The herald., 1898-12-30
new SENATE MEMBERS
NOT PUT ON APPROPRIATION
COMMITTEE
THERE is A STRUGGLE ON NOW
But the Old Men Who Parcel Out the
Nations Money Will Not
Let Go
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 25.-There is food
for good deal of reflection in the fight now
being inaugurated in the senate Tor the
distribution of the various appropriation
bills among the committees, instead OF leav-
ing them punched in the hands OF the great
appropriations committee. All but two OF
the money bills of congress now go to this
small body, which thus becomes the most
powerful coterie in congress, while its in
dividual members WELD almost despotic in
fiuence over the rest of the senate.
They have reached this commanding posi-
tion through years of service. No new
member ever gets on the appropriations
committee, and every vacancy there is
sought after most strenuously. When once
a senntor does become member, he stays
one until he is defeated for reelection, never
leaving it otherwise. Hence the committee
is old and foxy. To wrest its power from it
is as difficult task as anyone ever under
took. Again and again it has been at
tempted, but it has always failed. A few
years ago Senator Dubois, who was young
member not likely to reach the coveted post,
formed an air-tight combination of the
young men against the DID, He had more
than clear majority back of him, but some
how he could never get vote on his pro-
posal.
There was no filibustering against him,
and there really seemed to be no opposition.
The committee professed itself perfectly
willing to lay down its powers whenever the
senate asked for it. But nevertheless there
was always some reason why it would not
do to vote just then or to- fix time for vote.
Senator Allison and his friends outgeneraled
MIR. Dubois without half trying, and the
latter saw his combination melt away.
Much the same situation obtains, now.
Forty-hve senators are pledged to distribute
the various money bills, and Senator Allison
again declares that no one in his committee
will prove an obstructionist il the senate de-
cidts on a. new deal. He adds, however,
that nothing will be done in hurry. and
says that he presqmes that there will be a full,
expression of opinion when the matter comes
up. This is the diplomatic way of saying
that the committee will fight for its privi-
leges.
If they fail to keep them it will be great
surprise to many people. Every senator not
on the committee is anxious to curry favor
with it in order that he may ask appropria-
some who will stand by it as long as it has
any chance of winning To deliberately
antagonize its members, even when they pro-
fess their complete submission to the will of
the senate, is alwaysito risk the wrath of the
sacred circle.
There was struggle something Like this in
the house years ago, which ended with the
distribution of the bills. The appropria-
tions committee there has control of the Dis
trict of Columbia, fortifcati tions, legislative
and pension bills, while the rest 60 to the
appropriate committees. The senate
rebels propose to be even more sweeping,
leaving the committee only the sundry civil,
legislative and general deficiency bills. The
only ones it does not now control are the
rivers and harbors and the public building
bills. CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT.