The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-11
SENATE COMMITTEES.
,,R cORMAN LIKELY BE CHAIR
NAN or APPROPRIATIONS.
Many Of the Virgins Representatives
Leave for Home-A Keminiscence of
the May Convention.
TINS BUEEAU. RAPLKY BUILDING,
WASHINGTON. March 10. 1898.

Capitol "a drcary looking place this morn
us. The postofices in both wings Of the
tluding are open. and the Offices Of the
sefecaLt-at-arms and clerk are still oc-
cupicd. but the visitors are very few.
and the members of Congress do not
freql ant the building these days.
The Senate Caucus Committee on the
arrangement OF committees. etc, are still
hard At work. and there are rumors OF
some little friction on the subject. II
Is said that Senator German wants to
be chairman Of appropriations. while
Senator Cockrell IS the ranking Demo
erlt on that committee. and would
naturally be the successor OF Senator
Allison. Mr.. Goiman. who is by fag the
shrewdest of all the political plotters'
has fixed the committee much TO suit
himself. Being chairman Of the caucus
he is chairman of the committee 10 hk
the Senate committee. this he has packed
with his friends and cunningly tea Seha-
tor Cockrells hands by putting MN on
th. committee. The fight Is on, ana
Senator German has the best or u by
naming the committee, and 1t Is likely
that the precedent will be broken ana
Senator Cockreu viii have 70 take some
thing else.
Tho members Of the Virginia delegation
who have remained here during the week
have been busy I'm all Of the departments
with the filing Of petitions ana apphca-
tions. Almost AN of them however, are
gone and not until their fun meeting here
on tho 2gd instant will much more be ac-
Complished
Things bear the appearance Of failure
o. organize the Senate The composition
-.
of the Tinauce Committee is the NAN
bone of contention in the caucus.
although there is a fierce fight over other
important committees. Naturally Presl-
dent cleveland desires above all things 10
control the Finance COMMITTEES in the in
forest Of his opposition 10 silver. and also
.n the tariff question. If The rule OF
HromOtion be followed, Senator NooT-
hoes. silver man. becomes chairman.
and as ths majority OF the Democratic
eanators are silver men the administra-
ton is concentrating all its power 10 keep
lltm OF the Finance Committee. The
silver men, however. do not propose TO
allow the Executive 20 organize the Sen
ore committees. more especially that
of finance. and Senator German is exert
ing all his cunning and diplomacy TO
bead off the silver men.
Should the Senate fan to effect an or
gaDlzdtion no combinations can be had
unless by unanimous consent without re-
ference TO committees. and the Senate
must then adjourn the executive session.
This would force the President to appoint
ia the interim. subject 10 action by the
Senate when il recOhYencs.
Congress man Ben. H. Bum, Of Rocky
Mount. n. c., left this morning for his
home. L cannot accomplish anything
nors for my folhr," lac 5aiu, Dut VIII
return as soon as the departmental as
sistants are appointed. and then will be
nN. d. In lftk Ff "a faTs-
resentauve Bum is one of the most ac-
tive members ia the North State dele
cation, and has accomplished great
amount OF valuable work for his State
and constituents
The presence In the city Of Judge VII
liam i. Rhed. of Bristol. who was yes
terday compnmcnted by the Tennessee
attorneys upon his clear and splendid
presentation of Nirginia's case in the
boundary controversy recalled to all Of
the Nirglnians here the prominent part
which ne played in the state convention
in Iuchmoud last May.
Last night little cotcrie OF very promi-
ucnt men of the State were gathered in
room in an uptown hotel The blue cigar
smoke cuflcd thiCkiy about the room. and
the political outlook for the future and the
inside histories of many past conventions
was being peasngly rehearsed. one
olI gentleman. whose family name is in
separately linked with the history Of the
Commonwealth. tilted himself back in
Dis chair. and said. "rO my mind the
couvention OF last May presents TO a Nir-
an.an the most intricate and interesting
complications OF an the conventions
during the past thirty years have at
tended them ALL he said. but for the
first time I'm my life l saw political ma
uoruvriug that astonishcd me. and even
] a4f Ia Ia
Of that wonderful combination.
The fact is." he continued. that was
thr first convention I ever saw in which
the viii. purpose and intent OF n palpable
Democratic majority was made subser-
Went 90 the political aspirations of the
f0.called leaders of the party. 10 you
know Dee exclaimed. as he threw the
half-smoked ciear into the crate. that
every single man who spoke that after
noon in the cleveland supporters meet
inr in the Richmond Theatre is now an
absolute aspirant and vigorously
candidate for some Office, and was then
ana is now dependent largely upon the
good viii of the minority. with whom
they advised and pleaded with Us 10 unite
as "a matter Of harmony. That one word.
harmony was a coinage Of trembling
politicians, and its acceptance and en-
dorsemcnt by our alleged leaders. in the
face OF a majority protest. was the fatal
drug that made piEmies of what we nad
learned 20 think We're big men,
An ola NirgInian. who for the past de-
cade has lived outside Of the State.
aroused "a little by the earnestness Of the
speaker and who. not having been pres
emit az the convention. Strengthened him
SELF from his half-reclining position on
the sofa and admitted that ne did not
catch the fun drift Of the conversation.
well exclaimed the first speaker,
"the whole story Is in a nutshell A
majority OF the Democrats Of Virginia
We're I'm favor OF the denomination OF Mr..
Cleveland, and Messrs John Goode, Colo
uol OFcrral. Basil Gordon, Fitz Lee
and others were accepted as the leaders
% this element. Senator Daniel had been
outspoken I'm his dislike 10 this arrange
ment. and was virtually allied TO the
strong following which the Hill managers
had put 90 work In the State soon after
the New York snap convention. The Sen
ator wanted OF course, 10 so 10 the
Chicago convention as an elector and
with Mr.. Taylor Ellyson and others
opened up Hnl convention. The Clevt-
land leaders finally agreed 10 divide. in
the holy name OF harmony, and now
every one Of them are supplicants for
tie support OF the political minority.
which by their magnanimity they restored
% prestige"
but where did Judge Rhea come in?'
asked the sojourner IN another State.
tfAIW b. ttIPbea