The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-12
COMMITTEE CHANGES
REPUBLICANS DESIRE TO IN.
 CREASE. MEMBERSHIP.
Caucus of the Democrats of the Up- per Body. Held Yesterday McLaurin and Yelling
 ton are Homeless.

Washington, Dec. 11.-All the Senators elected as Democrats with the exception of Senator McLaurin of South Carolina, were present at their caucus today. as were all the Senators who were elected as Silver Republicans or Populists. All the Independents. except Senator Teller of Colorado, had entered the Democratic caucus held just before adjournment last March. but Senator Teller then remained away. He was present, however, at to- days conference, and participated in the proceedings.
 The caucus was called at the instance of Senator Jones of Arkansas, who stated that he had thought 1t possible that the new Senators might want to make some change in the officers of the caucus. There was, however, a general expression of satisfaction with the present omcers and Senator Jones was uanlmously re- elected chairman. The old Committee on Order of Business was also re-appointed and the one vacancy on that committee was filled by the selection of Senator Dubois of Idaho, who was the choice of all the Western members or the caucus.
 Senator Tillman suggested that there should be frequent conferences ana a continued effort to agree upon the main features of all political controversies. There was quite a general response to this suggestion, and the opinion was fairly unanimous that the party should present a united front. permitting no more struggling than was absolutely necessary.
 Senator Jones presented statement from the Republican Committee on Com mittees outlining it's wishes as to the committee assignments from which II appeared that the Republicans were anxious to increase the Republican mem- bership of several and decrease the Democratic membership of few or the committees. The most important change suggested by them was that the Repub- hcanS should be allowed to add one mem- Der to their side on the Committee on Commerce, while the Democrats should agree to surrender one place. The cop- mittee as now constituted includes ten Republican and seven Democratic mem bers 1t was decided to resist vigorously this innovation.
 The Republicans also expressed a de- sire to increase the membership of the Committees on Agriculture and census from nine to eleven each, the two now members to be Republicans; to increase the Committee on Claims from 13 to 14,
 
 and the Democrats six. as against ' and 6 respectively. as the committee is now constituted.
 An increase is also proposed in the Committee on Foreign Relations As 1t at present stands the committee numbers eleven members. four of whom are Demo- creats. The proposal is to make it con sist of thirteen members eight of whom shall be Republicans and five Democrats.
 A change was also suggested on the Committee on Irrigation. which is at present composed of six Republicans and five Democrats. The change, if adopted. would give a membership of eleven, only four of whom would be Democrats. The Democrats decided to oppose the pro- posed changes in the Committees on Claims and Irrigation.
 The Republican committee suggested no changes in the Committees on Appro- priations, Finance and Judiciary, but in- dicated that they will continue Senator Jones of Nevada on the Finance Con- mittee, thus practically adding one to the representation and taking one from the opposition representation.
 The Republicans did not indicate any to take care of Senator Yelling ton in the matter of committees nor was any suggestion made in the caucus that the Democrats should find places for him.