New-York tribune., 1901-12-12
TIC SENATE CA UCUS
ALL THE SILVER REPUBLICANS AND
POPULISTS PRESENT
Mr.. MLAURIN ABSENT-CoMMITTEE ASSIGN
MENTS DISCUSSED-NEITHER SIDE
WANTS MR.. WELLINGTON.

WANTS MR., WELLINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Democratic Sena-
tors today held their first caucus of the present
session The purpose was to consider commit
tee assignments. but the occasion was more
than ordinarily significant because of the gen
eral attendance. All the Senators elected as
Democrats with the exception Of Mr.. McLaurin,
OF South Carolina were present were all the
Senators who were elected Silver Republi-
Populists. All the independents except
Senator Teller. of Colorado. entered the Demo
cratic caucus held just before adjournment last
March, but Senator Teller then remained away.
He was present. however at to-days conference
aud took part in the proceedings The caucus
was called at the instance Of Senator Jones.
of Arkansas. who said that he had thought it
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 officials and Sena-
tor Jones was unanimously Reelected chairman
Of the caucus The old committee on order or
business was also reappointed, and the one
vacancy on that committee was filed by the
selection of Senator Dubois, Of Idaho, who was
the choice OF all the Western members Of the
caucus.
Senator Tillman suggested that there should
be frequent conferences and a continued effort
to agree on the main features Of all political
controversies. There was a general response TO
this suggestion and the opinion was fairly unan-
imous that the party should present a united
front permitting more struggling than was
absolutely necessary
Senator Jones presented a statement from the
Republican committee committees. 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 to decrease the Dem
ocratic membership of few. The most i'm
portant change suggested by them was that the
Republicans should be allowed to add one mem
ber to their side Of the Committee on Com
rnerce, while the Democrats should agree 10
surrender one Of the places on that committee
held by them. The committee as no" consul
tuted includes ten Republicans and seven DEM
ocrats 1t was decided to resist this innoVa-
ton vigorously. The Republicans also expressed
a desire to increase the membership OF the
committees Agriculture and Census from
nine to eleven EACH the two rew mem bers TO De
Republicans; to increase the COMMITTEE on
Claims from thirteen to fourteen the Republi-
cans to have eight members ana the Denaocra.s M
six, against seven and six respectively, as
the committee IS now constituted An increase
is also proposed in the Committee on forelgn
Relations. AT present II has eleven Hleihpe,o'
four being Democrats. The proposal is 10 MAKE
1t consist of thirteen members, eight Repubh-
cans and five Democrats A change was also
sneeested in the Committee on Irrigation which
is at present composed Of six Republicans ana
five Democrats. The change. If adopted, wouIo
give q membership of eleven, only four or them
Democrats. The Democrats decided to oppose
the proposed change in the committees on
Claims and Irrigation.
The Republican committee suggested no
changes in the committees on Appropriations,
Finance and Judiciary, but indicated 1hat II
will continue Senator Jones, of Nevada. on tne
Financ Committee, thus practically addlns one
to the Republican representation ana TAXING
one from the opposition. The Republicans dld
not intend to take Of Senator Wellington
In the matter of committees. nor was any sus
.gestion made in the caucus that the democrats
should find places for him.