New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-22
DEMOCRATS CANNOT WATT.
THEY WILL TRY TO REORGANlZE THE
SENATE STAFF NOW.
rrrrr1JcAys WILL FIGHT 1T TO THE END FOR
IT is AGAINST ALL PRECEDENT
AND RIGHT.
,BY -erLLGaArn 10 TIE TRIBUNE,

lBY rELLGaArH 10 TIE TRIBUNE,
Washington, March 2l.-Thc decision OF the Demo
cratic caucus this afternoon TO attempt TO fill the
Offices OF Secretary and >ergcant-atArms of the SEN
ate during the present special session Will probably
mean prolongaion OF TIE sittlngs OF the senate
until late I'm April for the attempt will be resisted
BY the Republicans and parliamentary deadlock
will undoubtedly cnsuc. The purpose OF the ma
jori,y to Gust the present executive ana cierical
force Of the Senate without further delay VIII be
combated as a violation of all senatorial WcccdentS
and as complete reversal OF the position taken
with such emphasis by the Democrats OF the Senate
during the deadlock OF the special session OF 1881.
To change the officials OF the senate resolution
will have to be introduced and put through ana ms
resolution can b. debated indefinitely by TIE minor
ity. The Republicans have thus every parliament
ary advantage in the contest which the majority In
vte and will be able, doubt, TO defeat any vote
of removal while the present session lasts. They
do not oppose q change at tie next regular session
of Congress, but urge, with great justice that the
Democrats should not now openly violate the pre-
ccdcnt they contended for In 1881. nor take advan
tage OF the present unsettled membership OF the bodN
to grasp prcmaturely the little patronage now lett
TO the Republicans In The Senate. The minority 90
not care TO see officials OF the standing and character
Of Secretary McCook and sergeanatArms Nalen-
tine thrust OF their places while four seats IN the
senate are yet vacant and the votes on which Tie
majority have to count for the success OF their rcso
luton OF removal are cast one BY Senator elected
BY a discredited and Illegal Legislature. and another
BY Senator whose official position alone Is supposed
TO shield him from prosecution for cmbezziement.
Whether the contest Is begun tomorrow or post
p0ned until later in the week, the Republicans are
prepared for 1t and reason why they should
not carry their coptcnOn In the end.
The only time according TO the records wien any
thing like similar reorganization was made at Il
special session In 1853, and at that time all the
old officers reelected save the screcant-a arms
the reorganization had for the purpose OF getting
rid OF this particular Official charges having been
preferred against him. In 1861 the Republicans be-
gan to reorganize, but gave II up and the only other
time 1t was attempted was In March, ISL, when the
Republicans undertook 1t and failed AT that time
Mr.. Dawes was the leader OF the Republicans, ana on
March 90 he introduced resolution which declared
II to be the will OF the Senate TO elect lis Officers
The caucus nominees were Mr.. Rddlebcrgcr for Ser
geant- at Arms and Mr. Gorham for secretary. The
resolution came up for action on the following day,
and a fight at prccipiated that lasted Tor
more than six weeks, during which no other Dizziness
was transacted. In this debate, which engendered
much bad feeling, the Democrats asserted that tbcy
opposed the reorganization for the reason that the
whole thing was "a scheme on the part OF tile Repub
lcans to repay General Mnhone Of Virginia for voting
and acting with them, and asserted boldly on the
floor that deal had been made with that senator
whereby the Republicans were TO control the sehae
The Democrats maintane an organized resistance u
any and all efforts OF the Republicans TO elect their
officers, and we've successful. After six weeks OF
deadlock the Republicans capituatcd, and on May
Mr.. Dawes made the motion upon which the senate
went into executive session. there being at The lime
upward Of 800 nominations before II.
The Democrats then In the senate who are sun
members Of the body and who voted soldy all 'he
time to prevent the Republicans from carrying out
their designs Messrs. Call, Camden Coke, uor
man, Harris, Mcpherson. Pugh, Ransom, vance,
Vest Voorhees, Butler, Cockrcll. George and Morgan
In view OF the fact that the contest Is TO be renewed
this time by the Democrats. the arguments they then
used Will make interesting reading. The Repnbi-
cans have been fortlying themselves with this ma
terial, and 1t Is not unlikely that many quotations
from the record Of ss1 will be found In the numerous
speeches that will be made the floor Of the Senate
after the fight begins.
The Ticket nominated by tho Democrats l. com
posed OF william II. Cox, OF North Carolina, an ex'
Representative for Secretary OF the Senate; Richard
J. Bright, OF Indiana, ex sergeantatArms for SER
geant. Arms the Rev W. H. Milburn present Chap
lain Of the House OF Representatives, for Chaplain OF
the Senate. This result was not reached without a
protracted debate for there was considerable Gle
ment OF the party that opposed the Idea OF doing any
thing nat would be VIOLATION OF the presidents Of
the senate and give cause to opposition on 'he part
Of the Republicans.
M time was fixed for the preser taton Of the
necessary resolutions in the Senate. and they may
be deferred or may come up FOR action. leading
member Of the committee stated that the chief reason
why tho took this course was to get rid ol
the opportunities Of candidates and 10 enablt re
senate 10 70 about It's regular work. The nominations
made were adopted with practical unaninity.
At the previous caucus the whole matter Of whether
or moi the party should attempt reorganization al
this tmc was left 10 the steering committee Of
made and TO the surprise OF the junior senators
At least cDntsiDed no recommendations The com
m,ttce held number Of conferences, but were unable
10 agree upon a report that should be positive In
lis Character some OF the members were for re-