The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-06
SCRAMBLE ON IN THE SENATE.
IMPORTANT COMMITTEE ASSIGN
NENTS TO BE FILLED.

Platt and Hanna Trying to scoop
pubIicnns May Combine with the
Democrats and Get Control of the
Committees.
Washington, March 5.-There is trouble
brewing in the Senate over the committee
assignments and the only solution of the
problem seems to be to call caucus to
ascertain whether the republicans still
have sufficient votes to control the rear
rangement of important committees. This
subject was freely discussed during the
recess which took place to-day while the
Senate was in executive session.
The resignation of Senator Sherman and
the injection of so much new blood into
the Senate will necessitate a general shak-
ing up of many of the committees. There
is lively competition for the vacancy on
the finance committee occasioned by the
resignation of John Sherman. The repub-
lican leaders in the Senate are disposed to
promote Senator Burrows of Michigan, who
has had considerable experience in dealing
with the tariff question while a member
of the committee on ways and means in
the House. He is sound money republi-
can with a friendly feeling in the direction
of bmetallism.
Senator Tom Plat of New York also
desires to be assigned to duty on the
finance committee, and Mark Hanna
claims that he succeeds John Sherman
in the Senate and should, therefore, be
appointed to fill the vacancy on the
finance committee. He will probably dis
cover before he has been in the Senate
many days that senatorial courtesy and
senatorial traditions are more potent in
that body than pull with the admin
istration.
The friends of Senator Burrows grows
indignant at the mere suggestion that a
pair of senatorial freshmen should put
in a bid for assignment to the leading
committee of the Senate.
The friends of Mr.. Plat claim that he
is entitled to greater consideration than
MIR. Hanna because he was once a men,
Der of the Senate and also a member of
the House of Representatives Under the
circumstances he should be classed be-
yond Mr.. Hanna, who simply comes to
the Senate for a brief period through the
generosity of Gov. Bushnell, without hav-
ing been duly elected for a six-year term
by the legislature of his state. Even
those whnare averse to giving such an
lInpOFJdTlI dSblBtlIneDL TO tuG new SeHdLOT
from New York, admit that he has far
better claim to the place than Mark
Hanna.
While the republicans are working them
selves into passion over the filling of
that important place, Senator Teller and
his free silver followers, assert with all
seriousness that they are inclined to take
possession of all of the important COM
mittees by a combination of the free sill
yer forces. Senator Teller says the ad-
vocates of the white metal have enough
votes to take control of the committees
and they will oppose any arrangement
that is calculated to give the single gold
standard men control of the finance COM
mittee The democrats are disposed to
Join the free silver republicans in such a
movement and a bitter struggle over the
organization of the Senate can hardly be
averted in view of the existing conditions.
There is considerable apprehension on
the subject among the republican sena-
tors, as shown by remark made by Sem
ator Chandler to-day. He was asked by
the Morning News correspondent concern
ing the probable changes in the finance
committee and the committee on foreign
relations. He replied that the situation is
so complicated and there is so much bad
feeling in the Senate, no one can tell what
the next fortnight may bring forth. 1--WE
arc practically at the mercy of the middle
of the road fellows (meaning the free sill
verites), for they threaten TO combine with
the democrats and take control of the or
ganization of the Senate"
He added that he could not tell, who
may succeed Senator Sherman on the
finance committee, or on the committee
on foreign relations. He said the repub-
licans win call a caucus within few days
to determine what course to pursue
In view of the number of important ques-
tions pending before the committee on for
eign relations, and the prominence at
tanned by that committee recently, there
is a grand scramble for the vacancies
caused by the resignation of Senator Sher-
man, and the retirement of Don Cameron.
Senator Clark of Wyoming, is spoken Of
for one Of the vacancies, and Senator
Quay is pushing his protege, Senator Pen
rose for the Cameron vacancy. Two new
men on that committee might change the
foreign policy of the committee not only
on the Cuban question, but also on the
arbitration treaty. If the republicans are
permitted to remain in control of the
committees, Senator Clark stands a good
chance Of getting one of the vacancies.
but it Is said that Senator Penrose will
have TO be satisfied with some less con-
spicuous assignment
The appointment of Senator Davis to
succeed Senator Sherman as chairman of
the committee, is generally commended on
bOth Slues OF the cnamDer, Tor he is rec
ognized as one of the ablest and hest
equipped International lawyers in the
United States and well qualified to lead
the Senate in foreign relations
Senator Foraker is not troubled with
modesty when 1t comes to the question Of
committee assignments. He desires to be
placed on the judiciary committee. He
may simply wish TO keep IN touch with
legal questions or II is possible that he
may have a deep dark design on the con-
frmation OF some of the legal appoint
ments contemplated by President McKin-
ley
The question of dividing up the appro-
priation bills among the appropriate com
mittees will not be kept down. The fall
ure Of four OF the annual money bills at
the last congress was heavy blow 70
the aggregated power OF the committee
on appropriations. and the advocates Of
division OF responsibility for the appro-
priation bills are ready for a fight.