New-York tribune., 1895-12-31

SENATOR'S INDULGE IN a PERSONAL DEbains
IN WHICH ALL PARTIES DIscLAIM RE-
sPONsIBILITY FOR FUTURE LEGIs-
LArIoN on THE. PLEA THAT
THE PoPUILsTs HOLD
THE BALANCE o.
POWER
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuryy
Washington. Dec. 30-The reorganization OF the
standing committees Of the Senate and the ~
sutant transfer Of nominal. but by no means
actual power and responsibility In that body
from Democratic e Republican hands was ac-
complished to-day when the joint work OF tho
| two steering committees" which reapportioned
assignments, accepted by vote OF 80 TO ZS'
Practically the reorga MIA ton was effected by
unanimous agreement, for the Democratic man
ayers offered no genuine opposition. and only
voted against the reorganization resolution SUD-
mitted by Mr. Mitchell because they knew In
! advance that their assistance was not required
to secure it's adoption. while the six Popuhst
| Senator's MIR. Kyle excepted ostentatiously re-
Trained from voting in order TO insure an ap-
! parent Republican majority on the decisive roii-
! call.
After this carefully planned programme hao
been carried out without friction or hndrance the
Democratic leaders suddenly assumed an air OK
vrtuous Indignation and endeavored TO sadniS
upon the Republican side the odium OF having
obtained control Of the Senate organization 10
which they not properly entitled, throue n
tacit bargain with the Populists Mr. hal"
whose reluctance to surrender the commodious
and luxurious quarters which he has occupied tos
two years past as chairman of the Committee on
the District of Columbia may have added =
keener edge to his natural Feasibility, began the
attack by assailing the Populst Senator's for
their passive acauiescence in the reorganization
scheme and declaring that the country WOULD
Justly hold the Populisdc-Republican alliance IN
the Senate accountable for the mistakes and fol-
lies In legislation which might be committed dur-
ing the life Of the LIVth Congress.
Mr. German who could scarcely conceal his
delight at seeing his own party relieved Of those
burdens of responsibility Under which in the last
Congress It had staggered blindy and helpiessiy
I 10 inevitable political disaster. sardonlcaly re-
;nforced Mr. Harrs's angry incrim'natohs oy
taunting the Republican leaders with grasplhs at
the shadow of legislative power while unapie "
assume or discharge its real responsibilities sSe
obligations
RESULT OF THE BYPLAY.
Tho result Of all this political byplay was .
brisk and highly personal running debate last
ing over two hours. in which Repuohca"'
Democratic and Popusts Senator'S Joineo' eac"
marty seeking 10 shift from its own shouiuers
any definite responsibility for the future ac'i'"
If the newly formed committees or for the
possible course Of legislation in the Senate dur
ing the current sessions of Congress. The Popu-
ust Senators contended with good reason, that
! "a long az they held the balance of rover IN
the chamber 1t was of little consequence 10
| them how the committees were constructed
The Republicans declared with equal truth mat
as the predominant political group In the oody
they had simply reorganized the committees
as a matter of convenience and did not expect
! to assume any greater power or obligations
than were properly vested in them through
! their relative numerical predominance. Ihe
! Democratic Senators. freely acknowledging
! their own inferiOrty in numbers, persisted -
/ absolving themselves from responsibility Of any
/ sort for future legislation. and plausibly de-
manded that the forces which had ousted them
from control should openly assume the reins cf
power.
! The effect Of the debate was TO demonstrate
what has been apparent to everybody since the
| reassembling of Congressional any Intelligent
and responsible control of legislation N the
Senate at this session is an absolute impossi-
| tility. The reorganization Of the committees
| effected to-day means nothing than the
transfer for certain purposes Of convenience.
of nominal legislative authority from one minor.
! ity " another minority. The House OF Repre-
senta;ives being strongly Republican. it has
been properly considered desirable to have the
appropriation bills and other routine legislation
passed by that body dealt with by Republican
| committees in the Senate. Yet beyond the pos
sible expedition Of n-potical legislation, few
practical results can be expected from the
deposing Of Democratic chairmen from power
and the installation Of Republicans as their
successors.
WHAT THE VOTE SHOWS.
The vote taken this afternoon shows clearly
that the Republican plurality in the Senate can
not reasonably nope TO convert itself into an
actual majority at any period In the life OF the
present Congress. The actual division the
Mitchell resolution 30 for and 2S against,
counting the pairs. The full Republican strength
in the Senate was shown 10 be forty-two votes.
The Democratic strength. including Mr. Kyle.
who is as often a Democrat apparently. as he 10
Popust. was forty votes. Five Populist Sena-
tors holding the balance OF power. declined 10 go
on record for or against reorganization. Forty
four votes are now a majority in the Senate The
Republican, side will probably be reinforced in
few weeks by two new Senators from Utah. But
the membership Q: thc body VIII then b. increased
t. edghty-nine and the quorum To fortyhve. IL
Mr. Dupont Is seated from the vacant Delaware
seat the Republican strength Will rise to forty
five. but the necessary quorum or majority Will at
the same time go To forty y-siN.
For all purposes. therefore OF purely partisan
legislation the Republican Senator's must and VIII
remain in an actual minority for the rest Of the
session. At bottom. OF course, the reorganZation
accomplished to-day = well understood 10 have
been dictated by personal and facti0nal rather
than distinctly partisan interests. The only real
working majority discernible in the Senate Is the
free silver coinage combination, which was re-
vived Immediately after the passage of the Silver
Purchase Repeal bill OF 1898. and has since then
materially increas sed its strength On the Demo-
cratic side of the be iy It's power has again become
practically supreme, while on the Republican side
il has gained a number OF recruits from the newly
admitted Western States. To consolidate thep
strength on the more important committees has