The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-22
SEATING OF SENATORS.
The Question VIII Be the Sub
ject Of Hot Debate.
A LONG SESSION or SENATE.
Five Thousand Omcial Heads Await
Headsman Maxwells Az.

Rostmssters of Washingten VIII Soon
Meet Their Doom-Cleveland Has
Checked Ring InAuencs and Every
O0cs Seeker scramblss for HimselA
WAeHINaroS CIrY, March N.-rSpecial.l
the action of the senate with reference to
the senators from Washington, Montana
and Wyoming on account of the fact that
the committee on elections will submit
both majority and minority report on
these cases. It is hard matter to pre-
dict what the outcome will be when the
vote of the senate 10 taken. The members
of the committee were SO evenly divided
that this may have some influence on the
senate as body when the matter is voted
on for final settlement. Senator Allen is
taking matters very quietly. He does not
appear to be worried over the situation
and is probably willing to abide by the
senate's action, whether it is for or against
him.
1t is said. upon what appears to be ex-
cellent authority, that the present session
of tho present senate will continue for
fully eight weeks yet. The purpose of
this, 20 it is claimed, is to await the re-
turn of Commissioner Blount from
Hawaii, who, ii is expected, will be able to
make full report upon the present situa-
tion of affairs in the islands, so far as it
relates to annexation. 1t is now expected
that Blount can accomplish his task and
get back here within that period. In
that case President Cleveland can act and
have his action either ratified or rejected
before the adjournment Of the present ex-
traordinary session.
1t was quite generally understood at the
interior department today that the ap-
pointment of commissioner of the gem
eral land Office and . commissioner of
patents will be sent to the senate tomor-
row. It is believed, however, that the
appointment OF q pension commi ssioner
will be delayed several days There are
some who still stick to the opinion that
Judge Trip will be land commissioner.
It is known to be fact that some Western
man will get it and his assistant is pretty
certain to be Western man. d. O. Finch,
of Seattle, may yet be struck by official
lightning.
Within the next few days Head Axman
Maxwell of the postoffice department, will
probably get around to Washington state.
and many vacancies now existing in the
fourth-cIass postoffices will be filled. 1t
will be remembered that soon after the
last election fourth-class postmasters all
over the country began to send in their
designations. Many, Of them came from
Washington state. No action has since
been taken on any Of them. It is now
said there are moro than 5000 vacancies in
fourth-class offices in the different states.
On account of this fact it will be several
days before Maxwell will get time to use
his official AZ.
Applications from the Democrats who
want to fill the offices in Washington state
under this administration are not coming
in rapidly at the treasury department.
Today J. c. McGregor, of Tacoma, applied
for q position as chief of the customs
division. and Charles A. Sawyer, whose
residence is not known at the department,
wants to be shipping commissioners Ut Port
Townsend.
The pressure excited by congressman
at the White House for appointments has
developed into individual scramble. The
president has effectually disintegrated
tho delegation Endorsement system, and
now each man is going in for himself and
pushing individual friends. One result
which the president has achieved and
which was his design is the breaking up
of ring politics in delegations. Patronage
heretofore considered the sacred property
of senators. for instance. marshals and
district attorneys, is now declared tree for
all, and the humble members of the lower
house, or even q group of private citizens,
may present the names of candidates with
some degree of hope Of success.
The Democrats in the senate met In
caucus at noon to consider the subject of
the reorganization of the elective officers
of the senate. At the previous caucus the
whole matter was left to the steering
committee" Of which German is chair
man. The report made was q surprise. to
the junior senators at least. as it contained
no recommendation. The committee has
had a number of conferences, but was un-
able to agree upon report that should be
positive in its character. The caucus ad.
iourned at 4 o'clock, having como to the
determination to nominate elective off,
GERS The ticket SO nominated is:
william r. Cox. of North Carolina, sx.rspre-
sentative, Tor secretary of the senate
Rhinehard J. Bright. OF Indiana, ex-ssrReant-
alarms, for sergesntatarm
Rev W. h Milburn, the present chaplain Of
the house OF representatives. for chaplain of the
senate.
This result was not reached without a
protracted debate, for there was q consid-
erable element of the party that opposed
the idea of doing anything that would be
a violation of the precedents of the senate
and give cause for opposition on the part
of the Republicans. The question OF the
admission of the three senators appointed
by the governors of Montana, Wyoming
and Washington was not broached. Tho
question will come before the senate on
the report Of the committee on privileges
and elections. The patronage of the SEN
ate was considered, for a list was made of
employees Of Republican faith who are to
be retained. After the caucus was over.
one of the leading members of the Demo-
cratic committee said that it was the in
tention of the party 20 make an attempt to
elect its nominees. but just when this will
be done he could not say, though a resolu.
ton, he thought, might tie introduced in
the senate at any time. If the Repub-
hcans appear determined in their effor. to
prevent reorganization a. this session. il
may be tha. the Democrats will desist and
let il go over. 1t appears. though, that
there is no probability Of an abandon ment
OF the idea TO make al least an effort to
carry out the will OF the caucus.