The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-10
oRGANIzArIox OF THE SENATE.

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From the present outlook 1t appears
cans will be able to organize the Senate
in extra session.
Under the very best circumstance
they will have great difficulty in doing
this, even if that body admits the two
gentlemen recently appointed to the
Senate by the Governors Of Kentucky
and Oregon. and If they are not admit
ted, and the Democrats and Fopulisls
join hands, the Republicans will surely
lose the organization. The Philadelphia
Times, In writing OH the probability Of
the claimants from Kentucky, Oregon,
and Florida being admitted, says:
1T II doubtful whether the Senate
VIII admit the claimants appointed
Dy the Governors OF their respective
States. Several like vacancies oc-
Cured four years ago, when appoint
ments were made by the Governor S,
but tho Senate refused them admis-
sion. There may DC some changed
conditions to justify or excuse tho
Senate in admitting the men recent
ly appointed, but it is obvious that
the judgment Of the Senate four
years ago was Intended to cover just
such applications as are now about
to be made for admission
The Senators from the two former
States are Republican, while the one
appointed by the Governor Of Florida
is n Democrat. This much can be said
In reference TO our contemporaries ex-
pressed opinion, and that is if the Re
publicans in the Senate know that they
cannot do without the two new ap-
pointees from Kentucky and Oregon,
they will leave nothing undone to have
them seated. This much may be set
down rs certain.
But suppose that even this IS done,
the question of the Republicans being
able to organize the Senate is still in
doubt.
Here is the view the Pittsburg Post
takes Of the matter:
Unless the unexpected occurs, the
Republicans and the new admins
tration will have 10 face the embar-
easements of a divided Congress. The
administration party will be unable
to organize the Senate, but will have
no difficulty in the House. which
they hold by a largely decreased ma
1ority from last session. The oppo-
Sition in the Senate is divided into
democrats, POpuliSts, silver Republic
cans who bolted Mckinley, and gold
Democrats. United. they will have
a majority Of the Senate, and thus
The offices and the committees will
be at their disposal. Political unity
by such incongrunus material would
seem to be improbable. but 1t hap
pens they are all nearer together on
principles n policies than they are
to the Republicans. The gold Dem
ocrats. for instance. whose votes
would give the Republicans control,
~antaSonize President Mckinley'S
plans Of tariff tirkeving in the inter-
est OF trust and monopoly protection.
The silverites. Populists II Repub-
leans can never agree with the Re-
publ;cans on finance II currency,
while the regular Democrats consti-
tute 4 natural ana aggressive oppo-
sitson. At the Republican caucus on
Saturday the conviction was forced
on Senators that they could do Moth
Ing in the way Of reorganiZing or
even filing the standing committees
or straight party lines. Last year
they We're fixed up by compromise,
and this will have to be continual
Whether they can fix up a compromise
or not is the question, for really their
ability to organize the Senate after all
dcpends upOn 4 compromise.
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