The evening times., 1895-11-23


which the Republicans must pull Themselves
together and determine as to whether they
VIII make hand-to-hand fight in their
efforts to reorganize the Senate with the
assembling of Congress. This question must
De met and decided and there can be no
ultimate shifting OF responsibility in th.
| matter.
! The Democrats fully recognize the irpm;-
nence of the crisis. Their steerin, con,.
hittee has already held two meetings In
this city, at which a thorough canvass was
made OF the Democratic situation. win n
view to deciding upon the line of policy
In the next session.
The question OF the organization of The
Senate was discussed at length. The com
inittee did not reach a final CONCLUSION ON
thisniatter, but twhenitadJourned cd there was
general understanding that. unless futur,
events should make a change desirable, the
| committee wiz recommend to the De,;o-
Gratis In tile Senate to ma Ike no move what
ever until tissRepubicans and the Populists
shall develop their plans.
IL appeared from the discussion that tha
Deinotratic seuaturs are divided IS to the
pohcy 10 pursue, some advocating an active
effort to retain Democratic control of the
senate, wnile Others advise surrender 10 the
Republicans without struggle The steer
ing 'otimttee finally concluded that il
would d. wtse,to wait until it was made
pam whether the Republicans would pe a
unit III their desire TO take control and
whether TIE Populists would ho.u together
OF some or them would agree to ASSIST the
Republicans.
QUESTIONS. OF. PARTY POLICY.
There are indications that the committee
also eoisidered' the general question of
party policy with reference to legislation
which stalFbe- proposed by the Republican
party iu the Senate and House. and there ,re
reasons for beiieying that the steering com
iiIIttee wiz ree0mmend ieiermine.i eff,rt
an along the line To restore Democratic
prestige i'm the country. Meuibers of the
committee scUlt the idea OF a short session.
Inc RepIbii,ans seem to be divided anlung
themselves as to the policy of reoreaniza
ton. Some or the leaders consider Il eX-
pedicnt TO leave the responsibility o iegIs-
lat,on with the Democrats until after the
next national campaign. 1t is hot, there
fors,Tso much question OF numbers as of
party expediency that will determine the
matter OF reorganization.
neither majority of Ssna tors will
attend the Republican caucus is the all
important question.
1t is known beyond doubt that Senator
Quay is opposed to Senate reorganization,
attempt il until they are in fun control of
the Senate.
IL Is generally supposed that the chair
man or the Republican caucus decides in
his own mind WIN ainOug his fellow SEN
ators are Republicans, and invites them
to attend the caucus. As u matter of fact,
no invitations are issued.
There is simply notice sent to the effect
that there will be a meeting of Republican
Senators at given time and place. This
notice might he sent tp a Democrat or to
newspaper, and in such case the notice
would simply give Information. The chair |
man OF the caucus dies suggest a list Of
persons tu whom the notice should be sent |
but any Republican Senator may add to
this list, and notice would be sent to the |
person whose name was suggested. For |
example, Mr.. Chandler might ask to have
a notice sent t., Mr.. Butlcr OF North Caro- |
lima, and the notification would follow as
matter of course Whether Mr.. Butler |
attended or not would be for him to decide |
NOTIFIED OF THE CAUCUsEs.
The Republicans have forty-two votes, not |
counting Messrs, Jones, Stewart, Peffer
and Butler. Mr. Jones has always been |
notified Of the caucuses, and Mr.. Stewart |
frequently has been SO Notified since his |
formal withdrawal from the party, and in |
the Congressional Directory both of these |
Senators have always been designated as |
Republicans
It is safe TO say that both will be notified |
of the meeting of the caucus. Mr.. Peffer |
has been SO notified occasionally, but Mr.. |
Butler is a new Senator. The fact that Mr.. |
Butler was elected by q combination of Re- /
publicans and Populists will probably lead |
to notice being sent to him, and Mr.. Chan
dler will probably see to 1t that Capt. Bas-
sett or his substitute notifies the Kansas
Senator.
The presence of any two OF these four
will give the Republicans a majority, and
therefore by watching the Senators as they
go into The caucus rooms it may readily be
whether or not reorganization
will follow.
Another prevalent mistake has arisen
over the German resolution of March con-
tiuuing the Senate committees until their
successors shall be appointed. This resoul-
ton is now looked upon a piece of sharp
practice to keep the Democrats in control. |
The fact is that the resolution follows
the terms Of the Allison resolution of 1891,
aud the purpose of the German resolution |
was 70 prevent the silver Senators on the
Republican, side from carrying out their
declared plan OF blocking the formation of
they could dictate terms
Uuder this resolution the Senate commit
tees were continued during the vacation and
untfl theirs Successors shan be appointed, |
and, under the rules of the Senate, yacan-
cies may be filled by a plurality vote, but
a majority vote is necessary for the cleo
ton Of a chairman.
The rules OF the Senate call for a reor-
,anization of committees at the beginning
Of each Congress, and these rules were rot |
by the German resolution.
Representative Mccall of Tennessee or.
rived in the city this morning, and states
that a caucus of Southern Republican Rep
will probably be held We,ines-
lay evening next to consider matters in
with the Organization of the
House. All Southern Republicans will be
asked to participate in Wednesdays eau
,us.