The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-03-22
FILLING VACANCIES.
Steering Committees Are Having a
Very Hard Time Over It.

Washington, March 21.-The Rerub-
lican and Democratic steering commit
tees Of the senate are having a verv
hard time reaching common ground in
the matter of filing the vacancies in
, the committees.
Mr. Gordon, acting for the Demo-
Gratis in all the conferences he has had
with Chairman Allison of the Repub-
lican committee, has taken the position
that the Democrats should be permit
ted 10 name a Democrat for every
Democrat who has been retired. re-
gardless of the proportion such an
pointees would bear toward the whole
committee. The Republicans contend,
that in some cases at least this wouldi
work an injustice, and have refused to
yield.
found in the committee on appropria-
tions. As constructed by the Repub-
licans when they reOrganiZed this COM
mittee, it consisted of seven Repub-
licanS and six Democrats. but two Of
the men placed thereon as Republicans
Senator Teller of Colorado and Petit
grew of South Dakota-bOlted the ST.
Louis convention and no longer count
themselves as Republicans. OF the six
Democratic members, Senators Black
burn OF Kentucky, Brice of Ohio and
Call Of Florida have been retired. Mr..
Call will probably be returned when
the legislature 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 Re
publicans would form a majority of
three. leaving the Republicans a total
of but five votes on the most important
committee 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 filing of vacancies I'M
less the Democrats, Popuhsts and
boiling Republicans can agree upon a.
consolidated ticket. This seems i'm
probable.
Meanwhile. the new Republican SEN
ators have been consulted, and having
been made aware of the condition Of
affairs. are perfectly willing to go
without committee assignments until
their steering committee is able to
force from the Democrats what they
believe to be a just arrangement. On
no other committee does such a condi-
ton exist. The commerce loses but
one member. a Republican. in the per-
son Of Senator Squire of Washington;
finance loses a Republican in Senator
Sherman and a Democrat in Senator
Voorhees,. The failure TO fill the
vacancies will have no effect, so far as
the tariff bill is concerned. for it is
known that Senator Jones (Silver Re
publican of Nevada) will work in har-
mony with his Republican colleagues
on this question, and will vote TO re-
port the bill upon which they agree.
The committee on immigration loses
one Republican, one Populist and three
Democrats. Judiciary also loses one
Republican and three Democrats;
naval affairs has lost one bolt
ing Republican, one Silver Re-
publican and two Democrats.
Postoffices and 0ostroads loses
one Republican and four Democrats,
thus wiping out the entire Democratic
representation, and leaving Senator
Butler CPopulisD as the only minority
Privileges and elections loses
its Republican chairman, in the person
of Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon, and two
Democrats. The committee on public
buildings and grounds has lost one Re
publican and two Democrats, and ter
ritories one Republican and two Demo-
Gratis. In each of these committees Ne
have the best of it as far
as the vacancies are concerned and
they can we'll afford to let all the COM
mittees drift along as they are until
the Democrats are willing to come to
their terms.