Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-03-11
THE SENATE IS ADJOURNED
Wood, of Kentucky, to Await the
Committees Action
ON HIS APP0lN 7 MEN T
Hoar Offers Two Amendments to the Rules
Both Factions Hold Caucuses Without
ResuIts-A Rumor Denied

unusually large attendance of senators
at the opening of today's session. Ex-
Senator Ransom, of North Carolina, now
minister to Mexico, was on the floor and
was cordially greeted by his former as
socsates.
The vice president laid before the sem
ate a communication from Governor
Bradley, of Kentucky, setting forth that
ne had appointed Andrew T. Wood, of
Montgomery county, Kentucky, as sena-
tor from that state, to supply vacancy
which had been created during the re-
cess of the legislature-that body not be-
ing in session-the appointment to be in
force until the next meeting of the leg
islature and until the election of a sue
cessor.
The communication having been read,
a motion was made by MIR. Hoar that
Mr.. Wood be now admitted to take the
oath.
Mr. Gorman-The senator, of course,
understands the question involved in this
matter. l move, as substitute, that the
communicate and credentials be refer
red to the committee on privileges and
elections.
Mr.. Hoar-Under present circumstan-
ces do not expect to antagonize the mo-
ton of the senator from Maryland.
Mr.. Gorman's substitute was agreed to,
and Mr.. Woods credentials were referred
to the committee on privileges and cleo
tons
Mr.. Hoar gave notice of two amend
ments to the rules, which were read.
They were both radical innovations upon
the practice of the senate for a century
past. The first, according to the notice
presented by Mr.. Hoar was ITO enable
the senate to act on legislation when 1t
desires, after reasonable debate" 1t pro-
vided that when any bill or resolution
had been under consideration more than
one day any senator could demand that
debate be closed. If a majority of the
senators so decided, there should be a
vote without further delay, and no mo-
ton should be in order pending the vote
but one, to adjourn or take recess.
The other was in relation to calls of the
senate, so that If a suggestion be made
of the absence of a quorum the presid-
ing officer, instead of instantly ordering
a call to be made. shall determine the
matter and report whether there is or is
not a quorum present. If there Is the
business shall proceed; and If not the roll
is to be called. The purpose of these pro-
posed changes was stated to be ito pre-
vent the interruption of business by I'm
necessary calling of the roll"
MIR. Shoup, OF idaho, presented memo
rial from the Legislature of Idaho asking
for the annexation of portions of Wyom-
ing to that state.
Mr.. Warren, (rep of Wyoming, refer
red to the memorial as an attempt to
have a portion of a good and fertile state
added to a somewhat dry and barren
one, and intimated that opposition to it
would be made in proper time.
The senate then proceeded to executive
business, and at 12:40 p. m. adjourned
without day.
The president today nominated and the
senate confirmed w. r. Jewell to be post
master at Danville, ILL.,, to succeed John
Beard, whose nomination was sent in
during the previous administration and
never confirmed.
During the executive session today at
tention was called to the fact that it hav-
ing agreed to adjourn until 1130 o'clock
next Monday. an embarrassing condition
of affairs would result should any nomi-
nations be sent to the senate on that day.
MIR. Mckinley has called an extra session
of the Ffty-fifth congress for March
Is. The present special session of the
senate will end at noon of that day. Any
nominations sent in would therefore have
to be acted upon within the half hour the
body would be in session, or they would
fail and the president would have to send
them in again during the regular session.
To obviate such a condition of affairs it
was agreed that the best thing was to
adjourn sine die, and this was done.
The senate was this morning advised
that there would be no important nomi-
nations before next week.
The Alaskan boundary treaty was re-
ported from the committee.
The republican senatorial steering COM
mittee met this morning in Senator ALI
sons room, but no action of any kind
was taken. The members received their
notice late, and all did not arrive until
the conference was breaking up. While
no member of the committee was able to
offer tangible solution of the existing
difficulty in connection with the filling of
the vacancies on the committees, Ii was
the general impression that no combina-
tion having for its purpose the organiza-
tion of the senate committees by the sill
yer vote could be made effective. Sew
eral members of the committee, who as
individuals, have given this question the
most painstaking consideration, and have
held numerous conferences with leaders
of both factions of the democratic party
and the bolting republicans, have reach
ed the conclusion that the differences
between these elements are so great and
the demands made so incapable of be-
ing complied with, that it will be utterly
impossible for the opposition to the re-
publicans to concentrate upon any par
ticular plan of action.
For this reason, members of the COM
mite state that the statue quo in the
senate will be maintained, and that ul-
timately the vacancies will be filled with
the republicans retaining the chairman
ships, although, owing to populist repre-
sentation on some of these committees,
4
to fully control the action of some. An
other meeting of the steering committee
will be held tomorrow.
A denial is made to published state
ments that compromise has been
agreed to whereby the republicans are
to retain control until December, when
the regular session convenes and that at
that time the contest for the control of
the senate is to be waged.
The democratic steering committee
held a short conference after the senate
adjourned today but no result came of 1t.
While the members of both steering
committees are very non-committal, 1t is
understood that an agreement will be
reached whereby the republicans will fill
the vacancies in the committee caused by
the retirement of the men who were ap-
pointed as republicans and that the dem
ocrats will fill their vacancies
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, appears to
be slated for the place Of Mr. Sherman
on the finance committee. This COM
mittee will be favorable to a tariff bill,
but not necessarily gold committee.
Senator Jones (siiver Nev) will vote
for a tariff bill without free silver rider
being attached and VIII oppose putting