New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-10
SENATORIAL PROSPECTS.

The recent appointments Of Senators by GOV
,nors of Kentucky and Oregon are held irregu-
lar and invalid by some Senators, on the ground
that the Legislatures have been In session anu
Nv refusing or failing to elect have deliberately
made the two seats vacant On the contrary. In
tho cose of Oregon ii is claimed that the Legis-
,oture did not become actually organized, and
tho appoiptment Of ex-senator Corbett from
that State. owing to his former standing. may
do much to secure him support OF Senators who
might otherwise he disposed to construe the
rule against him. AS to the appointment from
Kentucky the calling Of an extra session gives
nromise that the vacancy may be filed by cleo
tion within a short time AS the extra session
Of Congress does not begin until next week. and
there will probably arise no occasion for strict
,artv vote on any question for some time after
the session begins. these disputed points may
settle themselves in season.
Some Free-traders. in their anxiety to keep
alive the Wilson tariff. which they detested so
heartily that they could not find words TO de-
noupce It enough, are labOrng TO persuade
themselves and others that there VIII be great
difficulty in obtaining a majority for the tariff
proposed They are probably nursing false
homes. While hardly anybody will venture 10
with absolute certainty, II is about as clear as
the future action of that body ever can be that
ON the tariff question. If no other. the Repub-
licans will have clear majority Omittlng the
two appointees from Kentucky and Oregon. the
Republicans have ~ members. The regular
Democrats number %. the Gold Democrats g.
and Democrats committed to Protection 3, max
ing "a In ALL The silver boilers number 4. the
straight Populsts A. and there remain Sen
ators who have been elected under clrcum-
stances which render their support Of a pro-
tective tariff highly probable. These are Sen
ator Jones' of Nevada. who has openly de-
clared that he will support Protection: Sena
tor Kyle. of South Dakota, elected by Repub-
lican votes and publicly pledged TO support Pro-
lection, and Senators Heitfeld, Of Idaho, and
Turner, OF Washington. whose antecedents and
election against opponents Of the protective pol
lev lead TO the belief that they will be more
likely TO support than to oppose protective
tariff.
Without the two Senators from Kentucky and
Oregon the Senate would number 81, so that
A votes, with that Of the Vice-Iresident. would
pass any measure and the same number would
give a majority II only one Of the two Senators
were admitted. In that event Senators Jones'
of Nevada and Kyle. of South Dakota. give the
required number without the others from Wash
ington and Idaho. or the three Democrats in
clined to favor Protection Should Kentucky
and Oregon both elect. 45 votes with that Of the
Vice-President would be necessary, and unless
one OF those States should elect n Republican
three votes would be required OF the seven
above named. But 1t is believed that the oppO-
sitiOn has not power to elect in either Of the
two States, and that the most II can do Is to
prevent an election, leaving A votes. with that
OF the vicePresident. enough TO control In
view Of all the facts. II seems probable that
Kentucky will elect a Republican, and thus,
with Senators Jones and Kyle. make clear ma
jority, while at least two and probably three
other votes will be cast for protective measure.
The trouble as to the organization Of the Sen.
ate committees rests on different grounds Az