New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
PARTY BALANCES IN THE SENATE.

Should Senator HayWaru, vi -Nepldoh"' "u'
cumb to the stroke of apopexy when ne Is re-
ported TO have suffered on Tuesday. another seri-
Gus disturbance of political balances IN the de-
Lucrative branch Of Congress will result. when
the returns from last falls legislative elections
I'm the various States were first received ana
examined il was calculated that the KepuD-
lican vote in the United States Senate AFTER
March t. 1890, would reach the record break
ing total of fifty four-giving clear party ma
toritv Of eighteen over all opposition elements
and insurng Republican predominance In at
least one branch Of Congress for six or eight
vears IN come. Since November, however, vari
ons misbaps have contributed to reduce ma
terlally the strength which the Republican
marty will command when the Senate meets
again next winter. In three States-CallfOrnia
Delaware and Observation-Disclosures Legis
latures failed to elect Senators. and unless the
Senate itself reverses precedents now held 10
be binding these three votes will he lost 10
the Republican majority for the next two ses-
sions One certainly will he lost. whatever
view Is taken Of the eligibility of the vacancy
appolntees who may appear with Governors
certificates from these three states. For the
Governor Of one-Delaware-is Democrat
whose ad interim nominee for Senator is GER
tain TO he Of the same political faith Should
Senator Hayward die, an additional seat would
be lost to the Republican side-at least during
the life of the present Congress The Governor
of Nebraska elected last fall. Is half Demo
crat. half Populist. and he would beyond
question send an opposition appointee TO Wash
ington in Judge IIayward's place. This new
conner would, OF course, secure his seat for the
vacancy he would fill is a legitimate one in the
now accepted sense, and he would hold office
until the Legislature chosen In 1900 elected his
successor.
Without Judge Hayward the Republican
membership Of the Senate. when It assemblies
next winter, will have dwnded TO fifty-seven
votes more than the actual quorum. but only
four votes more than the constitutional quorum
when all the seats are filed. This strength
will be distributed geographically as follows:
From ew-Engand. twelve votes; from the
Middle States. five: from the South, six: from
the West and Northwest, eighteen; from Rocky
Mountain and Pacific Coast States, nine. The
total opposition strength will be thirty five
twenty-seven Democrats twenty-three from
the South and one apiece from Delaware, Utah,
Montana and Washington. four Silyerites, three
Popusts and one Independent CMr. Kyle, Of
South Dakota. Five vacancies will remain to
be filed-from California, Delaware Nebraska,
PENNSYLVANIA and Utah. or the claimants to
these vacant seats who may appear at WASH
ington two at most would be Republicans, and
the total Republican membership In this Con
press IL not likely therefore to rise, under any
circumstances. to more than ffty-two.
IT IL evident that with the losses sustained
on the Republican side through deadlocks and
other unforeseen causes party supremacy In
the deliberative branch rests on a less secure
basis than has been popularity imagined 1t is
more than probable that the seats now held
BY Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado: Mr.. Carter Of
Montana and Mr.. Shoup, Of Idaho, will be
lost In 1900 There Is an even chance to lose
in Kansas and Nebraska the seats held by
Mr.. Baker and Mr.. Thurston. These reverses
NAV be offset by gains in South Dakota and
Senators run out But it is by means safe
to assume that the Senate Of 19Ol03 will show
as safe Republican majority as the Senate
Of 1S99-1901. Control OF the deliberative branch
Of Congress Is not likely to be retained In Re-
publican hands II In next years campaign the
umphantly elected. This fact should not es-
cape the attention Of those complacent advo-
Gates Of an honest standard Of money who are
constantly minimizing the possible dangers Of
Presidential candidacy Ike Bryans. on the
theory that the Senate Is sure TO stand for
years TO come as buwark against all attempts
to revolutlonze our present system OF finance.