The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-26
TO MUZzLE BABCOCK
REPUBLICAN LEADERS WANT NO
TARIFF REFORM.
WILL PROTECT THE TRUSTS.
BABCoCK DETERMINED TO PUSH
HIS BILL.

of Caucus Advertisements win
Organize a Steering Committee.
Last Sessions Scandal in the Mat
ter of House sinecures to Be Full
Iy Aired and the 'HOg Combine'
Is Worried.
Washington, Nov. 25.-Republican
party leaders in the House of Represen-
tatives have decided to try and put a
muzzle upon Representative Babcock
and those members of the party who
advocate tariff reform bills, aimed at
trusts. The plan of the leader is to
invoke party discipline at the causus to
be held next Saturday. 1t is evident
that a long and serious struggle is ex-
pected, for at a conference this after
noon between Gen. Henderson of Iowa
and Representative Richardson of Ten
nessee, the recognized leaders of the
Republican and Democrats, respective
ly, the preliminaries attending the or
ganization of the House were discussed.
There appears to be no opposition
to the denomination of Gen. Henderson
for Speaker, by the Republicans, and
Mr.. Richardson will be the candidate
of the minority.
Under the circumstances there should
be little occasion for protracted eau
Gus by either party. The Republicans.
however, have several internal troubles
to adjust before the session formally
begins, and an effort will be made TO
urday. AS the Democrats can do moth
ing more than put up a ticket which
will be knocked down, they will hold
their caucus in the hall of the House
of Representatives Saturday morning
at IL O'Clock.
1t was their intention to hold their
meeting Saturday afternoon, but Gen.
Henderson informed Mr.. Richardson
that the Republicans would probably
wish to use the hall Saturday after~
noon and evening. The indications
are that there would be some lively de-
| bates in the Republican caucus, over
the line Of policy to be mapped out for
| the coming session.
BabcocI's Fight on Trusts.
Representative Babcock has arrived
| and is prepared to force the fighting
| on his bill, which he declares will re-
| ceive the'support Of the prominent Re
| publicans, who will refuse to be bound
and gagged by party caucus. He e. /
| ed upon the President to-day and in
! dicated his intention to press his anti
| trust measure in the House for con-
| sideration, regardless of the caucus ac-
ton.
The Democratic minority under the
| leadership of MIR. Richardson, stands
| ready to lend aid and comfort to any
scheme calculated to promote discord
| in the Republican ranks. Mr.. Richard
son says that the Democrats are pre-
| pared to support Mr.. Babcock's bill, OF
| any other measure which proposes to
reduce the burdens of taxation, and
! put a check upon the trusts and COM
binations of capitalists.
1t is understood the Democratic mi
| nority in both the House and Senate
| propose to organize what is commonly
known as a steering committee" with
! view of improving party discipline,
cementing the forces of the minority
for or against such measures as may
involve questions of party policy. Re-
publican steering committees" work
effectively, and although the Demo-
Gratis are not in a position to dictate
or control Legislation curing the COM
ing Congress, they expect by present.
ing an united front on all party Dues
IlOllS, 10 U6 ISduy TO take
of bolt or disSensions in the ranks of
the majority.
The "HoG Combine" Scandal.
AS a preliminary to the opening of
the new Congress a scandal of the last
House of Representatives is to oe dis
cussed tomorrow. During the closing
hours of the last Congress- serious
charges were brought against the Re
publican mana gers in the House, IA
miliarly known as the "hog combine"
alleging that in the distribution of
minor Offices connected with the House
persons were carried upon the pay rolls
and received compensation without be-
ing required to perform any duty other
than to sign the pay rolls and pocket
the money. There were other incl
dents in which it was shown that A
was carried on the pay roll, while b
performed the actual labor, the money
being divided between A and B with
the full knowledge and sanction of GER
tain interested members of the House.
A special committee was appointed to
investigate the charges, and after the
committee had proceeded far enough to
discover some very damaging evidence
against certain persons. the session
ended and the committee adjourned to
resume its work tomorrow.
Some of the disclosures made before
the committee last winter were far
from creditable to the members Of the
"hog combine and they would have
been glad to know that the investiga-
ton expired with the last Congress.
The subject is. however still a live
one and will be fully ventilated, and
the findings reported to he new Con-
gress.
MADDOX Sees Henderson.
Representative Maddox has arrived
here for the coming session of Con-
gress. He is a member Of the special
committee appointed at the close OF
the last session to investigate the ai-
legged crooked distribution OF patronage
in the House OF Representatives.
Accompanied by Repreee ntative
Richardson OF Tennessee. Judge Mad
dox called on Speaker Henderson to-
day and had a talk with the prospec-
tive Speaker, relative 70 the commit
tee assignments for the members Of
The Democratic minority. N is geners
ally believed that an the Georgia dele
CATION VIII retain their membership In
the committees % which they we're as
flgned last session. Mr.. Lester, Rivers
ana JfaTb0rf Nr. Livingston. Appro-
pfiafi0na nv Maddox, lusular Affairs
Mr. Tate Navel Anairr hr Adamson.
interstate ana F0rfirf Commerce NJ
Bartlett. C0mInifffe on elerii0nai 81
Howard. Foreign Annirs Mr Lewis
Ranidnf anQ Currency hr Niemina
Judiciary. NJ CRISES. Ioai0fire snq
Poet ftgadf Mf fsranfleV. Public
HuNfinrf fnd Public Grounds. There
y Ifesably ~ oiler nfiffnfi0n better