The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-24
IN THE NEXT SENATE.
How the Republicans Expect to Re-
organize II. =
How the Situation 10 Figured Out by
the Leaders.

The Republicans of the senate anticipate
that they will have the assistance OF Mr..
Kyle of South Dakota to reorganize the
senate Immediately on the conyening of
congress I'm extra session. 1t Is asserted
that the election Of Mr.. Kyle by Republic
an votes was not the result of n general
deal between him and the Republicans In
the South Dakota legislature, but that he
will assist them In this one thing It is
very important that the Republicans
should get control Of the finance commit
tee before the tariff bill Is sent over to
them from the house. At present, though
they have the committee nominally, hav-
ing the chairmanship, the committee is
actually I'm the control Of the silver mon.
As the committee now stands there is, TO
be- sure majority Of protectionists, but
the retirement of Mr.. Sherman TO go into
the cabinet will leave tie on that ques
tion, with q vacancy to be filled. 1t Is
necessary that a protectionist should be
selected TO fill this vacancy in order to give
the committee to the Republicans on the
tariff question, and IL is regarded as desir-
able that there should be straight Repub
lican organization Of all the committees.
The Republicans expect to have the sup
port of Kyle and Jones Of Nevada for re
organization, anu 10 tIo
of senator from Kentucky TO give them
enough votes for the purpose The election
of a senator from Oregon Is regarded as so
doubtful that IL Is not counted on. The
failure TO elect Mr. Mitchell there means
the loss of one Republican vote This is
expected To be Offset In way not general.
\ ly taken into account. The term of Mr.
Call of Florida expires on the 4th of March,
and the legislature which will elect his
successor will not meet until April. Tho
extra session will meet on the 18th Of
March, and for the first 10 days ut least
there will be a Democratic vacancy in
Florida. During the existence of this va.
cancy the Republicans count on doing
what they can to accomplish reorganiza
tion.
The situation is figured out this way:
Without the senator from Oregon the Re-
publicans have 42 senators in the next sen.
ate II Kyle and Jones vote with them on
reorganization, that viii make A, and the
admission Of Republican from Ken
lucky will make the necessary 45, which
in full senate would be enough with the
casting vote of the vice president, or, with
two vacancies, would make clear major
ity of 1. The Kentucky senator Is counted
on confidently, because of a belief that
there IL some sort of an understanding be-
tween Governor Bradley OF Kentucky and
Senator Blackburn that II the vacancy
from that state is filed by appointment,
rather than by the calling of IA special ses.
sion of the legislature 60 elect, the ap.
pontee will be admitted, TO serve until a
new legislature shalt hold an election.
The Democrats have S3 senators without
Call, and there arc 10 silver senator's and
Populists, not counting Jones. In the ab.
eence of the Florida senator the opposition
would therefore have but 43 votes. Dur
ing the period pending the meeting of the
Florida legislature, If action could be had,
the Republicans could control the organi.
zation with the aid Of Kyle and Jones, even
If the Kentucky senator were not admitted.
II they are not mistaken in the expectation
that Kyle and Jones will vote with them
on organization, the Republicans will be
able TO get control.
This is especially important in view OF
the fact that the senate is practically GER
tain to make the tariff bill. 1t is a recog
nized fact that the only way in which tar
iff legislation can be accomplished Is by
satisfying the senate Mr.. Kyle is a free
trader; but II he will give the Republicans
the finance committee, 1t viii not matter
how he votes on the tariff bill when re-
ported as there will be enough votes 10
pass IL without his.
1t is anticipated that the house commit
tee before reporting To the house the result
of its labors on n bill will submit the
bill TO Republican members of the senate
committee, with the view of getting as
near together as possible. The house will
try to accommodate itself as far rs possible
TO the sentiment Of the senate in advance,
and not only the present situation, but the
experience of the past, points 10 the final
yielding on most things to the determina-
tion of the senate If, therefore, the finance
committee oan be so organized as TO bring
the bill into the senate in satisfactory
form, the outlook will be greatly improved.
The Republicans have sufficient assurance
that they Will not be greatly troubled i'm
the senate by those who want reduction
of rates, and practically the only thing
they will have to consider Is how far they
will have TO go in the way of increasing
certain rates 10 secure the support of sena-
tors whose votes will be necessary. Wash
ington Star.