Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-03-22
Senate Elective Offices.

caucus yesterday to consider the sub
jcct of the reorganization of the elective
office Of the Senate. There was large
attendance, every democratic Senator
with the single exception Of Senator
Walthall, Of Mississippi, being present.
As at the preceding conferences, Messrs.
PETER, Kyle and Allen, despite the fact
that they have been given committee
chairmanships by the majority, were
not recognized as being democrats and
were not invited to attend.
At the previous caucus the whole mat
ter of whether or not the party should
tempt reorganization at this time was
left to the steering committee" Of
which Mr.. German is chairman. The
report was made, but contained no rec
concentrations. The committee held a
number of conferences, but was unable
to agree upon report that should be
positive in its character. Some OF the
members were for reorganization,
while others opposed it as be-
ing q violation Of precedents. 1t Is
rumored Senators German and Cockreli
were opposed to reorganization for the
reason named.
The caucus adjourned at 4 o'clock
having during the four hours OF Its
session come to the determination to
nominate the elective officers. The
ticket so nominated is composed OF
William r. Cox, of North Carolina, an
ex-representative for secretary of the
Senate Richard ]. Bright, of Indiana,
x-sergeant-at-arms, for Sergeant-at-
arm; Rev. w. H. Milburn, present
chaplain of the House OF Representa-
tives, for chaplain of the Senate. They
were all nominated by reclamation.
This result was not reached, however,
without protracted debate, for there
was considerable element OF the party
that opposed the idea of doing any
thing that would be violation of the
precedents of the Senate and give cause
to opposition on the part Of the repub-
licans. The caucus instructed the Of
licers to retain Capt. Bassett and Ser
geant-at. Arms Charles B. Read. Capt
Bassett's figure has become historic al
the Senate wing of the Capitol. Mr.
Read is a Maine republican, but has
proven himself so efficient, courteous
and popular with everybody that his
retention has given universal satisfac-
ton. Probably a dozen old employees
will be retained under the reorganiza-
ton.
No time was fixed for the presenta,
ton of the necessary resolutions in the
Senate, and they may be deferred OF
or may come up for action. A leading
member of the committe stated that the
chief reason why the caucus took this
course was to get rid of the importunl-
ties of candidates and to enable the
Senate TO 90 about lis regular work.
1t is likely that compromise will be
reached whereby the present officers OF
the Senate shall retain their places un,
til the end of the present fiscal year, in
June, when the new ones will take hold
After the caucus was over one OF the
leading members of the democratic
committee said that it was the inten,
ton of the party to make the attempt
to elect the nominees. Just when this
would be done he could not say, but
the resolution. he thought, might be
introduced in the Senate at any time
now. If the republicans appear to be
determined in their effort to prevent a
reorganization at this session it may he
that the democrats will dcsist and let
it go over.
The republican Senators about the
Capitol look upon the action of the
caucus as declaration that the demo-
Gratis intend to inaugurate 4 contest
over the organization, and they will
hold another caucus to decide upon
their plan of campaign. One republi-
can Senator who took a prominent part
in the last caucus said that the republic
cans would not stand idly by and see
the precedents of the Senate violated
without n protest, and minated that
if the democrats precipitated contest
there was no telling when it would end.
The caucus did not fix any time for
action looking to the election of the OF
licers nominated, and it may be defer
red or it may come up soon. The gen
cral sentiment among the Senators pre-
sent was in favor of early action, but it
was agreed to leave the question Of the
time of action to the steering COM
mittce," which will meet this morning
before the hour for the meeting of the
Senate. 1t is certain an effort will be
made to carry out the reorganization
some time before the adjournment of
the extra session, but if the republicans
are determined in their opposition the
matter will be dropped.