The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-08
CHANGES IN THE SENATE.
Anecdotes of the Men Who Will 60
After March 4 Next.

Cardinals Next Senators to be Two
Legged-The Seats of Harris and VOL
colt in Danger.
There IS good working majority of Dem
ocrats in the United States Senate to-day,
and the Demoor ratio party controls the or
ganization and the committees. After
March 4, next Democrats will be in the
minority, but the Republicans will not be
strong enough to take their power IRON
them except b. combination with the Pop
ulist Senators, and such assistance as this
they may not care to accept, writes the
Washington correspondent of the New
York Sun. In the Titty-fourth CongI ess
the Senate will stand politically divided
as follows: Republicans, 43: Democrats,
So: Populists, 4; Independents, or silverltes,
2. 1t has been generally supposed since
the election overturned several Democratic
States that the Republicans would have no
trouble in organizing the new Senate, but
ii study of the above figures will show that
unless senate RS Stewart and Jones of Ne
yada, who have announced their intention
of breaking away from the Republican
ranks, should vote with their old party col
leagues, the Republicans could not count
upon a working majority of their own MEM
bers. Some of the kepublicansparty lead
ers, more over, think 1t would not be the
part of wisdom for them TO upset the Senate
organization and thus be made responsible
for legislation which a Democratic President
could veto, These Senators think it would
be better to allow matters to stand as they
are until 1897, wien they look for gain
of several Republican Senators and ex-
pect Republican President to take up his
residence in the White House.
A study of the United States Senate after
March 4, next is interesting aside from the
question of what party will control the body.
The terms of thirty-three of the present
S enators will expire on that date, and at
least twelve of than will then retire to pri-
vate lite. A majority, at least, of this num-
her have failed to make their mark in the
Senate, and will be forgotten almost as
soon as their successors are elected.
Twelve of the thirty-three are almost GER
tain to succeed themselves. and one. Mr..
Gallery of Louisiana. has already been re-
elected. Eight will be opposed by rivals in
Their own party. but the chances are largely
in favor of all of them being returned.
In the list of the Twelve who will be Sena-
tors no longer when the gavel of Vice
President Stevenson falls on March 4, next,
there is one who has been a picturesque
and striking figure in the Senate for more
than twenty two years. This is Senator
MATT W. RANSOM OF NORTH CAROLINA
who TOOK his seat April "A, 1872, and has
remained on duty ever since. Mr.. Ransom
is one vi the handsome men of the Senate,
and at times an eloquent speaker. He was
one of the conspicuous Generals of the
Confederate army, and came TO Washington
with the reputation of man of ability.
honor, and chivalry. He took his place
among the orators of Congress early, but,
owing to physical ailment, his volce has
been heard little of late in the debates. In
dc cd, Gen. Ransom has not permitted him
SELF to delivera pretentious speech since
1875, when he made the glass roof of the
chamber ring in AN appeal on behalf OF the
South for a liberal appropriation Dy the Gov
eminent to the Centennial Exposition. The
excitement of that speech caused recur-
renee of his ailment and at the close of
his remarks he was carried half fainting
to the cloak room. Since that time Gen.
Ransom has aimed his speeches to the
committee rooms when in consultation with
his colleagues. He has beer faithful at
tendant upon the sessions of the Senate.
During discussions 1t has been his habit
TO walk up and down the cloak rooms and
the corridors apparently lost in thought.
He has always been averse to being inter-
viewd on public or private questions, but
never fails to greet caller with the utmost
Difference and politeness One day last
autumn, during tine crisis in the Senate
struggle over the Silver Repeal bill. re-
porter approached Gen. Ransom as he
paced the lobby, his hands behind his back
and his head bowed. and said:
Senator, what will be the outcome of the
ight?"
Drawing his caller aside, Gen. Ransom
said with great solemnity my friend,
cannot tell you now, but you may say to
the country that we are thinking-deeply
thinking
"a Senator who will be missed from the
Republican side of the chamber, although
he has been very retiring member OF the
loay, never taking part in the debates, Is
Nathan I. Dixon o. Rhode Stand, who ot-
cupies The seat in which his grandfather
also Nathan f. Dixon, sat many years ago
and which in later years belonged to that
stalwart Republican leader. George b. Ed
rnunds. Mr.. Dixon retires voluntarily
from the Senate, as he dislikes public lite
especially in Washington, and prefers the
quiet of his home at Westerly. He will be
succeeded by George Peabody Wetmorc'
one of the wealthest residents of Newport
who is expected tn be one of the largest
entertainers in Washington, Mr.. Dixon
made only one speech in the Senate during
his six years. service. This was delivered
one day when Senators Butler and Ransom
became involved in controversy over the
question of their pairs on a vote then being
taken. When Senator Dixon's name was
called he arose and said, with twinkle in
his eve, that, as the Senator from NORTH
Carolina and the Senator from South Caro-
lima had settled that long-standing dis
nutea he was ready to cast his vote.
Senator Mcpherson, who has served since
1877. has been a dignifed and conscientious
senator, and his family have been pIomi
nent in the social life of the city. The SEN
ator. however, will be apt to be remembered
In Washington chiefly for the remarkable
testimony which he gave last summer be
fore The sugar scandal vestgating com
wistee- In it he admitted that he pun
chased sugar stock after the Tariff Dill ha
reached the Senate, but excused hlmsel
hot tel