Evening star., 1901-12-12
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS
FIRST CAUCUS SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF THE SESSION.
Republican Propositions Regarding
Mr.. TilIman Speaks for Harmony.

The first caucus of democratic senators
during the present session of Congress was
held yesterday afternoon. It's purpose was
to consider committee assignments. The
occasion was more than ordinarily signiff-
cant because of the general attendance
upon the caucus. All the senators elected
as democrats, with the exception of Sena-
tor McLaurin of South Carolina, were pres
ent, as were all the senators who were
elected as silver republicans or popuiists.
Ali 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 yes
terday'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
changes in the officers of the caucus. There
was, however general expression of satis-
faction with the present officials, and Sena-
tor Jones was reelected unanimously chair
man 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 Du-
bois of Idaho, who was the choice of all
the western members Of the caucus.
Urges Effort to Agree.
During the proceedings Senator Tillman
suggested that there should be frequent
conferences and continued effort to agree
upon the main features of all political con-
troversies. There was quite general re-
sponse to this suggestion, and the opinion
was fairly unanimous that the party should
present united front, permitting no more
struggling than was absolutely necessary.
Senator Jones presented a statement from
the republican committee on committees.
outlining it's wishes as to the committee
assignments, from which it appeared that
the republicans" were anxious to increase
the republican membership of several conf
mittees and to decrease the democratic
membership of a few of the committees.
The most important 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 constituted,
includes ten republican members and seven
democratic members.
Republican Suggestions Opposed.
1t was decided vigorously to resist this
innovation. The republicans also ex-
pressed a desire to increase the member
ship of the committees on agriculture and
census from nine to eleven each, the two
new members to be republicans; to in
crease the committee on claims from thir
teen to fourteen, the republicans to have
eight members and the democrats six, as
against seven and six, respectively, as the
committee is now constituted. An increase
is also proposed in the committee on for
eign relations. AS it at present stands the
committee numbers eleven members, four
of whom are democrats The proposal is
to make it consist of thirteen members,
eight of whom shall be republicans 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 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 appropria-
tions, finance and judiciary, but indicated
that they will continue Senator Jones of
Nevada on the finance committee, thus
practically adding one to the republican
representation and taking one from the op-
position representation. 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 caucus that the democrats should
find places for him.