The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-05
SCHEME TO BAG THE SENATE.
THE REPUBLICANS BENT ON Sc
CURING CONTROL.

A Rule in Force since 1920 Brought
TO Light TO Aid Them in Their
PIans-The Chairman and Members
of the Committees May he Elected
by Ballot I'm the Open HOuse-A
Plurality Only Needed 10 Elect
Members.
Washington. Dec. 4-The republican
Senate caucus this afternoon was exceed
ingly brief. not more than fifteen minutes
being spent in the marble room. Senator
Sherman, the chairman OF the caucus was
authorized to name a committee OF nine
whose duty it shall be to hI the vacancies
in the Senate committees and designate
the committee chairmen. This commit
tee win be reported to a caucus TO be cali
ed when Senator Sherman has made his
selection. and there is no doubt but what
the committee selected by him viii be ap-
proved by the caucus
The republicans are proceeding in the
matter of filling the committees as though
there was no doubt about their eventu-
ally taking full control OF the Senate. The
committee appointed by Mr.. Sherman will
confer with the democratic managers, and
ascertain the preferences of that party
for committee assignments.
Not word was said to-day about the
proposed reorganization OF the elective OF
ficers, and II is not probable that any
thing will be done in this matter until af-
ter the holiday recess.
The caucus OF populist senators of last
night does not appear to give the repub-
licans any concern. The populists deter
mined that they would not make any ef-
fort to reorganize along their own lines,
but agreed to stand firmly together.
Messrs. Jones OF Nevada and stewart
were present. but the binding force ef their
agreement is somewhat weakened by the
modification to the effect that they should
vote solidly until such time as 1t was ap-
parent that the republicans had letter
mined upon plan Of reorganization and
the democrats had decided to make 1ght
against giving up control OF the Senate.
When that hour arrives it Is believed that
the populists viii divide according 70 their
affilation for the two parties, which
means that two would 90 70 the democrats
and four to the republicans. To be sue
cessful IN any effort TO maintain control,
the democrats would be compelled 70 COM
mand the whole populist vote In the Sen
ate.
II the democrats should enter an objee-
ton TO the election OF republican chair-
men for the Senate committees and the
members Of that party cannot get the
necessary majority, II transpires tnat
they can place majority of their sena-
tors on the committees anyhow. Some
one IN the caucus to-day called atten-
ton to rule "a Of the Senate This rule
has been in force since 1923, and its per-
tinence to the present situation was un-
noticed until this afternoon. What tho
republicans may easily do is apparent
upon reading the text Of this rule, which
is as follows: I'm the appointment of the
standing committees, the Senate, unless
otherwise ordered, shall proceed by ball
lot to the appointment severally Of the
chairman of each committee, and then
by one ballot the other members neces-
sary TO complete the same. majority
OF the whole number of votes given shall
be necessary to the choice of a chairman
Of standing committee, but a plurality
OF votes shall elect the other members
thereof All other committees shall be
appointed by ballot, and unless otherwise
ordered plurality of votes shall appoint"
Whatever doubt may exist as to the
power Of the republicans to command
majority, there can be no question Of the
fact that they have a plurality over the
damocrats