Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-12
The Democratic Caucus,

w WaSnluSt ION, DeC. iS.-lue ueHiosi obS
senators yesterday held their first eau
( Gus Of the present session. Its purpose
was to consider committee assignments,
but the occasion was more than ordinar-
lily significant because of the general at
tendance upon the caucus. All the SEN
ators elected as democrats. with the ex-
ception OF Senator McLaurin of South
Carolina, were present. as were all the
senators who. We're elected as silver re-
publicans or populists.
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 gem
eral expression Of satisfaction with the
present officials, and Senator Jones was
unanimously reelected chairman of the
caucus. The old committee on order Of
business was also reappointed and the
one vacancy on that committee was
filled by the selection of Senator Du-
bois OF Idaho. who was the choice OF all
the western members of the caucus.
Senator Jones presented a statement
from the republican committee on com-
mittees, outlining its wishes as to the
committee assignments, from which 1t
appeared that the republicans were
anxious to- increase the republican
membership of several COMMITTEES and
20 decrease the democratic membership
OF few of the committees. The most
important change suggested by them
was that the republicans should be al
lowed to add one member to their side
OF the committee of commerce. while
the democrats should agree to surrender
one Of the places on that committee held
by them. The committee as now consti-
tuted includes ten republican members
End seven democratic members.
1t was decided vigorously to resist
This innovation. The republicans also
expressed desire to increase the MEM
bership OF the committees on agricul-
ture and census from nine to eleven
each, the two new members to be re-
publicans: to increase the committee on
claims from thirteen to. fourteen, the
republicans to have eight members and
the democrats six, as against seven and
elk respectively. as the committee Is
now constituted. An Increase is also
proposed In the committee on foreign
relations AS it at present stands the
committee numbers eleven members
four Of whom are democrats. The pro-
posal is to make 1t consist Of thirteen
members, eight OF whom shall be re-
publicans and FIVE democrats. A change
was also suggested In the committee on
irrigation. which is at present composed
of SIX republicans and five democrats.
The change, If adopted, would give
membership of eleven. only four of
whom would be democrats. The demo-
Gratis decided to oppose the proposed
changes in the committees on claims
and Irrigation.
The republican committee suggested
no change in the committees on appro-
priations, finance and judiciary, but In
dicated that they will continue Senator
Jones OF Nevada on the finance COM
mlttee. thus practically adding one to
the republican representation. The re-
publicans did not indicate any intention
to take care Of Senator Wellington in
the matter of committees, nor was any
suggestion made in the caucus that the
democrats should find places for him.