New-York tribune., 1911-01-06
CONGRESS MOURNSELKINS
Republican Majority in Senate
Rapidly DWindIing.
BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN
Announcement of Death Re-
ceived with Great Sorrow
Funeral Arrangements.
iFrom Tho Tribune Bureau. !


.,o, Al which senator Scott of West VII
sinia. announced the death Of his COL COL
league. Senator Eikins. the Senate or az
least a large part Of Il, devoted ii'u0''
time to-day 10 specializing on the com
plications which may arise In the neN'
Congress because Of the rapidly dwinuH"s
Ronublican majority The changes Whl'"
oil, result from the death of Senator
Fukins although slight i'm themselves aP-
near large in view Of the slender Workihs
mareip Of the Republicans. II means
difference of two votes, as Democr".
will succeed MIR. Elkins. and change oi
two votes may be OF the u'ihoS'
tance in the next Congress.
Anticipating tho action of the leei7'a-
,ur.s of n number Of statcs-concerhihs
which there is. OF course. some doupt-u'e
une.,t, I'm the Senate in tho next CohSIe9'
viii 70 Republicans. 20, Democrats '1' OF
q Republican majority Of $. lncludeo III
tho number of Republicans are II senators
who have allied themselves more or ieSS
,losolv with the insurgent wing of the party
There will be in reality only % regular ke-
nublicans so that the II insurgents Dy
swinging their votes TO one or the other
side Of the Senate will exercise consider
able influence.
Tlorc are or course. number Of unde-
,ermined questions which affect these
totals. " the senate should declare inc
election Of Senator Lorimer invalid 1t Is
POSSIBLE that the Illinois legislature IN
The present turbulent condition Of politics
I'm that state may elect TO the place SO
vacated a Senator who will hold different
political views. Much depends also on the
reelection or defeat Of Senator Lodge In
Massachusetts and the outcome OF the
close situation in Montana, which may re-
turn Senator Carter, although the Demo-
Gratis seem 10 have the upper hand.
Committee Places to Fill.
In any event the situation I'm the next
CONGRESS with respect 10 filing tho many
vacancies which will nc created in COM
rnittee chairmanships VIII be interesting.
Ev the death Of Senator Elkins the chair
manship Of the Committee on Interstate
commerce one Of the most important OF
the Senate. becomes vacant. In the next
Congress this will he filled by the appoint
ment Of Senator Clapp, Of Minnesota, who
Is allied with the inSurCent wing, according
70 the rule Of seniority. Senator Cullom,
chairman OF the Committee on Foreign Re-
Iations. who precedes Mr.. Clapp, is far
from likely TO reinquish the chairmanship
of the latter committee to take Mr.. FL
kins's place
BY the retirement of Senators Hale and
Aldrich Senator Pcnrose will become the
senior member OF the Committee on FL
nance and Senator Perkins the senior mem
Der of the Committee on Appropriations
IS rc will PROBABLY retain the chairmanship
90 j,e Committee on Naval Affairs, Senator
Warren. Of Wyoming. will probably become
chairman OF the Committee on ApprOpria-
tons This will leave the charmanship of
re yommitte on Military Affairs vacant
iot :hC succession Of Senator Bulkeley of
connecticut
one feature Of the changed situation in
She Senate will be the increasing importance
of the committee assignments of the insur-
acnt Senators. The regular Republicans
v.ill rule the caucus, but 1t is not probable
hat any effort will be made TO disturb the
,oniority rule. BY reason OF the seniority
advantages or the Insurgents the line Of
Gemarcation between them and the regular
element viii probably become less distinct
Grief Expressed in Congress.
Both houses OF Congress. which reas-
srmtlcG to-day after tho holiday recess,
adjourned cnlly out OF respect 20 the mem
oIv of Senator Elkius. The Senate was i'm
session only six minutes. adjournng until
Nlonday. The House devoted half an hour
10 pressing business ard then adjourned
until noon Tomorrow.
In Tho Senate tO-day proceedings were
confined entirely TO INC announcement Of
.he death Of Mr.. Elkins and action inciden-
tai 10 a. Chaplain Pierce in HIS prayer re-
forIed especially TO the personal sorrow Of
Sons tors au5 bis petition for help FOR those
"to whose lips this cup Of sorrow IS most
closoly pressed" found many ar echo in the
ssscmblscc.
Tmmedia'civ after The prayer came the
announcement bv Mr. scott. Rcfcrring to
Nir Flkius'y bravo tight FOR life ne said his
cc.-sc Poo itis matter had been character
fr,s. n him iIo had always fought ard
,ortordcd man'uy for principles lie he
Ycyod 10 be rioHt Then no added: ITO
~. iia'd.ath is personal. The country suf-
f.-. Il crest loss and West Virginia one Of
tho greatest sorrows sho could possibly
have experienced"
tfter = resolution czrrcssiuS the Son
r,c'z profound sorrow had boon adopted,
tIc follovin" committee was appointed 10
ACCOMPANY the body 10 Eikins. W. Va;
Senators scott Hale Frye, Aldrich. Cul-
lom Gallingo~. Lodge. Bacon, Ti!lman'
Kcan Tatloy. Foster. stone. Crane, Garter,
smith. oi MARYLAND and Root
on melton or Nr Scott tho Senate then
adjourned as further mark of respect.
Tho senators were greatly affected hr
The dea;h N Mr Elkins. There were OK
preeeions of sorrow ON the part % all. and
many called at ,hc Eikin- home 20 give as
surance oC their sympathy. Added to the
lst Of Senator'S were many others high In
Official and social ne including tho Presi-
dent
Iu the House tho death or Senator Elkius
was announced by Representative Gaines,
a. hvcst Virginia The following commit
1eg was appointed 20 attend the funeral
Rep esentstiycs Hubbard Hughes, Wood
yard, Gaines and S,ursis. OF West Nir-
gnia; Mann, Of Illinois Andrews Of New
Mexico; Rucker. Of Missouri; Alexander.
of New York; Longworth Of Ohio Calder
head Of Kansas; Semp and Lamb. Of Nir-
siria Richardson. OF A!abama Adamson
and Livingston. of Georgia. ana Mccall,
OF Massachusetts
chaplain Coud,u in his prayer alluded
feeingly 20 the death OF Senator Elkins,
referring 20 him as one Of tho foremost
legislators OF his time
The funeral at ElkiuS. W. Va. will be
held on Saturday, about noon, the Con
gress committees proceeding there with
the body on a special train. Private SER
vices will be held here tomorrow after
neon NJ the Elkins home.
TO AMEND HOUSE RULES