Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-01-04
REORCANIZED.
Committees Of the Senate Con-
trolled by the Republicans
THE ATTITUDE OF THE POPULISrS.
Senator Allen Makes an Explanation Con-
corning the Third Party Men-An
Amendment to the Bond Bill
to BE Offered.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-The commit
tees of the senate yesterday passed to
the control of the republicans. The
populists, with the exception of Mr..
Kyle, of South Dakota, declined to
vote, and the republicans, having
plurality of the senate, were thus en-
abled to adopt the resolution by vote
of 30 to %. Mr.. Kyle voted with the
democrats against the reorganization.
A two-hour debate followed the
adoption of the resolution by which
the change was effected, the purpose
of which was mainly political. The
democrats, under the leadership of
Senator German, ably seconded by
Senator Harris, attempted to show
that the reorganization was effected
by an alliance between the repub-
licans and populists, contending that
the silence of the latter by making
possible the reorganization indicated
acquiescence. He also insisted that
the repu blican assumption of control
saddled them with the responsibility
for legislation.
The populists, led by Senator Allen,
of Nebraska, and Senator Butler, of
North Carolina, denied that they were
in any fashion responsible for the re-
suit. The republicans, under the
leadership of Senator Mitchell, chair
man of the repu blican steering COM
mittee, and assisted by Senators Hoar,
Hale, Allison and Chandler, combatted
the argument of the democrats by as
serting most emphatically that the
populists had even refused to make
any suggestions as to their committee
assignments, and had, as matter of
fact, been left by the reorganization
in the positions to which they had
been assigned under the democratic
control of the senate. The republicans
strongly protested also against being
held responsible for legislation.
Senator Allen made an explanation
of the attitude of the third party men.
He wanted the senate and the coun try
to understand that, though small in
number, they constituted the nucleus
of a thoroughly organized party, conn
plctely independent in political princi-
pies and sympathies. When the senate
convened, a majority of the mem bers
protested 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 exception of
two or three, there was no response.
The populists had, therefore, Mr..
Allen said, decided to take no part in
the question as to who should control
the organization. Personally, he was
glad the responsibility for legislation
had passed into the ha nds of the re-
publicaps at both ends of the capitol.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, pre-
sented an amendment which he pro-
poses to offer to the house bond bill. 1t
provides that any holder of silver
bullion who is a citizen of the United
States may tender the same to the sec
rotary of the treasury and have it
coined into silver dollars, the seignior-
age to be the difference between the
coinage value and the market price of
the bullion in New York; for the can
collation. of all bank notes of less than
$40; directing the secretary of the
treasury to coin the silver bullion in
the treasury into silver dollars, to be
used in redeeming the treasury notes
issued for the purpose of purchasing
silver bullion under the Sherman act,
and for the redemption of the green
backs in either gold or silver, and for
their reissue according to the provi-
sions of the act of 1878.
bill introduced by Senator Chan
dler has for its purpose the enlarge
ment OF the interstate commerce com
mission. The bill provides that the
commission shall be composed of one
member from each state and that the
commission shall meet quarterly.
Senator Voorhees, presented coma
munication from Senior V. j. Domin,
guez, charge .d'affaires of the Argen-
tine legation in this city, bearing upon
the relations between Argentine and
the United States as affected by the
tariff which it is proposed to levy on
wool ssnder the house revenue tariff
bill
Sena;for Allen (at the request of Sen
ator Thurston) has introduced a oil
prohibiting issuance Of bonds by the
United States unless it shall, by reso
luton. declare the necessity for them
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts de
1ivereda speech on the Monroe doctrine
He WAS listened to with marked atten
ton