The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-05

The Republicans Decide That They Are to
hn EiIIcd nv "a Committee of Nine.

WASHINGTON. d. c., Dec. 1.-The Re-
publican Senate caucus this afternoon
was exceedingly brief not more than ~
teen minutes being spent I'm the marble
room.
Senator Sherman, chairman OF the cau-
Gus, was Authorized to name com
mittee OF nine, whose duty II snail he
TO fiji the vacancies in the Senate com
mittecs and Designate the committee
chairman.
This committee will be reported 10 a
caucus to be called, when senator sneI
man has made his selection, and there
IS no doubt but what the committee Sc
lected by him will be approved by the
caucus. The Republicans are proceeaihs
IN the matter OF filling the, committees
as though there was no DOUBT aDoul
their eventually taxing full control OF
the Senate The committee appointed py
Mr.. Sherman Will confer with the Demo
cratic managers. ana ascertain lut ptNiei
ences of that party for committee aa-
signments. a.,
proposed reorganization or the elecuN'
officers. and it is not probable that any,
thing will be done in this matter uhlil
after the holiday recess; Ia.
The caucus Of POpuiist senators ItsV
night does not appear 20 give ihe he- M
termined that they would not make any
EFFORT TO reOrganize along their own
lines. but agreed to stand nrnly 10
gether Messrs. Jones and stewart, OF
Nevada. were present pu' the nliruhhrs i.',ha5
force of their agreement Is somewhat
weakened by the modification 70 tne Ell
feet that thew should vote sondly EilicSs
IL was apparent that the heDupilca,ls 10
had determined upon a reoI an s,,aHe n
the Democrats determined 10 make
aght AGAINST giving up control Of the
When that hour arrives Il Is belIeYsd e,,
that the PoDulists VIII dNlue ~ ,,htc6
10 their afHliati0n with the parties Whicn
means that two would so 20 the iiens~- 40
Gratis ard four 20 the hepipilIans IN
he successful IN an effort 10 inahtAmiil ~ - -"
control the Democrats wouln ppon,list
pelled TO command the """io
NIIf tho Democrats should enter an op-
toc,ion to the election of Republican
chairmen for the Senate committees, ana
the members OF that party cannot get
the necessary majorities, II transpi =
that they can place majority OF eneli
senators on the committees a'yhVW
So,na in the caucus to-day called atten-
ton TO rule "A Of the Senate Ihis RUE
has been I'm force since 1923, and its
nort,nence ~ the present situation was
unnotlced until this afternoon. Nhat
The Republicans may easily do IS appa-
rent upon reading the text of this rule,
which is as follows
I'm the appointment OF the standing
committees the Senate, unless Otherwise
ordered. shall proceed by ballot 10 ap-
point severally the chairmen OF each COM
mittee, and then, by one ballot, the other
members necessary to complete the
same"
"A majority of the whole number or
votes given shall be- necessary TO the
choice of a chairman Of a standing COM
mittee but a plurality of votes shall
elect the other members thereof
"All other committees shall be ap-
pointed by ballot, unless otherwise order
ed. A plurality of votes shall appoint
Whatever of doubt may exist as TO
the power Of the Republicans to COM
mand a majority, there can be no ques-
tion OF the fact that they have a plu-
rality OF votes.