The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-02
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BARI
GAIN IN THE SENATE.

From New York Times.
1t was a curious debate that was car
ried on at great length and with much
soler1nitv in the United States Senate
Yesterday afternoon. We doubt whe.th-
er it will be read carefully by any
large number of the people of the
country, or whether it could be clear
'-ly understood by the average reader,
if he should toll through it. Yet it
was an important debate, and, in some
respects. more so than was suspected
bv the Senators who took part in it.
The Senate consists of eighty eight
members. when all the seats are oc-
cupied. At present one of the seats
from Delaware is vacant. and there are
eightv-seven Senator'S. OF these forty
two are Republicans, thirty-nine are
Democrats. and six are known as Popu-
lists Neither of the two great parties
therefore, controls an actual majority
of the Senate. The Republicans have
a plurality, which depends. for amy OPP
portunity to take positive action, en-
tirely on the assent of the Populists.
If these can be induced to vote with the
Republicans or not to vote at all the
Republicans can have their way, but
on no other condition. This was
brought about yesterday in the ''reor-
ganization..' of the Senate; that is to
say. in the Encouragement of the com
mittees The srheme for This purpose
had duly been arranged 10 caucus by
the Republican Senators and in confer
ence with the PopulstS. When the
resolution agreed upon was submitted
to the Senate it passed by a ma jority
of 4 ItIt al
Senators refrained from voting. and
the Republicans had their way.
On what terms did they secure it?
BY assuring to the Populists, among
other things not specifically described
in the debate, a free-silver majority
on the Finance Committee. Here is
the brief passage that explains CHE
whole matter: 81
mir German said athat forty-two
Republican Senator'S assumed the right
to control the majoritieS of the com
mittees, and had proceeded to assign
to the free-coinage men seven members
and to give the sound money men six.
"Air. Hale reminded Mr. German that
if the Democrats had chosen SOUNDS
money man for their additional menr-
Der on the Finance Committee, the anti
silver men would have had majority
on it; and that, when they refused TO
do that, the whole control of that com
miEtee was given over to the silver
men.
"Mr. Teller, rep, Col.)-As to the
Democrats putting two 'soundmOney'
men, which ] call 'unsound-money
men, on that committee | want to
say that if that had been done, there
would have been no reorganization of
these committees.
''Mr Gorman-That is true. That is
the full explanation of the matter.
That is precisely what the county
ought to know" GU
This is how the Republicans have Sc
cured majorities on the various COM
mittees. 1t is a bargain, and vile
one 1t carries with it the control OF
a certain amount of patronage"
which also had a good deal to dQswith
the combination. 1t leaves tie Re
publicans practically responsible, and
yet practically helpless. They cannot
deny the measures the POpulists OPP
pose, and they cannot maintain any
logical or consistent attitude. They
have played politics" and at very
small and mean game.
What is most important in this de
bate. however, is the repeated asser-
ton on both sides that no legislation
for sound money can pass the Senate.
The House Bond bill will never get any
further, even in its present defective
shape. Meanwhile, the credit of the
country and the integrity of the cur
rency will have been protected by the
President by the use of his unquestion-
able authority. TO say that he should