteran Ed
nunds. Mr.. Dixon also had an early point
8 to the retirement of Mr.. Edmunds, for
has been recsntly ascertained that his |
anne was on the list for MIR. Edmunds' {
Voo lohS ipioir uhNUIs kU6W GuaG +. Ed
1unds contemplated resigning. Mr.. Wash I
urn, of Minnesota, has made y very good a
kchange In securing the seat 30 long held
y Mr.. Ingalls,. The new senators are gen
rally compelled to take back seats unless
hey can arrange with some of the older
enators for an exchange. This, however,
s'y rarely happens. since age and service
ather than reputation or great acquire
,ents constitute Importance in senatorial )
ank.
On the democratic side of the chamber T
mere are not SO many changes on the seats. +
lr. PETER has chosen n seat in the extreme e
ght on the republican side, rs if to get M 1,
n away AZ possible from the democrats +
ho paid him snch nssiduous court. Mr.. =
yle, the other Farmers alliance senator, =
as captured by the democrats when he "
tst arrived in Washington and assigned a
J n seat on the left of the democratic side
the chamber. There are mtimations
owever, that MIR. Kyle will seek to secure
place on the republican side AZ near as he
IN to that selected by Mr.. Petfer There il
ill he great interest manifested in the r
arty affiliations of these two senators
hen the first ol-calls shall be- heard in =,
10 senate IL on politjcal uuastionr l