New-York tribune., 1895-12-31
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.

the recent Maryland campaign.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
Washington Dec. 3O-Mr. Mitchell Qaep., Ore)
offered his resolution relation to select commit
tees OF the Senate. and II was agreed TO-
This was followed by the Offering, also by MT.
Mitchell of a resolution providing for tho reorgani-
sat.on by the Republicans Of the standing and
selcct committees Of the Senate from and after
January J. 1896.
The proposed committee membership having been
read at the clerks desk. Mr. German Dem.. Md
sa.l that II was the universal in the Senate
for the yarty in the majority 10 control the COM
,nttees. To that there was no objection. 1t was
the proper and orderly way of conducting the busi-
ness affairs OF the Senate But. owing TO the fact
that 81 was we'll known. prior 10 the assembling OF
this Congress. that neither of the great parties.
Republican Democratic. was likely TO have
clear majority In the Senate. a resolution was
adopted by the-Senate continuing the old commit
tees until otherwise ordered by the Senate. I'VE
are perfectly aware" Mr.. German continued. that
the Democrats are in minority In this body. We
have not clear majority OF all the Senators
elected We do not know as yet that the Repuoll-
cans havo a clear majority. That can only be de-
oided by vote on the proposition. If they have,
they are unquestlonaby entitled TO the adoption
OF The resolution and to the entire charge of all
the principal committees Of this body Then the
country will understand perfectly who are to be
held responsible for the conduct of the business OF
this body With a view Of ascertaining that fact
shall demand the yeas and nays on the adoption
Of this resolution"
The vote was then taken and the resolution fixing
the membership OF committees agreed TO: Yeas.
30: nays &. Five Of the six Populists reserved
their votes. namely 3, MssSrs sSna Alsn OF Nebraska
sS'.oiina and PETER Of Kansas. Senator Kyle.
south Dakota. voted no.
PoPULIsTs EXPLAIN THEMSELVES
Mr.. Allen pop. Neb) declared that the Populist
party had no afiation whatever with either OF the
old parties The Populis;s had realized. before the
meeting of this Congress. that there was clear
ma orty Of the Senate In favor OF free ana uniih-
fed coinage Of silver. and they had been perfectly
willing 10 unite in bringing about the passage OF
free-silver They had sent out invitations
to the free-silver Senators, but with the exception
of two or three of them they had not met with the
Populists and therefore the Populis party had re-
solved a. a matter OF policy. to take no part what
ever in the organization of the Senate The Popu-
lists felt that the Republican party was. as between
itself and the Democratic party. IN the ascendency.
and that the responsibility for legislation should
belong to the Republican party in both Houses as
speedily as possible The Populists had felt that IL
was due to themselves as a party that they shouid
take hand whatever in the organization OF the
Senate and should refrain from voting thus leaving
the Republicans and the Democrats to settle the
question OF organization among themselves The
Popuiist party in the Senate and in the House and
IN the country distinct political entity hav-
Ing Its ORGANIZATION III every ott'e -ciAa'Ois'
and having a popular vote within 10000 OF the
number which had landed Mr. Lincoln in the Presi-
dcncy in 1861 The Popusts distinct organiza-
ton and they proposed 10 maintain in this and In
future Congresses.
MR. HARRIS ASKS A QUESTION.
Mr. Harris Dem. Tenn asked Mr. Allen whether
the Populist Senators-an annex OF the Republican
party-ha1 not deliberately determined to allow, by
their silence a Republican organization OF the SEN
ate and whether. therefore. the Senator from Ne
braska did not understand and know that the Popu-
lists responsible for the result of the vote as
II they had their votes for the resolution instead
OF sitting silent?
Mr.. Allen replied that when the Popusts came TO
consider the question they realized that they held
the balance OF power in their hands. and he added.
with much emphasis. tina, they were going to utilize
II 10 its fullest extent as they went along the
Democratic party. he continued. had proved itself
absolutely incapable OF legislation. daughter on
the Republican side Of the chamber and in the gal
leres) 1t had claimed TO be In favor of tariff re-
form az he himself was: but when the Tariff bill
came before the Senate session it proved to be
loaded at both ends and In the middleton Protection
Qaughter) He had faith in the Democratic
party in its capacity It's disposition TO relieve the
country: not the slightest. More laughter) He
wanted the responsibility for legislation TO begin
now so that the people would that the do-noth-
ing policy Of the Republican party resulted in
about the same thing as the policy Of the Demo-
cratic party daughter on both sides OF the cham
bcr)
Mr.. Mitchell 0ep.. Ore) remarked that the Re-
publicans were not in a majority in the Senate
when he offered his resolution and were not In q
majority now The Senate composed. when
full' Uhe double meaning OF the word In that con-
uec;ion excited some aughter) of eightyeight men,
bers but IL was not full now (more laughter)
having only eighty-seven members there being one
vacancy from Delaware or these eighty-seven
the Republicans had forty-two. the Democrats thir
ty-nine and the Populiss six II that state of the
case gave a majority TO any political party in
the Senate. 1t would require some Kind OF hgurins
which he had knowledge of.
Mr. Allen said that every important committee
OF the Senate was completely in the control Of the
Republican party and he hoped that the distin-
guished Senator from Oregon would not now under
take to back water" and say that his party was
not responsible for the measure 1t would present
REPUBLICAN RESPONSIBILITY.
THE Republican party" Mr.. Mitchell interposed.
will be responsible for measures whenever 1t has
enough Senators to pass them and then. and only
then"
You have the committees now said Mr.. Allen.
"and you present those measures"
Certainly We can present bills" Mr.. Mitchell
assented "but so long as Republicans have only
forty-two votes in the Senate they are powerlcss
against the majority"
whenever" said Mr.. Allen. you present a re-
spectacle will he for the relief OF the
people Of the country you may count on the Popu-
listic votes
Il hope So" said Mr.. Mitchell. and hope thai
when the Republican party presents a respectable
not only the Populists but the Democrats
viii vote for II should hope so. but that is per-
haps hoping against hope
Mr. Harris (Dem.. TENN. reverting to the vote on
the committee resolution. asked whether the Pop