The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-12
re- PRESENT SOLID FRONT
Republicans Want Larger Represen-
tation on Committees.
DEMOCRATS WILL OPPOSE ANY CHANGE
Wellington Unprovided For in the Matter OF
Committees. Mel aurin MOI in The Cau-
Gus. No Change Made in
the Officers.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE Democratic
Senator's, today held their first caucus
of the present session. It's purpose was
to consider committee assignments, but
the occasion was more than ordinarily
significant because of the general at
tendance upon the caucus. All the Sen
ators elected as Democrats, with the eX-
eeption of Senator McLaurin, of South
Carolina, were present, as were all the
Senators who were elected as Silver
Republicans or Populists. All the In
dependents except Senator Teller or
Colorado had entered the Democratic
acaucus held just before adjournment
last March, but Senator Teller then re-
NAMED away. He was present, however
at today's conference and participated in
the proceedings.
The caucus was called at the instance
of Senator Jones, of Arkansas, who
stated that he had thought it possible
that the new Senator's might want TO
make some change in the officers or the
caucus. There was, however, general
expression of sympathy with the pres
ent officials and Senator Jones was re-
elected unanimously chairman of the
caucus The old committee on order OF
business also was reappointed 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 of the caucus.
During the proceedings Senator Till
man suggested that there should be fire.
quent conferences and continued effort
to agree upon the main features of all
political controversies. There was quite
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 a statement
from the Republican Committee on Com
mittees, outlining its wishes as to the
committee assignments from which II
appeared that the Republicans were
anxious to increase the Republican MEM
bership of several committees, and to
decrease the Democratic membership OF
few of the committees. The most inn
portant change suggested by them was
that the Republicans should be allowed
to add one member to their side of the
Committee on Commerce, while the
Democrats Should agree to surrender
one of the places on that committee held
by them. The committee as now con-
stituted includes ten Republican mem
bers and seven Democratic members
1t was decided vigorously to resist 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 new
members TO be Republicans; TO increase
the Committee Oh Claims from is to II,
the Republicans to have eight members
and the Democrats six, against seven and
six respectively as the committee is now
constituted. An increase is also pro-
posed in the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations. AS it stand at present the
committee numbers eleven members four
Of whom are Democrats The proposal
is to make it consist of thirteen men,
bers. eight of whom shall be Republi-
cans and five Democrats.
change was also suggested IN the
Committee on Irrigation, which is at
present composed of six Republicans and
five Democrats. The change, II 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 Conn
mittee, thus practically adding one .
the Republican representation and tax
ing one from the opposing representa-
tion. The Republicans did not indicate
any intention to take care of Senator
Wellington in the matter of committees
nor was any suggestion made in the eau
Gus that the Democrats should find places
for him.