Evening star., 1896-04-06
SENATE REORGANIZATION
Now Farther OF Than Ever From the But
ler-Iritchard Ooolnesa
One Charge Against the Republicans
Made In MP. Buffers First Circular
Present Unequal Distribution.

i p3VOpCSSAVC
United States Senate is seriously jeopardixed
by the coolness that has arisen between
Senators Marion Butler. and Jeter Connolly
Pritchard Of North Carolina.
It is well known to every republican Sem
| ator that the reorganization of the Senate
las not been effected because Of lack of
two votes. If these votes could be secured,
the Senate could be reorganized and the re-
publicans could name about 500 employees.
| The reorganization ticket approved by the
| republicans comprises the names Of Shaw
of Washington. Senator Wilson's candidate
for the secretaryship, and Grant Of North
Carolina, the candidate Of Senator Pritch-
| ard, for the position Of sergeant-at-arms
places in the Senate would be filled. But
| little has been said or done during the last
few weeks by the republicans looking to re-
organization, but efforts have been quietly
going on looking to this end.
The Two Lacking Votes.
Two men have been looked to for the two
| lacking votes. and one of these two men
was Marion Butler, whose close relations
with Senator Pritchard has made it seem
probable that he would be prevailed upon to
cast his vote for reorganization with the
republicans. Senator Pritchard has been
relied upon to deliver this vote, but now the
North Carolina Senators scarcely nod their
heads in recognition as they meet in the
Senate, because Of the strained relations
brought about by Mr.. Buffers course in ad-
dressing a circular letter to his followers,
advising them not to vote for any one for
the senatorship who will not pledge himself
to give his support to no one for the presf-
dency who is not an avowed free silver man.
This Senator Pritchard cannot do, because
he has pledged himself to stand by the re-
publican nominee and to work for free sill
yer within party liness abiding by the result.
Mr.. Buffers Allegation.
Senators have given up hope of securing
Mr.. Buffers vote. and as with that sup
port reorganization would have been ex-
tremely difficult to secure. the widening of
the breach embarrasses the situation SO
that the end cannot now be seen. In Sen
etor Buffers circular prepared few days
ago. but withheld for revision, he declares:
1.-The republicans got nearly twice as much
out of the last cooperative fight as we got.
The offices which they got amounted to
over 100000 more in salaries than those we
got. Then, how absurd it would be to give
them both the Senator and governor for the
| privilege Of cooperating with them this
year. Besides. If the republicans should
elect the President and we should agree for
the republicans to name the governor in
North Carolina. then think of what a con-
dition we would be in as a party The
state would not only be overrun with re-
publican revenue officers and other federal
office holders. but the prestige and influence
OF republican governor. in addition, would
almost crush us and our principles out of
sight
Why the Circular Was Recalled.
1t is asserted on what appears to be the
most reliable authority that this circular
was not only manifolded ready to send out
to North Carolina populists, but that 1t
actually reached the post office and was re-
called in great haste because ore Of Mr..
Buffers advisers urged that to place his
objection to cooperation on the ground
that the republicans had gotten sl0O,0O
more in offices than the popuiists had
cured would have the effect of making the
populists appear to be fighting for offices.
But this circular was actually printed in
North Carolina paper much to the an
noyance of Senator Butler, whose modified
circular is now drawn up and manifolded
ready to Send out in day or two, and this
achievements of the republicans in getting
100000 more offices than the populists Sc
cured.
But the effect of these developments has
been to make republicans feel satisfied that
Mr.. Butler will not vote for reorganization
of the United States Senate when such re-
organization would give to Senator Pri.ch-
ard the naming of the sergeaE.-a:-arms of
the Senate, though, of course, Mr.. But
ler's remarks referred to offices within his
state. 1t Is possible that this movement
| may be the cause of defeating the election
of Grant and putting in his place the name
of some man who can secure one or more
doubtful votes, as it was expected the
name OF Grant would do
Unequal Distribution.
This new complication in the Senate re-
organization project is welcomed with great
glee by the democrats, and especially hy
those whose influence has placed many of
their friends in good places. But it is
asserted that the distribution of places
among the democratic Senator's under the
present organization is very UNEQUAL.
Those who have attempted TO trace the
relations of the Senate employees to Sena-
tors say that Senator German has thirty
seven of his own friends occupying places,
when the entire number Of officers is about
800. This alleged unequal distribution is
not generally understood by the demo-
Gratis themselves, and there are republican
Senators who think that If the facts of the
present distribution of places in the Sem
ate could be shown it would create dis
content that would cause a disaffection
among democrats. and that perhaps help
could be had to secure reorganization
by the republicans.
Whatever the outcome may be- republi-
cahs Of the Senate now less sanguine
Of reorganization than for many weeks
past.