The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-03

ECOND SESSION.
In SENATE,
MONDAY, May 2, 1912

MoSpAr, May g 1912.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE presented the memorial of
citizens of Kalamazoo in the State Of Mich gan,
praying that the right of presumption may be granted
to those settlers on the public lands who have made
valuable improvements, but have not resided thereon
during the time required to entiie them 10 the pre-
emption right thereto
Mr. TALLMADGE presented the proceedings of
public meeting held in Buffalo, New York, in which
gentlemen participated, without distinction of party,
setting forth their views in favor of tariff well TO
protect home industry TO afford ample revenue ior
the purposes of the Government.
Mr.. HENDERSON, presented memorial from
the Vest Felciana Railroad Company, asking Tor the
remission of duty railroad iron
Mr. WILLIAMS, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs reported, with an amendment, the bill to regu
late the pay and emoluments of pursers and warrant
officers in the Navy, and, without amendment The
bill for the establishment and regulation of the Navy
ration.
Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported bill to confirm the sale OF
certain school section in the State of Illinois, and
bill for the relief of William Osteen, of Illinois, pro-
viding for the correction of in the entry OF
Il act Of land.
THE POSTMASTER AT ST. LOUIS.
Mr. BENTON said that he wished to call the at
tention of the Senate to matter which concerned
himself personally as well the administration of the
Government. The Senator from Illinois on his left
Mr. McRoberts) had received a letter from the Post
master General TO which an answer was requested at
an early hour to-day. The letter was as follows:
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
May 2, 1912.
SIR: On the 3Oth of March last received from
you written communication, IN when you request
ed me ION behalf of the Senate Committee on fost
Ofices) to send the papers on file recommending
Samuel b. Churchill to be appointed Postmaster at
St Louis with the request promptly complled-
These papers, bearing upon the NOMINATION OF pup,
lie officer, the proprety OF whose confirmation mad
been referred to the appropriate committee, had
thought were to be regarded, when committed TO the
Senate or committee thereof with the same comb
Dental observance other papers bearing on THIS or
any other nomination.
Among the papers sent you were TWO letters from
Mr.. Wash. to the President of the United States,
which had been by my predecessor received and
placed among the archives of the Department.
These letters have recently been published in one OF
the newspapers of ST. Louis. The President has called
upon me to inform him how copies OF these letters had
been obtained. Upon inquiry find that copies were
not furnished at this Office and not knowing whether
YOU OF the committee have furnished copies permit
ted them TO be taken enable me to comply with the
Presidents request have deemed 1t proper respect
fully to inquire whether you gave, or authorized CO.
pies of these letters to be taken, and by whom they
were taken
Your answer early an hour to-day, as will suit
your convenience, is respectfully desired
Your obedient servant,
c. A. WICKLIFFE
Hon. Mr.. McRoBERTs.
Mr. B. said that tits communication had reference
to four letters which he had sent for publication to St
Louis, where the parties who wrote them resided and
which accompanied by letter which showed who
sent Them and for what reason They contained I'M
truths in relation himself and of his constr, uens,
and also solicited change in the ST. LOUIS post ofilce
for unworthy party ends He said that, in this mat
ter the President had violated the principles asserted
in the Inaugural Address, and prostituted the Post
Office to factiOus purposes and, since the Postmaster
General had mixed himself with this business, and
had called upon a Senator for an early answer, he
would now say what he had not asserted heretofore
and that was that the Postmaster General was one
of those who had led the President to violate the cir
cuar against official interference in politics. and to
prostitute the Post Office to the base purposes OF
party and that he had done this with the base object
ofturning good man out OF Office and putting one
of his own connections into it. This the answer
which he returned to the letter of the Postmaster
General and he gave it at as early an hour as
possible in the day. for II no. yet one O'Clock,
lime and opportunity would so permit. This he
did publicly, and from his seat in the Senate, for the
inquiry related to things depending in the Senate,
and which would find proper time for discussion and
ample communication to the public. he had much
to show and prove this subject and it should all
be forthcoming at the proper time AT present. he
would only say that he had answered the inquiry ad-
to the press part Of his remarks, the four lett ers
in question: and his own, enclosing them TO the eGi-
tor Of the Reporter in 81. Louis.
THE RHODE ISLAND CONTROVERSY.
Mr.. ALLEN MAYED that the Senate take up the re-
solution heretofore submitted by him, calling on the
President of the United States far certain information
in relation the Rhode Island controversy Several
points of order raised which discussed for
more than hours. Finally, the question was ta-
ken on Mr. Aliens motion, and it was decided IN the
negatve-Yeas Is, nays 81, follows
YEAS Messrs. Allen Benton, Buchanan, Full
ton, King, Linn McRobers, Smith, of Connecticut,
Sturgeon, Tappan Wilcox, Williams, Woodbury.,
Wright, Young-l5.
NAYS essrs. Archer, Bagby, Barrow, Bates,
Bayard, Calhoun Choate, Conrad, Clayton Crltten-
den, Cuthbert Evans, Graham Huntington, Merck,
Miller Morchead, Porter, Preston, Rives Simmons,
Smith, of Indiana, Southland, Sprague, Tallmadge,
White, Woodbridge-29.
Nh. WHITE said that, in consequence of the late
of the hour, apparent that the Appropra-
ton bill could be taken up with view to any de-
finite action and therefore, he moved that the SEN
90 into Executive session, which motion pre-
vailed and subsequently,
Tho Senate adiourned