Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-24
HE Is CONSULTED ABOUT MOTH
NG-THOSE COMMITTEE AL
EQUIPMENTS THE RUB.

WASHINGTON, March lr.-In Senate
rial and otfice-seeking civvles to-day
little else is talked of but the Demo-
cratic deadlock in TAG Senate. 1t is
generally believed that the work of
ringing in Il cold deck upon PreSi-
dent Cleveland in the formation Of the
Senate Committees was prompted by
those Democratic Senators who either
know that they are To get no patronage
from this administration or are in
doubt about it and want to place the
thumh-scrcws uron Mr.. Cleveland.
The hand OF David Is. Hin is supposed
to be deep III the plot, while senator
Rrice is credited with hlvinG con-
tributed suggestions in the work. al
though he denies it. Whatever the
motive may have been and whatever it
was that accomplished the fine Italian
work, ii is conceded to bc about the
smartest thing that has been az, ON
plished in political circles for many
years
1t is extremely important for the
President that the majority of commit
tees in the two houses of Congress
should be in full accord with him, es-
pecially when the political complexion
of Coz. greSs is the same as that of the
President. Were either house COM
posed of a majority from the opposite
party no one would expect any parti-
san legislation. But the Democrats
have clear, positive majority in the
Senate. without the least quibbling
or barter, while IN the house their
ma jority is large to ii burGensome ex-
tent. 1t would be natural, therefore,
to have at least the important commit
tees framed with special respect to
the personal wishes of the President.
Mr.. Cleveland supposed that he
would be consulted by the leaders of
the Democratic side as to the furma-
ton of such committees as finance ap-
preparations, judiciary, commerce,
postof1ices, pu blic lands, Indian affairs.
etc. but he was not consulted by any
one. No one asked his wishes, and the
result was both surprising and humili
ating to him. All of those committees
are under the control of his personal
opponents. Mr.. Cleveland has himself
said that he could expect ust as much
from those committees if they were Or
gained by the Repu blicanS as he can
hope from them now. The name of
either Hill. Murphy, Brice, Pugh or
some other senator who opposed Mir.
Cleveland's nomination at Chicago and
who is now out OF joint with the Prc%i
dent on nearly all political and non
partisan propositions appears upon
every important committece.
Ike casual reader can hardly APP
prCc!atc the Importance of the mean
iig Of the present committee organiHL-
ton. Not only can IL single membcrof
II committee hold up nominations Of
the President and hamper confirlna-
Liun!, bat he can, as Sub-c ommittec-
man having in charge legislation de-
sired by the President. hold back re-
ports and defeat the will OF the Chief
Executive and make, SO far us lcgisla-
ton and Congress are con ,erncd, the
admins ration a failure and clip the
political wings of any man i'll
the White House. This can be
done in most instances under
cover, too. There i, ii "Senato-
rial courtesy which forbids one mem
Der of committee divulging The cause
which retards action in committee or
disclosing the responsibility for mac
ton. Thus if Mr.. Hill wanted as a
sub-cGmnitteemau to dwarf the Prcsi-
he could do it, at least for consider
able period of time, and the Chief Exc
cutive could not ascertain the trouble.
He would realize that he was hurt and
yet he could not see the assailant in
ambush. AS at present organized Mr..
Cleveland is wholly at the mercy of
Democrats who do not like him and
even despisc him, and they will show
rf ba
Offices to them or shows a disposition
to deal with them on Individual
grounds.
Mr.. Cleveland has already acknowl-
edged that he is rowerless To secure
any action upon the silver question, as
Chairman Voorhees, of the Finance
Committee is for free coinage, and has
never professed to be an ardent friend
of the President. If Mr.. Cleveland
cannot secure the repeal of the silver
purchasing act Oh account of the senti-
1nent of a ma ority OF the Finance
Committees proposition which Cor
man, Hill, Murphy and Brice all favor
what can he hope for in personal
or political way from the other
committees which have been framed
with respect to personal antagonisms
to hiTu? Such Il thing as reorgani-
Zation of the Senate committees
to meet the wishes and demands of the
President il looked upon by leading
Senators as next Dan impOssibiiity. 1t
looks as if Mr., Cleveland would have
to capitulate to his enemies or fail TO
accomplish his purposes in the distri.'
button of patronage, if not, indeed,
general legislation. Ofice-giving is
suspended pending reconciliation OF
the difficulty.
Caprivf VIII Make No Concessions.
BERLIN, March 1.-THE committee
of the Reichstag on the army bill dis
cussed the second reading of the bill
yesterday. Herr Bennigsen, on behalf
of the National Liberals, proposed
that the effective force of the army in
time of peace should be fixed at 462,-
600 infantry, to serve two years with
the colors and five in the reserve; the
cavalry to consist OF 465 squadrons; the
field artillery 10 consist of 81 battal-
ions. the pioneer battalions to number
20, and cadre, o. skeleton battslions of
infantry to be formed to the number Of
1873. Chancellor Caprivi said this would
not suffice for the needs Of the German
Empire.
1rH.1 <,,fo ~ y.I,la y,oJiCbaY-,, or