The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-07
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE.
But ONE PRECEDENT FOR THE
CONTINUING ORDER.


Advocates of an Entire ReOrEaniza-
ton May Find the Resolution n
boomerang When December
Comes-Defeat of Any Attempt by
the New Element 20 Eject an I'm
tire Reorganization of the Com
mittees supposed to he the object
of the Resolution.
Washington. March Sin the closing
moments Of the recent congress an inno-
cent looking resolution was hurried
through by unanimous consent that may
return to plague some Of the advocates
Of an entire reorganization Of the Senate
committees next December. Just few
minutes before Vice President Stevenson
declared the Senate adjourned without
day. Senator German introduced the fol-
lowing resolution. which has but one
precedent to sustain it. but that fact ap-
pears TO have been overlooked in the eN-
element Of the moment. The resolu-
tion as it appears in the Congressional
Record. provides:
That the standing and select commit
tees of the Senate. as now constituted
be. and they are, hereby continued, with
power TO act until the first Monday in
December. 1885, or until their successors
are appointed; and that the committee
on printing, as 10 may be constituted on
the Sd day of March 1898, be, and IL IS
hereby authorized to sit during the re-
cess of the Senate to perform such du-
ties as may be required by law
1t is understood that this resolution was
not a spontaneous move on the part OF
Senator German, who introduced II, but
A. was the outcome Of due deliberatlon
on the part of the republican and demo-
cratic steering committees The eject
of the resolution. as il states IS 10 con
finue the present organization OF the
various committees until the majority
of the Senate directs changes 10 be mace.
Under ordinary circumstances the Sen
ate committees die at the end OF each
congress, unless a continuing resolution
Is adopted only once before in the MS
tory of the Senate has continuing or
der been adopted. That occurred IN 300
when the Senate was very close and there
was some doubt as to which party would
have control of the organization.
In view of the recent
ATTEMPT on the part of the new element
in the Senate to upset the ancient tradt-
tons of that honorable body by COM
plete reorga nization OF the committees,
one of the veterans thought IL wise 20 take
The precaution which is afforded by the
resolution passed last Monday morning
about II 80 O'Clock But for the adoption
of that resolution the organization of the
various committees would have ceased
and when congress assemblies next De-
Cennber the grand scramble for desirable
places on the prominent committees will
be blocked by the terms of the resolution
referred to. It can only be overcome by a
vote of the majority
1t would have been possible for combina-
lions to have been formed and the organi-
cation of the Senate delayed for an in
definite period, so far as the committees
are concerned. 1t will, of course, be in
order for the republican caucus to meet
and agree upon such changes in the per-
sonnet of the various committees as they,
of the majority, think ought to take place,
but IL is in the power of the democrats
and the populists to combine and defeat
the will of the republicans. Such a con-
tingency is not probable, but the resolu-
ton was introduced as a precautionary
measure to prevent the young element in
the Senate from usurping the places of
the veterans.
of course it is possible for the majority
of the Senate TO make such changes as
IT may deem necessary. but the grand
scramble for snug berths Will not be as
great as if all the places were open to
competition in an entire reorganization
scheme Under those conditions II would
be possible for certain republicans to hold
out and prevent the contamination of
many plans that may have already been
laid in connection with the
reassignment of the committees. Provs-
ion is also made against the delay to the
public business that might follow a pro
tracted fight over the organization of the
committees. 1t is quite possible that q
fight will be made to wrestle from the
committee on appropriations some of the
great power it now possesses, by distrib
uting the money bills among the various
committees. The members of the appro
priations committee will oppose such
proposition on the ground that divis
ion of responsibility results in eXtrava
gance and increased expenditures; sucl
has been the result in the House since tn
rules of that body were changed witt
regard to the jurisdiction of the genera
appropriation bills. Whatever the out
come may be- the champions of a "ney
deal in the Senate will probably be dis
appointed when they are brought fac
10 face with a realization of the fact of
resolution continuing the present member
ships of the committees until their success
sors are appointed.
CKHnut unnr-r