The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-07
GORMAN THE LEADER
DEMOCRATS MAKE HIM CHAIRMAN
OF THEIR CAUCUS.
THE POLICY OF THE PARTY
DISCUSSED AND DECIDED UPON AT
SENATOR'S MEETING.

To n Steering Committee Were Left
Many Matters-This Committee Is
Headed by senator GOrman-Sen-
atOr Bacon Is on It-DemOcrats
Want Vacancies on Committees
FiIIed-At "A Disadvantage as Long
as They Exist-Crum Fight Stin
on.
Washington, March 6.-The Demo-
cratic senatorial caucus, which met to-
day. organized by electing Senator Cor
man to his old position as chairman of
the caucus. This is a permanent place,
and assures him the occupancy of the
Democratic conference room, one of the
most commodious and best located
committee rooms in the Senate and of
the Capitol. He made a brief speech
in assuming the chair, and the confer
cnce then proceeded to other business.
There were present twenty-eight of the
thirty-three Democratic senators.
Senator Germans nomination as
chairman was suggested by Senator Ba-
con, and there was no opposition to his
selection. In taking the chair he thank
ed the senators for the honor conferred,
but did not make an extended speech.
The remaining time of the session was
devoted largely to the discussion of the
present situation in the Senate, and
the necessity for Democratic harmony
and unity of action. There was a gem
eral feeling that the vacancies caused
by the retirement of Democratic sena-
tors from committees which have to
deal with questions before the present
called session should be filled, and 1t
was decided that the designation of the
members of these committees should be
made by a steering committee to be ap-
pointed by the chairman of the caucus
but their selection should later be ratl-
fed by the caucus.
The Steering Committee for the past
Congress has numbered only seven
members, but Senator German request
ed that the number should be increased
to nine, which was the number in the
days of his previous Craftsmanship. and
this increase was decided upon.
Committees May Keorganize.
The caucus placed in the hands of
the Steering Committee authority to
decide for, the Democrats whether
there should be general reorganiza-
tlon of the Senate committees or the
mere Milling of the vacancies on those
committees. which will deal with press
ing questions during the extra ses-
sion.
The committee is empowered to ne
gotiate with the Republican Steering
Committee with a view to entering up
on a general reorganization, but SO
far, as there was no expression of opin-
ion on this point, 1t was favorable To
the view of leaving the question of re-
organization on general Hnes--to be
determined by the Republicans, as they
are in power
There is no doubt, however, that the
Democratic Steering Committee will in
sist upon having some of the commit
tees filled for the reason that the Dem
ocratic party has lost quite heavily in
some of the committees, which are in
control of present business They will
ask, for instance, that the vacancies
on the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions be filled. Senator Bailey retired
from this committee before the ad-
journment of the last Congress, and
by unanimous consent Senator Clark
of Montana was appointed to the va
cancy. 1t is expected that the Steer
lllS VIII confirm InlS aC-
ton and also will name a successor
to Senator Rawlins on the same COM
mittee. 1t is thought necessary to
have these vacancies filled Immediate
ly as that committee will have to deal
with the pending treaties.
Need Votes Against Crum.
They will also ask that the Demo-
cratic vacancies on the Committee on
1nter-Oceanic Canals, caused by the
retirement from the Senate of Messrs.
H9rris and Turner shall be filed. 1t
is also probable that they will ask that
the places vacated by Senators Vest
and Turner on the Committee on Com
merce shall be filled before the NOM
ination of DR. Crum to be collector Of
the port at Charleston is taken up by
that committee. A similar demand
will probably be made in all other
cases on which committees have
charge of nominations over which there
may be contests.
The caucus was in session for al
most two hours.
Later in the day steering COM
mittee was named. It consists of Sen
ators German, Cockrell of Missouri
Martin of Virginia, Bacon of Georgia,
Dubois of Idaho, Money of MISSISSIPPI
pi, Bailey of Texas, Blackburn of Ken
lucky and Tillman of South Carolina.
The new members on the committee
Sonaforc German Oh ht,~,, a,d