The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-22
COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE.
THE TWO OLD PARTIES AT OUTS
OVER THE VACANCIES.

senator German Demands That the
Democrats should lie Permitted to
Name Democrat For Every DEM
Ocrat Who Has Been Retired-Thc
republicans Claim This Would
Work an Injustice ana Refuse to
lield-Strange State of Affairs in
the Committee on Appropriations.
Washington, March 21.-The republican
and democratic steering committee of the
Senate are having very hard time reach
ing common ground in the matter of fill
ing the vacancies in the committees MIR.
German acting for the democrats in all
the conferences he has had with Chair
man Allison of the republican commit
Tee, mas taken the position that the demo-
Gratis should be permitted to name dem
ocrat Tor every democrat who has been
retired, regardless of the proportion such
appointees would bear to the whole COM
mlttee The republicans contend that in
some cases, at least, this would work an
injustice and have refused to yield
The one noteworthy exception Is found
in the committee on appropriations. AS
constructed by the republicans when they
recognized this committee, 1t consisted
OF seven republicans and six democrats,
but two of the men placed thereon as re-
pubhcans-Senators Teller of Colorado,
and Pettigrew OF South Dakota-bolted
the St. Louis convention and can no
longer count themselves as republicans. OF
the six democratic members, Senators
blackburn of Kentucky, Brice of Ohio and
Can OF Florida have been retired. Mr.. Call
Will probably be returned when the legis-
l2ture of his state meets next month. The
democrats insist upon naming a democrat
for every one that has been retired. If
this were done, the six democrats and two
boiling republicans would form a majority
OF three, leaving the republicans a total of
but hVe votes on the most important COM
mittee in the Senate, while, at the same
time that party is charged with the
responsibility of the conduct of the affairs
OF the committee. To this the republicans
Will not agree, and until some conclusion
IS reached that will give the straight
out republicans the majority vote on this
committee there will be no filling of va
cancies unless the democrats, populists
and boiling republicans can agree upon
consolidated ticker. This seems improbable.
Meanwhile the new republican senator's
have been consulted and having been
made aware, of the condition of affairs are
perfectly willing to go without committee
assignments until their steering commit
tee is able to force from the democrats
what they believe to be a just arrange
ment.
On no other committee does such a con-
dition exist. Commerce loses but one mem
Der, republican in the person of Sen
ator Squire of Washington; finance loses
republican in. Sherman, and a democrat
in Senator Voorhees,. The failure to fill
these vacancies will have no effect so far
as the tariff bill is concerned, for it is
known that Senator Jones, silver republ-
can of Nevada, will work in harmony with
his republican colleagues on this question,
and will vote to report the bill upon which
they agree.
The committee on immigration loses one
republican, one populist and three demo-
Gratis.
Judiciary also loses one republican and
three democrats; naval affairs has lost
one boiling republican, one silver repub-
lican and two democrats
Postoffioes and postroais loses one re-
publican and four dem Jcrats, thus WHIP
ing out the entire dem 0cratic representa-
ton and leaving Senator Butler, populist,
as the only minority member.
Privileges and elections loses its repub-
lican chairman in the person of Mr..
Mitchell of Oregon and two democrats.
The committee on public buildings and
grounds has lost one republican and two
democrats ;sand territories one republican
and two democrats.
In each one of these committees the re-
publicans have the best of it, so far as
the vacancies are concerned, and they can
very well afford to let all the committees
drift along as they are until the demo-
Gratis are willing to come to their terms.