Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-03
FREE SILVER SENATOR'S They Wish to Capture the Fl-
 nance Committee. DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CAUCUS Selected the Four Officials to Which They Are
 Entitled. REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAUCUS MT. Sherman Continued as Chairman. They Are in No Hurry to Reorgan- ize-Mr. Carlisle's Estimates
 for Next Year.
DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CAUCUS
REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAUCUS

Washington, Dec. "A conference of senators favorable to the free coinage of silver was held this morning in the mar ble room There were present about fif- ty senators, made up of republicans, democrats and populists. Prominent among these were Teller Stewart. Call, Allen, Tillman and Mantle. The confer ence was called for the purpose of en- abling those favoring silver to discuss the subject in an informal way. An eff fort was made to outline the formal plan of the campaign. The spirit that ami mated those present, however, showed that they intend to continue the fight in the senate in future as vigorously as they have in the past. The president is bound, MT. Teller says, to open up dis cussion of the financial question, ana there can be no impression of the ques- fion. he asserts, without discussion of the free coinage question. It was agreed that no point should be waived and that in general manner the silver question should be forced to the front whenever an opportunity presented itself. Another conference will probably be held later In the session.
 There was some talk on the part of a few more ardent silverites of attempt ing to reorganize the senate on silver basis, but this was not taken seriously. It is not thought possible that such an effort will be made. The silver men will content themselves with fhe capture of the finance committee, they having held the committee during the last congress. Their opponents will enter no protest to this plan. The western silver men ap- pear to favor the selection of MT. Wolcott of Colorado for the vacancy caused by the retirement of MT. McPherson of New Jersey.
 Three hours were consumed by the house democrats in caucus this afternoon selecting the four officials of their party to which they are entitled by their minor ity representation. The veteran Ohioan, Col. Isaac Hill, who was deputy sergeant at-arms of the last congress, was elected special employe over H. H. Moler of Illi- nois, who held the office of cashier in the Fifty-third congress. The office of spe- cial employe makes it's possessor the legislative whip of the minority and is worth $500 per year.
 After a long discussion, interspersed with numerous roll calls G. L. Brown ing of Virginia and Thomas Cokely of New York were elected special messen- gers with salaries of s1200 each. MT. Cokely is a we'll known member of the Tammany society. and widely popular about the house.
 The caucus finished it's work by elect ing James F. English of California page.
 The republican senatorial caucus, after Ia brief session of half an hour, adjourned until Wednesday without having accom- plished anything beyond continua tion in office of MT Sherman as chairman and MT. Dubois as secretary. The caucus developed the fact that the senators were not in any hurry to take up the work of reorganizing the senate. The suggestion was made that candidate for president pro tempore of the senate be made, but this was combatted on the grounds that when this was done the caucus should be ready to put forward candidates for the other eleven offices of the senate. There appears to be disposition on the part of the republicans to nominate a ticket for all the offices. and it Is believed that this will be done at the next meeting.
 Secretary Carlisle today sent to con- gress the estimates submitted by the several cabinet officers of money re- quired for conducting the government for the fiscal year epdtng June 30. 1897, amounting to s40S 091, ,073. The appropri- ations made for the present fiscal year ending June 30. 1S96. amounted to $412,- 753 264.
 Among the mass of detailed estimates noted are: Improving the harbor of Charleston S. C.. s100.00o; improvement of the harbor Of Galveston. Tex. $1,140,- 900; for expenses at Norfolk. Va. navy yard. $75, 750: naval station at Port Royal. s. c, $32S.1S2 dry dock. Algiers La, 3100, 900. total cost of which will be $1, ,250,- 0oO: public building Savannah, Ga. S100 0OO