New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
DEMOCRATIC MAJORITYGONE
COMPLEXION OF THE SENATE CHANGED
BY MR.. MANTLE'S ARRIVAL.
THE COMBINED STRENGTH OF REPUBLICANS
y AND PoPULIsTs NOW JUST EQUAL TO THAT

, AND PoPULIsTs NOW JUST EQUAL TO THAT
OF THE DEMocRATs-THE NEW sENA-
TOR FROM MONTANA
Z TpY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington. Feb The swearing in to-day
OF Lee Mantle as Senator from Montana dssi-
pated the party majority in the "deliberauve
branch" which the Democrats have maintained
for the last two years. the Democratic member
ship falling to just one-half the total number or
Senator's. With Mr. Stevenson in the presiding
officers chair the casting vote Of the Nice-Pres-
dent will be available TO maintain for week or
two longer the nominal Democratic preponder-
ance but on the arrival of Messrs. Clark and
Wilson. the newly elected Republican Senators
from Wyoming and Washington. the Democratic
side will be reduced to actual minority the
combined Republican and Popust strength eN-
ceedlng the Democratic by two votes
The advent of Mr.. Mantle caused the total
number Of Senators to be raised from eign'y-hVe
To eighty-six and Of this number majority Is
forty-four. The Democrats have for'y-thlee
seats or just one-half the total NUMBER. ana one
short of an actual majority The Repuohcdhs
now hav thirty-eight votes. and the fopuiist
strength remains a. five. including senators
Jones and Stewart of Nevada who were not
elected 10 the Senate as Populists, but who have
since joined that party
Senator Mantle is not stranger here, as ne
spent some time in Washington In the spring OF
1893 endeavoring to take the seat to which he
had been appointed by the Governor Of Montana
after the Legislature had adjourned without
having broken the deadlock in the Senatorial
race His appointment, 1t will be remembered
was held by the Senate to be illegal after spir-
tied contest which was of greater consequence
because Of the fact that there were two other
cumstances-Allen. of Washington, and Beck
with Of Wyoming-and their votes were
looked upon by the silver men In
tse Senate as essential to successful re-
sistance to the efforts of the Administration 10
repeal the Sherman law Mr.. Mantle is rather
vouthful good-looking man, with smooth lace'
somewhat heavily built, and possessing cordlai,
easy He has seat IN the nul 81
corner of the chamber next to Mr.; BURROWS, ol
Michigan and just behind Mr. Lodge NeNt 10
hin, toward the north wall will sit MI CLARK OF
Wyoming whose arrival here has Deen eHpecteu
for several DAYS When he comes the tolal hieilI-
bership of the Senate will go up TO elgh'y-seNeh'
and the Democrats will then have not even
&c their strength remaining at forty-three ana
that Of the Republicans gong up 10 I'm X,,,
The majority remains at forty-four MI W w.,
inst chosen Senator from Washington 10 MI one
Of the three vacancies, cannot well reach mere
for several davs, his final electon mas oiIi9
heen accomplished few hours ana II VIII re-
ouire al least a week for Mr.. wilson " ,ea. az,
this city with his credentials his arrva WIN
eIve forty votes to the Republicans. ana VIII
carry tho total membership up to eignty-elgnt,
the present Constitutional limit. The majority
,o,,st then he fortv-five which will be TWO more
than the Democrats can muster from thei OWN
ranks