The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-20
Former Representative Charles &C.
Bennett, Of Brooklyn, the Latest
Candidate for Secretary.
UTAH'S ALLEGED PoLYGAMIsTS
INVESTIGATION OF STATUS OF TWO 4
MORMON POsTMAsTERs.
Clash Between Grosvenor and Lenta
Testimony of Postmaster General
Mr.. Beveridge Honored.
to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-The Senate Re-
publican caucus met this afternoon short
ly after o'clock. The session lasted twd
hours and then adjourned till next Wednes-
day without taking decisive action. Two
long reports on patronage, prepared by
Secretary Cox and Sergeant-at-arms
Bright, We're read. They showed the num-
her Of places about the Senate. the SAL
aries they pay. who holds them. the States
the incumbents are from and the senators
to whom they are charged. A number Of
the older senators had 10 make more or
less satisfactory explanations as to how
they come to have many men charged
to them or to their States, while other
senators, those who are new to the busi-
ress have none. These reports and the
explanations made the newer senators
more determined than ever TO have q
change all around.
A new Richmond is in the field for secre-
tary in the person Of former Represents
tive Charles G. Bennett, who represented
a Brooklyn, n. Y, district in the Fifty
fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses. Senator
Platt, of New York, is still pushing James
S. Clarkson for sergeant-at-arms. No one
else is now talked of but Ransdell and
Assistant Sergeant-at-arms Stewart, with
Ransdell in the lead.
To make things pleasant each senator
who is chairman OF a committee has at
least one clerk, and each senator who Is
not chairman has a private secretary.
These are not charged TO the senator's as
patronage. 1t was agreed at the caucus
to-day that each senator, whether Repub-
lican, Democrat or Populist should be
allowed patronage to the amount OF sl.44o
annually, to be bestowed on one or more
persons. Besides these places and the two
elective officers, secretary and sergeant-at-
arms. there are about twenty other places
whose incumbents will not be disturbed
because OF long service and unusual ef-
1ciency. Then there are about $50 PLACES
that will fall within the pale OF patronage
The scramble for these places will be some-
thing to give senatorial dignity distinct
shock, but they will scramble for them
all the same. AS the Senate is now COM
posed there are ffty-three straight-out
caucus Republicans, thirty-three straight-
out opposition, made up of Democrats and
Popullsts, and three-Kyle of South Da-
kota. Jones and Stewart OF Nevada-who
do not caucus with either party. but who
will vote with the Republicans en- pretty
much everything except the gold standard
bill, making eighty-six in all out OF a total
pcssibls membership Of ninety, there being
four vacancies, one each in California.
Delaware, Pennsylvania and Utah.
Senator Beveridge has been called 10 the
chair by President Pro Temrore Frye to
preside over the Senate while 1t was con-
sidering the gold standard bill as in COM
mittee of the whole. This is an unusual
honor to fall on a new senator so early
in his service, and is indicative Of the
high standing Senator Beveridge has ale
ready taken In that body.
The President has denied the applications
of Joseph wilkins and Howard Butler for
pardon. These men were convicted OF a
violation of the oleomargarine laws and
sentenced In the United States District
Court at Philadelphia, March IL, 1898. the
former to Imprisonment for six months and
to pay a fine of $3.50. and the latter 10
Imprisonment for four months and to pay
a fine of $500 and costs. After a long legal
fight they were committed. in November
last, to M0yamensing Prison, Philadelphia.
Application was recently made for pardon,
and the papers were referred TO Attorney
General Griggs. In his decision he says
the records OF the Office of internal revenue
show that Williams had been a persistent
violator of the oleomargarine laws and has
escaped punishment by means OF money
payments in compromise.
The investigation as TO the status OF
certain federal appointees I'm Utah was re-
sumed to-day by the house committee on
postoffices and post roads. In view OF state
ments made at the last session by Mr..
Lentz, OF Ohio, author OF the resolutions
of investigation. the committee had re-
quested Postmaster General Emory Smith.
]. Addison Porter. secretary 10 the Pres
ident and Representative Grosvenor. 90 be
present Before the committee met the
members discussed informally the right
and propriety OF asking the Presidents
secretary TO submit TO Interrogation.
Chairman Loud maintaining that such Q
course would. in effect. amount TO the
summoning of the president and an inquiry
into executive affairs.
Mr.. Grosvenor made fiat denial OF the
statement made by Mr.. Lentz as to the
use of the words: I'VE have not let the
grass grow under out feet" I'm reference
to the charges. The conversation was In
formal. Mr.. Grosvenor said. and he would
as soon have expected that a private con-
versation with a member OF his family
would be brought before the committee a.
10 have the talk brought here.
Mr. Grosvenor said his statement 70 Nr.
Lentz was In substance that the investi-
cation would fail. as there was nothing a