St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-31
REPUBLICANS CONTROL.

Mr.. Lodge occupied the floor almost
two hours. When he finished Mr..
Mitchell Rep., Or) presented the res
olution for the reorganization of the
senate committees.
Mr.. Gorban Dem, Md in a brief
speech developed the tactics of the
Democrats, which evidently were to
show that if the senate was reorgan-
lied it could be done only by an al
lance of the Republicans and Popu-
lists. 1t was we'll known when the
senate met that neither Of the great
parties had majority.
1--WE knew on this side" he contin-
ued, that we did not have majority,
and we are not yet certain that the
other side has. That can only be de-
terlnined by a vote. If they have,
they are entitled to control the COM
mittees, and then the country can un-
derstand that they are in control, and
responsible for legislation in this
chamber
Mr.. German therefore demanded the
yeas and nays, which were taken. The
Populists-Messsrs Allen, of Nebras-
ka; Butler OF North Carolina; Irby,
of South Carolina; PETER, of Kansas,
and Stewart, of Nevada-declined to
vote. Mr. Tilman was paired against
the resolution, and Mr.. Kyle, the Popu-
list from North Dakota, voted against
the resolution. This action of the Pop
ulists eliminated them as a factor and
the resolution, which gave the Repub-
icans control of the committees, was
adopted by a strict party vote of the
members of the old parties, 30-2S.
ALLEN EXPLAINS.
AS soon as the vote was announced
Mr.. Allen felt it incumbent upon him
self to make an explanation of the at
Tho Ia, L.
wanted the senate and the country to
understand that, though small in
number they constituted the neuclus of
a thoroughly organized party, COM
pletely independent in political princi-
pies and sympathies. When the sem
ate convened a majority Of the merl-
bers professed to be in. favor of the
free and unlimited coinage of silver.
Letters had been sent to all of them to
meet with view to organizing the
senate on silver lines. With the eX-
ception of two or three there was no
response. The PopulistS had therefore,
Mr.. Allen said, decided to take no part
in the question of who should control
the organization. Personally he was
glad the responsibility for legislation
had passed into hands of the Republic
ans at both ends, of the capitol.
Mr.. Harris (Dem., Tenn) proceeded
to put Mr. Allen through a cross-eX-
animation after his emphatic fashion.
He wanted to know if the PopulistS,
with the full knowledge that they leld
the balance of power had not delfber-
ately determined by their silence to
allow the Republicans, who had three
more votes than the Democrats, to
take control, and if their silence did
not, therefore, make them as much
responsible as their votes.
Mr. Allen said that the Populists realized
that ATT they held the balance of power.
Harris, 'and we propose to utilize it,
The Democratic party claimed to be the
party OF tariff reform, and he believed in
the tariff bill came in loaded to the guards
with protection. He had concluded that the
democratic party, as represented by Mr..
Cleveland and his friends had neither the
people Republican laughter) The same was
true of the Republican party. Democratic
inaugurated in the other branch of congress
to be followed here, he predicted would work
the ruin of the party within six months
NOT RESPONSIBLE.
Mr. Mitchell Rep., Orr denied that the Re
pubicans could be held responsible. They had
the majority. Whether they would be before
the session closed remained to be seen.
Il will say when the senate is full it con-
sists Of lightweight members; when not full.
as now of eighty-seven Of these eighty,
seven fortytwo are Republicans, thirty-nine
Democrats and six populsts. If that state
of the case gives us a majority of the mem
bership we are responsible
He said. in justice to the Populists that they
had absolutely refused to even suggest COM
mittee assignments. They WERE with one or
two exceptions, allowed to retain what they
had in the Fifty-third congress-
Was not the position of non-action and 81
lence. taken by the Populists?" inquired Mr..
Harris, quite as satisfactory as if they had
pledged their votes to the resolution?'
we are always satisfied with what the SEN
ate does replied Mr.. Mitchell smiling.
that the rules give the plurality control of
the committees" said Senator Hoar Rep.,
Mass).
81 am aware of the rule" replied Mr. Har-
ris, gruffiy.
The senator is aware of everything,
No, not everything, retorted Mr.. Harris,
Mr.. Palmer Oem,Ill) interrupted Mr.. Hoar
to ask whether the Republican party de-
clned to be responsible for the committees,
to which the latter replied that they would
De responsible within all reasonable bounds
lettering to characterization by Mr. Har-
ris OF the Populist party as a contingent of
the the Repu6lican party, Mr.. Hoar declared that
the Populists would vote ten times with the
Democrats when they would vote once with
the Republicans.
BUTLERs COMBINATION.
Mr.. Butler (Rep., N. c. made his first
speech in the senate while the debate was in
EiOSlSsS, ny duuluS 10 MI. Aliens eXDldQd-
ttcn his own views regarding the attitude of
the Populists. Referring to the efforts of the
Popullst senators to secure an organization
On silver basis, he aked Senator Harris il
he had not received invitation to the con-
ference called for that purpose.
L did, said Mr.. Harris, "and I have but
one remark to make in that connection. Up
to this hour there has never been a period in
my life when 1 was willing to join any party
based on one single idea
Explaining in reply to question, the COM
bination by which he had been elected to the
senate, Mr.. Butler said that his success was
due to the fact that the Democratic party in
North Carolina had gotten to be so corrupt
that it was repudiated by good men in all
parties.
Senator Hale said the vote in the senate
today, and the proceedings subsequent had
demonstrated that neither party was in
power, and that it had been shown it would
be impossible for the Republicans to accom-
plish anything without the aid of one of the
other parties.
THE truth underlying the whole proceed
ing" retorted Senator West CDem. MOI is
that reorganization was made possible by the
agreement to put Mr.. Wolcott, a free COIN
age man, on the finance committee thus max
ing that free coinage committee. That is
the concrete of the whole matter, and with
out that concession the reorganization would
never have been put through
ALLISON DENIES
Mr.. Allison (Rep., Io.) replied to this thrust
that all this was mere dealing with leather
and prunello. The complexion of the finance,
committee, which was now free coinage
committee, had not been changed He de.
clared that reorganization had been made
necessary by the addition of new men to the
senate and by the necessity of the enlarge
ment of the committee.
Mr.. German spoke, saying that the Repub-
licans sought the power which the control OF
the committee would give them, and said he
was amazed that Mr.. Allison should thus
early seek to avoid the responsibility which
his party had assumed. They had assumed
the responsibility and must meet it like men.
Mr.. Hale asked Mr.. German how it had