Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-20
WHAT CAUSED THE DELAY
Playing Reorganization Against the Vene.
zue.an Commission Bill.
Democratic Steering Committee in No
Hurry to Fix the Minority Com
mittce Representation.

The delay in acting on the House vene-
zuelan commission bill by the Senate yes
terday is attributed more to the compl-
cations over the reorganization of the Sen
ate than TO any sentiment affecting the
Venezuelan question. There is a very
strong desire on the part of those repub-
licans who want a reorganization that the
committee should be made up according
to the caucus program before the holidays.
They do not want to go away for the holt
days without anything having been lone.
The plan was that the House and Senate
committees should be formed and an
nounced about the same time, and it has
been suggested that the announcement by
Mr.. Reed should be delayed to this end.
Democrats In No Hurry.
The democratic steering committee has
81 own an indisposition to be hurried in this
matter, and, after their meeting yesterday,
the republicans were informed that they
were not yet ready to submit list of
minority assignments. 1t is, indicated that
they are not ready to take the attitude of
Il minority until the republicans have an
some way manifested their ability to play
the majority part. Mr.. German and his
colleagues are well informed of the fact
THAT considerable number of the sound
II ORGY republican Senators are opposed to
republican organization on such a plan
as VIII insure the assistance of the popu-
lists, and that they would like to see the
reorganization plan defeated.
AS long as this situation exists the demo-
cratic steering committee is rot going to be
in any hurry. They have ample excuse for
delay in the fact that the proportion of
minority representation which the republic
cans are willing to allow has been but Just
announced to them. This demonstrates the
imposs. bility of the committees reoragn:za-
ton being complete this week, unless there
Is deal made suddenly by which the re-
organization shall end with the committees
II possible. the active reorganiza tionists
want TO prevent adjournment for the holi-
days until the committee lists are filed
but they do not want this to appear as the
reason for remaining in session.
POpulists Interested.
The populsts are interested in the re-
organization, because they will regard it
as victory for themselves, and this fact
IS suggested as an explanation of Mr.. AL
lens course yesterday. 1t is said that the
suggestion has been made to democratic
sound money men that their party might
prevent the finance committee under the
plan of reorganization from being for free
coinage, by putting sound money men on
the minority. Eut the reply to this is that
the democrats are not interested in reliev-
ing the republicans from the embarrass-
ment of this committee, which they would
take control of only with the assent of
the populists, and that, moreover, that the
democratic steering committee have a
much stronger silver sentiment in their
party than have the republicans. and that
they could net get the party to agree to
be represented on this committee by gold
men. With this situation confronting them
the democrats are very willing to be de-
hberate in their action unless some special
reason is shown them why they should
make extraordinary haste.