The morning times., 1897-03-07
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
A Committee on ''the Situation"
Appointed by the Senators.
DON'T KNOW THEIR STRENGTH
The Discussion Developed the Fact
That Even With the Oregon
and Kentucky Vacancies Filled
the Republicans Would lack the
Number Necessary TO Organize.

The first caucus of the Senate Of the
Fifty-fifth Congress was held yesterday
afternoon. IL was not productive of results
After discussion Of one hour and half,
during which Senator Allison, OF Iowa,
was nadethe caucus chairman, andSenator
Wilson, OF Washington, reelected caucus
secretary, a resolution was adopted au-
thorizing the chairman to appoint a com
miUtee Of seven, OF which he himself is u
be the head. This company is known as
the committee on The Situation"
The discussion this afternoon, while large
ly informal in character, developed the
TACT that Republicans are not agreed as
10 where they stand, or how they will
stand, when the membership of the Sem
UteiS completed by the election OF Senator's
TO fill existing vacancies in Oregon and
Kentucky.
senator Aldrich, member of the
eering committee OF the last Senate,
Is artei the discussion with the statement
II at the caucus should decide whether
1t would at this time appoint committee
TO fill the vacancies in the Senate com
nittees, or whether it would appoint
political committee similar to the steer
Ing committee OF the last session. Sen
aUor Aldrch, who had given the situ-
alton in the Senate very careful consider
alton, was inclined TO go slow, and sug-
Eested that il would lie wise for the Re
publicans TO know their strength Eefore
asserting il. This suggestion appeared
TO meet with the conimendation of the
other leaders in the Senate.
Senator Proctor said that there could be
no doubt that the Republicans would nave
a majority in the Senate with the casting
vote of the Vice President He asserted
that u Republican would be sent from each
of the States of Oregon and Kentucky.
lnasmuch as tins makes total of but forty
four votes and forty-fivc are necessary to
tie the Senate on Il full vote, Mr.. Proctor
was asked where he proposed 10 get that
one vote. Mr.. Proctor cvaded the Ques
tion, and the conversation became general.
Ii is said that no names were mentioned,
but the intiInation was very strongly Con
Teyed that Mr.. Kyle would supply that
vote Mr.. Kyle is the Populist who was
recently reelected from South Dakota by
the solid Republican vote, after the greater
part CT his own party had foTsaken him.
Should he vote with the Republicans, AID
should they get the two votes from Ken
lucky and oregon, Vice President Hobart
would be in position 10 cast the deciding
vote on all contested questions.
The act .oa of Gov. bradley U1 Kentucky in
appointing Mr.. Wood TO succeed Mr. Black
burn, was commented upon. was cen
ceded that this apI ointment would be CON
tested and that the credentials OF Mr..
Wood would be sent TO the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, where a fight
against him win be iuaugurated. The
decision Of tie Senate ia 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.
Senator Hoar took tie ground that the
Kentucky case was controlled by the de-
cisioa in the Blair and Bell cases from New
Hampshire, decision which, lie observed
parenthetically, ,oughtto have beenIespected
in the consideration OF the Mantle case
For this reason il was believed by many
that no Senator from Kentucky would bt
permitted 10 take his seat until elected
10y the legislature. The Oregon case also
came in for some discussion, Senator
PIootOr making the statement that TIN
Governor of that State would also appoint
Senator.
Ia view OF all these facts it was agreed
that il would be the part of wisdom Il
move slowly, and a resolution offered 10y
Mr.. Cullom. and modified at the Sug-
gestion OF Mr.. Hoar, was agreed to, pro
viding for the committee heretofore in
dicated. This committee Will confer witt
the Democratic leaders III an endeavor uC
ascertain the situation and will re
port to another caucus, which Will b,
held Tuesday.
Senator PIatt OF Connecticut suggested
that the conditions in the Senate were
euch that q political advisory committed
WAS absolutely essential, and temporarily
at least, the duties of the old steering
committee will be performed by the com
Inittee which Mr.. Allison was authorized
to appoint.
MI Platt's suggestion doubtless grew
out OF the rumor that has been going tht
rounds for several days, that the Demo
Gratis, both sound money and silver
intended to combine with the silver Re
publicans and Populists in an attempt Il
capture the committees and organiZa
ton of the Senate. This alleged combi
nation was not referred to this Afternoon
In specific language, but was hinteG 1T il
the numerous references to "existin- :
conditions and phrases of similar ini
port.
The tariff was mentioned, but incl
dentally No uneasineSs was manifested
on that score, and the statement was mad
that there would be no serious opposition
to the passage of a tariff bill constructe,
by Republicans, after a reasonable tim
had been given to debate. No other queS
tions We're discussed.
The speakers were Senators Frye, Hale
Pritchard, Hoar, Cullom, Chandler, Plat
of Connecticut, Aldrich and Carter. Tn
latter gentleman gave every evidence o
working H. perfect harmony with his Re
publican associates, regardless of his pre-
delictiOn for silver. lie advised the cau
Gus that there was no need TO hurry i
this matter, and suggested, had sey
eral others, that better results might b
obtained 10y first ascenaining what til
exact situation in the Senate was
Mr.. Platt of New York did not attend
MT Hanna and Mr Foraker of Ohio wer
present, and participated in the proceed
ings only as intensely interested specta
tors. Neither of them addressed the cat
Gus.
1t is probable that after Nj. .Allison's con
mittee have had conference with I'll
Democratic steering committee. that
Democratic caucus will be called.