The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-12
JUST CHAOS
In the House
and Senate.
REED IS AN AUTOCRAT.
Senate Republicans Want All
or Nothing in ReOrgan-
izatiOn.
DAVIS URGING THE TREATY.
Cuban Question Keeps Him Busy
North Star Members
Coming Home.

| Special to the Globe.
| WASHINGTON, April 11.-Never be-
fore in the history of the congress was
either the senate or the house in such
a disorganized condition; because of the
| determination of the Republican SEN
ators to have all or nothing, they are
doing nothing. Consequently, two
thirds of the standing committees Of
the senate are in a helpless condition,
and unable to proceed properly with
their legislative functions.
At the other end Of the capitol Speak
er Reed stolidly and indifferently re-
ceives daily visits from members of
congress and informs them that, no
matter what influence they may choose
to bring to bear, he will not appoint
the committees of the house of repre-
sentatives. He is an autocratic car,
and seems to enjoy the discontinue Of
the 355 representatives of the people,
who are mere legislative puppets before
him.
The senate could be reorganized in
all its committees with the aid of the
silver Republicans, and they are will
ing to vote for the Republican caucus
| nominees and for the distribution of
| committee assignments as suggested
| by the Republican special committee,
| and, therefore, the senate could be re-
organized at any time with their votes.
The older Republican senators, how
| ever, have been saying ever since the
4th of March, "All or nothing" BY
this they mean to say that the Repub-
lican party shall control everything in
the senate or make no effort what
| 70 Obtain tho nOntrOl
SENATOR DAVIS
| is one of the busiest men in congress
| today. He is chairman of the commit
tee on territories and acting chairman
| of the committee on foreign relations
The work Of the latter committee has
| been particularly arduous since the
! beginning of the present admtn1Stra-
ton. Senator Davis has been diligent-
ly endeavoring to secure the ratifica-
ton of the arbitration treaty between
| Great Britain and this country, but
has been unable thus far to secure the
| votes of two-thirds of the senators in
favor of the proposition. The treaty
has been amended until it is almost
unrecOgnizable; and yet the necessary
two-thirds in its favor can not be Sc
cured.
Senator Davis is also engaged in an
| endeavor to induce a majority Of the
| committee on foreign relations to be
| conservative on the Cuban question.
| Senator Morgan, of Alabama, the late
| chairman of that committee, is deter
mined to bring about war between this
country and Spain, if he can possibly
| do So In answer to an inquiry today,
concerning his aggressive disposition
| he said: "I am now too old to fight,
| but l got into a big war once, and got
| badly licked. l would now like to see
the flag of our united country victor
ious in a war with Spain, and 1 believe
| that 1t is our duty to take part in Gu
ban affairs, because American citizens
have undoubtedly been outraged and
| killed in most brutal manner by the
Spaniards and Cubans."
! Nearly all of the Minnesota congress-
men will be found at their homes with
in the next two weeks. The office
seekers are clamorOus for their return,
and want to see their representatives
in person to state their cases. Now
that the tariff bill has left the house,
and that legislative body is doing no
business, and will transact no business
until the senate shall have acted on
the Dingley bill, the congressman can
obtain leaves of absence for ten days
or two weeks, and return to Minnesota.
They will do so.
Ex-senator Moody, of South Dakota,
is visiting the city. He takes lunch
daily in the Senate restaurant, and is
warmly welcomed there by many
friends.
HaIIet Kilbourn says: "It is humiE-
ating to me- and 1 should think it
would be humiliating to every free
man of this republic, to gaze upon the
scene on Capitol hill. We elect mem
bers of congress to represent US; and,
when they assemble, they bow and
crook the pregnant hinges Of the
knee to one man and permit him to
dominate them completely. There is
no longer freedom of thought or free
dom of speech in the house of repre-
sentatives. 1t is no longer the popular
branch of congress. The real bulwark
of the liberties Of the people today IS
the United States senate, where there
is no limit to discussion and delibera-
ton The senate sometimes makes the
mistake of permitting debate to run
too long; but, in the end, the senate
comes nearer doing that which the peo-
pie desire than that branch which was
prepared by the trainers Of the con-
stitution for the purpose Of maintain
ing close touch with the people"
PARTY FACTIONS.
Senator Gallinser of New Hanp-
shire, and others Of like political sa-
gacity in the Republican party are en-
deaVoring to bring about e, condition
Of harmony between the regular and
the silver Republicans. II is know n
! TnaC the men Oh the ,NOIlpWSSI. VINO
are fighting for the white metal, are
now inclined to receive propositions, If
they come to them in a genuine spirit
of harmony. The Republicans have
more than a majority in the senate, and
can reorganize all of the offices and all
of the committees and pass tariff bill
without difficulty. if an arrangement
can be made whereby the silver Re
publicans will not be ignored. Senator
Gallinger says that these men ough:
not to be driven clear out of the party
simply because they are welded to one
particular idea, which their people de,
mand shall be kept to the front. 1t
seems to him, and to few other able
Republican senators like him, that
there ought to be some way Of getting
together, so that the Republican fam
lily shall not be hopelessly and forever
| divided against itself Whether this