New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-20
PRECEDENTS AGAINST REORGANIZING.


REPUBLICANS RESISTING ANY CHANGE IN THE
SENATE STAFF
Washington. March 10 (speciap.-The declared In
tention of the Republican Senators 10 oppose change
In the executive and clerical force of the Senate at
the present special session Is grounded precedenfs
which the majority cannot ignore without cOnvcfine
themselves OF Inconsistency and extraordinary
and unscemy haste to grasp the spells OF Office The
executive force OF the Senate IL In no way protected
by civil service rules, yet In accordance with the
traditions Of that body changes in the more important
Offices have been without elaboration and ample
notice.
since the first session OF the Senate in 1880 there
have been but nine secretaries elected. the average
term Of Office being thus eleven years, and many
Of the secretaries served continuously until death or
voluntary retirement. In the period but twclVe
have filed the post Of sergeant Mt arms. so that
both offices might well be considered as above the
hazard OF the customary struggle for political and
partisan prcferment consequent every change III
the control Of the Senate. Even If these two I'M
portant places to be counted among the ordinary
spos OF Office there Is unwr1ten rule OF the
Senate that forblds the parcellDg ont of them AT
special session called simply for the approval OF
Presidential appontments The Senate force has
never been reoreanized at such session, and the
breach OF custom involved In an attempt to Dust the
present officers now will be Justly and properly re-
scented by the Republican minority.
Apart from the fact that precedent stands
In the way Of partition Of the Senate Offices at this
tine there are other sound why the proposed
REORGANIZATION should be resisted. Tic Senate rl Is
now short by four members. three of them Repnbll-
cans and one Democrat. Relying on an Observance
Of the usual custom, Mr.. Quay, OF Pennsylvania.
went to Florida early this month without qualifying
for his new term. and his name is consequently not
on the Senate list. Mr.. Allen. Of Washington: Mr..
Mantle Of Montana. and Mr. reckwith. Of Wyoming,
all appointces by Governors because Of tn, failure
Of three State Legislatures to elect. Will not be
admitted TO the Senate until the Committee on Priv-
eges and Elections has settled the question whether
such appointments regular and constitutional
Besides among the forty-t three Senators who VIII
make up the reduced quorum which is 10 turn out
the present Senate force. Is Mr.. Martin. OF Kansas
whose title to his place is fur from satisfactory. and
win doubtless be subject to an earnest contest. In
the st Democratic votes TO be used to dspace the
Eecretary and the Sergeant alarms with such I'M
seemly haste Is to be found also that OF senator
Roach Of North Dakota, whose Official position alone
is supposed TO shield him from prosecution for def
alcatiOns committed here In Washington befr MS
entry into North Dakota politics.
The Republican senators lock with Eoo1 Zeal
Of disfavor on the employment Of these votes To
displace from office gallant Union soldiers like Sccr
tary McCook and Sergeant alarms Valentine. and they
are confident that they will have the full support
and sympathy Of the party and tho public in resenting
circumstances the present efficient and deserving
Senate force.