New-York tribune., 1903-03-07
ACTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS
No Opposition to German as Lesder-NeW
Steering Committee Appointed.
CBy the Associated Press1

washington March 6-The Democratic Senators
held a caucus at II o'clock to-day, and ORGANIZED
l,v slecttuS Senator German to his Old pace is
chairman the caucus, which carries with IL 'he
rar4v leadership in the Senate. Twenty-three OF
the tblrty-three Democratic Senators were present
The choice OF Mr.. German as chairman was sus
rested by Senator Bacon, and there was no cpfo-
sItton In taking the chair AT. German or1eny
thanked the Senators Tor tne hohoF cohLe'NNN 0FN
him-
The remainder Of the session was devoted to dis
cusston of the situation in the Senate ana the
necessity for Democratic harmony and unity o.
action. There was q general feeling that the va
czncies caused by the retirement OF Denocfau1 M
Senators from committees which have to oeai WAN
questions to come up at present calIeo sesSloh
should be filled, and it was decided that the oesg
nation OF the members OF these committees shoulo
be made by a steering committee TO De appointed
nv the chairman Of the but that the selec-
tlons should later be ratified by the caucus Inc
eterinS committee in the last Congress consisted
20 seven members. but Mr. German requested tnat
the membership should be Increased to nine Ehien
was the number in the days Of his former chaI-
manshp, and the request was granted
The new steering committee will consist Of Sena-
tors German Ccckreli Martin, Bacon, DUBOIS
Money, Bailey. Blackburn and Tiliman- The nc"
members Senators German. BLACKBURN anu
TilIuau- The steering committee Will hota = meet
ing to-moFrouF when the question OF hilinS the
vacancies on the regular Senate committees VIII
be taken up The caucus authorized the steering
committee 20 decide for the Democrats .Hhether
there shall be a general reorganization OF the
Senate committees. or merely whether the vacan-
cies on those committees which Will deal with
pressing questions st the extra session, shan De
filled. The committee is empowered to negotiate
with the Republican steering committee with
view to making general reorganization. put oplh-
ion favored leaving the question OF general re-
organization to be decided by the Republicans as
they in power. There is no doubt, however
that the Democratic steering comEnittee VIII m IN
sist having of the vacancies filled, as the
Democratic party has lost heavily in some OF the
committees which are in control OF present pusl-
ness. They will ask, for instance. that the Vacan-
CieS the Committee on Foreign Relations De
6Iled sensIor Bailey retired from this committee
before the adjournment Of the last Congress, ana
by unanimous consent Senator Clark Of Montana,
appointed to the vacancy. 1t Is likely that the
steering committee viii confirm this action. and
viii also name q successor &c Senator Rawlins on
the same committee. IL is thought necessary 70
have these vacancies filled Immediately, as that
committee win have to deal with the pending
treaties. They also will ask that the Democratic
VACANCIES on the Committee on Interoceanic Canals
caused by the retirement Of Senators Harris and
Turner: shall be hlled- 1t Is probabl that they
Will ask that the places vacated by Senators Vest
and Turner on the Committee on Commerce be
hlle6 before the nomination of DR.. Crum to be
Collector OF the Port of Charleston is taken up
by that committee. similar demand viii prob
ably be made in all other cases in which com
Iuittees have charge of nominations over whicn
there may be q controversy.