Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-07
FIRST SENATORIAL CAUCUS
Held by the Republicans Nom
Productive .sse%'s
OF The DESIRED RESULTS
Committee ION the Situation" Named, and
the Suggestion To Go Slow and
Sit Steady Adopted.

Washington, March 6.-The first eau
Gus of the senate of the Fifty-ffth con-
gress was held this afternoon. 1t was
not productive of results After dis
cussion of one hour and a half, during
which Senator Allison, of Iowa, was
made the caucus chairman, and Senator
Wilson, of Washington, reelected sec
rotary resolution was adopted author
izing the chairman to appoint COM
mittee of seven, of which he himself is
to be the head. This committee is known
as the committee on 1.-The situation"
The discussion this afternoon, while
largely informal in character developed
the fact that republicans are not agreed
as to where they stand, or how they
will stand when the membership Of the
senate Is completed by the election of
senators to fill existing vacancies in Ore
gon and Kentucky Senator Aldrich, a
member of the steering committee of
the last senate, started the discussion
with the statement that the caucus
should decide whether it would al this
time appoint committee to fill the va
cancies in the senate committees, or
whether it would appoint a political
committee similar to the committee of
last session Senator Aldrich, who had
given the situation in the senate very
careful consideration, was inclined to go
slow, and suggested that it would be
wise for the republicans to know their
strength before asserting it. This sug-
gestion appeared to meet with the COM
mendation of the other leaders
Senator Proctor said that there could
be no doubt that the republicans would
have a majority in the senate with the
casting vote of the vice-president. He
asserted that republican would be sent
from one of the states of Oregon and
Kentucky. Inasmuch as this makes
total of but forty-four votes, and forty
five are necessary to lie the senate on
full vote, Mr.. Proctor evaded the ques-
ton, and the converse ton became gen
eral. 1t Is said that no names were men,
toned, but the intimation was very
strongly conveyed that Mr., Kyle would
supply that vote. Mr.. Kyle is the popu-
list recently reelected from South Do
kota by the solid republican vote, after
the greater part of his own party had
forsaken him. Should he vote with the
republicans, and should they get the
two votes from Oregon and Kentucky,
Vice-President Hobart would be in a po-
sition to cast the deciding vote on all
contested questions.
The action of Gov. Bradley, of Ken
lucky, in appointing Mr.. Wood to sue
coed Mr.. Blackburn, was commented
upon. 1t was conceded that this appoint
ment would be contested, and that the
credentials of Mr.. Wood would be sent
to the committee on privileges and cleo
lions, where a fight against him will
be inaugurated. The decision of the sem
ate in the Mantle case was also alluded
to, and the prediction made that in view
of this decision Mr.. Wood would hardly
be permitted to take his seat. Mr. Hoar
took the ground that the Kentucky case
was controlled by the decision in the
Blair and Bell cases from New Hamp-
shire, decision which, he observed par
anfhatira11v n1lOht RI have hapn
spected in the consideration of the Man
tie case
For this reason 1t was believed by many
that no senator from Kentucky would
be permitted to take his seat until elected
by the legislature. The Oregon case also
came in for some discussion Senator
Proctor making the statement that the
governor of the state would also appoint
a senator.
In view of these facts 1t was agreed
that it would be the part of wisdom to
move slowly, and a resolution offered by
Mr.. Cullom, and modified at the suggeS-
ton of Mr.. Hoar, was agreed to, proyid-
ing for the committee heretofore indicat-
ed.
This committee will confer with the
democratic leaders in an endeavor to
ascertain the situation and will report
to another caucus which will be held
Tuesday.
Senator Platt. of Connecticut, suggest
such that a political advisory committee
was absolutely essential and temporary
ly at least, the duties of the old tesring
committee would be performed by the
committee which Mr.. Allison was au-
thorized to appoint
Mr. Platt's suggestion doubtless grew
out of the rumor that has BEEN going the
rounds for several days that the demo-
Gratis, both sound money and silver, in
tended to combine with the silver re-
nd e c N n n tO
capture the committees and organization
of tbs senate. This alleged combination
was not referred to this afternoon in
specific language, but was limited at in
the numerous references to existing
conditions" and phrases of similar i'm
pont.
The tariff was mentioned, but Incl
dentally No uneasiness was manifested
on that score, and the statement was
made that there would be no serious op-
position to the passage of tariff bill
constructed by republicans, after a rea-
sonable time had been given to debate.
No other questions We're discussed.
The speakers were Senators Frye, Hale,
Pritchard, Hoar, Cullom, Chandler. Platt,
of Conn.,; Aldrich and Carter. The lat
ter gentleman gave every evidence of
working in perfect harmony with his re-
publican associates, rega rdless of his pre-
diliction for silver. He advised the
caucus that there was no need to hurry
in this matter, and suggested, as had
several others, that better results might
be obtained by first ascertaining what
the exact situation in the senate was.
Mr. Plat, of New York did not attend.
Hanna and Foraker of Ohio. were pres
ent and participated In the proceedings
only as Intensely interested spectators.
Neither of them addressed the caucus.
1t Is probable that after Mr. Allison's
committee have had a conference with
the democratic steering committee, that
a democratic caucus will be called.