The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-05
NEXT FEDERAL SENATE.
Changed in Its Membership by
Death and the Fortune Of
Politics.
Tho Republicans Will Have a Ma
jority of a Scant Half
Al Estimate OF the Effect Of These Changes
-Commcnt ON New and Old ,
Member

WARRINGTON, June 4.-The correspondent
OF the Chicago Inter Ocean sends that
staunch partizan republican paper the fol-
lowing letter on the composition OF the next
senate: The United States senate chamber
ia aFdeserted place.. The carpets are put
away, A great many of the desks are re-
moved frem their fastenings. The mechan-
les are busily at work rearranging the desks
as to positions, and the cabinet men are
givingSthem their annual polishing. The
senate chamber is generally a tidy place.
Each year all of the desks receive a new
polish, unless some of the senators desire
to keep the old scratches in view and give
special orders to the contrary. There will
be a great many changes in the outward
appearance of the senate chamber
when congress shall and
a good many different assignments
of members of their seats. The resiRna-
lions and expirations of terms of office
have made a very great change in the per
senneI of the senate. These changes will
be indicated in the seats of senators and
more especially in the organization Of the
committees. The changes in the member
ship of the senate by election, resignation,
and death within the last six months have
been such as to embarrass those who have
tried to keep track of the political COM
plexion of that body without the aid of an
official list. The secretary of the senate
has Just completed an unofficial list of SEN
ators which will have the same effect as an
official list. From this it appears that for
ty-seven republicans, thirty-ssven demo-
Gratis, and two Farmers alliance senators
have been, or will be qualified to
take their seats whenever the SEN
ate shall meet. Two vacancies
exist. one in Maryland, caused
by the death of Senator Wilson shortly be-
forS the expiration of the last congress.
probably been, filled by the election of Sen
ator Call. It SCALED nominally a vacancy
as yet, for the reason that there possibly
may be q contest. But there would seem
to be no reason to doubt but that Senator
Gall will receive the certificate of the gov
error,a and in that case, undoubtedly, he
will be able to maintain his seat without
any very serious contest. The only practi-
CAT question in the matter is that his op-
ponentss claim that he WAS elected in the
absence OLA quorum and consequently that
his election is aot valid. But the probable
INV III tubh AS WITH LIZ 0CCAa4Co v q
therefore only one vacancy can
really be said to exist in the senate.
That is the one from Maryland,
There is one peculiar condition as to this
vacancy. Senator Wilson died before the
expiration of the last congress, n the
governor was entitled to appoint a successor
for the remaining two or three weeks of the
term He did notfdo so. He has not now
the power to appoint to fill the vacancy
which occurred between the date of the
death of Senator Wilson and the expiration
salarySfor the senator for that period will
go,intoathe treasury. 1t is said that it is
tho first time that it has ever happened in
the history Of the senate, The seat in the
senate may be vacant, but the salary, like
Tennyson's heck, rpns on. 1t is also init
not be disposed to fill the vacany, which oc-
Cured for the new term of the Maryland SEN
tor beeinning March 4, for the reason
that he is himself an applicant for the sue
eession. The Maryland legislature does
not elect until January next. 1t is there
ICED in December next with the seat of one
of the Maryland senators vacant. But this
will make no difference in the political
complexion of the body. The Florida SEN
atcr and the Maryland senator will be dem
ocratie. This will give the democrats thir-
ty-nine.
The republican majority therefore will be
reduced from fourteen in the last congress
to SIX in the next. This fact is one which
is necessary to give the republican leaders
much food for thought. And it is one as tc
the reasons for which there have
already been many sharp and unpleasant
denominations. The probability is that on
most questions the tive farmers ALI
ance senators will act with the re
pubiicans, as their affiliations have always
been that way. They, for that matter, have
themselves expressed a desire to sit on the
republican side of the chamber This class.
ifieation, however, mast include lrby, oil
South Carolin, among the democrats; for
although he was elected by she farmers, al
the southern Independents declare emphat-
ically democratic. These changes atfec
the republican party in the senate to d de
senate that met in 1881 was notable for tn
personal changes adverse to the democrats
who lost at that time such able and expert
enced senators as Thurman, who gave wa
to permit MIR. Sherman to return to his oil
seat; Herman, of New York, who wa
succeeded by Thomas G. Plat; Nc
Donald. of Indiana, who WAS sue
ceeded by Benjamin Harrison; Ran
dolph, of New Jersey, who was succeede
by General Sewell, and Withers. of WI
glnia, who was succeeded by Malone. Bt
the present losses of the republicans are nj
less remarkable. The seats of Edmund
Evarts, Ingalls,, Farwell and spooner al
vacant and have been vacated by repui
licans, and it will be difficult for 1eput
licans to find their successors. The reput
licans, however, have one advantage Owe
their opponents. They can spare q goo
many able men still from tine notable Men
bership of the body and yet have capab
leaders. They would have better leade
than it is the fortune of the majority in ar
existing legislative body in the world.
is notorious, on the other hand, that I'll
democrats have a very limited number {
senator's. leaders who can be trusted in a
emergency. In this respect the loss of tt
republicans i'll seats has not been gained |
the democrats.
The democratic successors of the reput
licans are not men who are likely to tai
the front rank in leadership. On the CO.
trary, some of them are certain to brir
chickering's and antagonisms and disgensiol
into the ranks of thor own party and ten
to still further divide the democratic il
huenee. 1t is not even known, for instanc
that Gov. Hill, of New York, will ev
choose TO take his seat in the United Stat
Senate. He is still acting governor, q
though his term as senator began On Mar
4 last. He chose to leave this matter
doubt, for, although entitled under the |;
to have received pay from the 4th of Marc
upon complying with a certain condition,
has failed to comply with that conditio
1t --. Al.A - 4 =.