The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-03-13
Washington News and Gossip.
WASHINGTON, Marc


Washington News and Gossip.
WASHINGTON, March 5.
The dense crowd that has thronged the city
for the last two days is gradually disappearing.
The hotels are still thronged, and the interest
now centers in the action of the Senate, which
convenes again tomorrow. The seating of
Senator Patterson seems to be satisfactory to
every one from South Carolina, and he is cor
daily received by his brother Senators. The
subject of the change in the Federal appoint
ments South occasion great deal of discussion,
and it seems to be the general impression that
change will be made.
There is much speculation relative to the
Cabinet, founded on the mere report that re-
Gently the members of it have formally ten
dered their resignation this necessitating new
nominations to the Senate. The question
about the Cabinet, however, was settled last
fall soon after the reelection of President
Grant. AT Cabinet meeting, all the members
being present, they informed him that, wishing
to do nothing whatever to embarrass him in
his administration, they would tender their
designations, to take effect on the eth of March
ensuing. The President expressed his thanks
for their friendly feelings, and informed them
that he had no desire for any one of them to
preferred they should all remain. Nothing has
since occurred to change the position of affairs
as it existed at that time. The only immediate
change will be in the Secretaryship of the
Treasury, should the present incumbent be
elected to the Senate of the United States.
The opinion that the President need not re-
nominate the present members of the Cabinet
for confirmation by the Senate, is strengthened
by the fact that all of them were at the respec-
tive departments to-day, attending to their
official duties and it is said by gentlemen in
executive positions that no such nominations
will be made.
WASHINGTON, March 6.
The conference report on the post Office ap-
preparation bill retained the clause inserted by
the Senate excluding absolutely from the mails
all free matter, after the 3Oth OF June, 1873.
This, of course, cuts off all free newspaper
exchanges and all free mail delivery OF country
newspapers.
In the Senate, Mr.. Spencer, of Alabama,
signifed his intention of taking the oath. Mr..
Bayard objected to Spencer being sworn in.
He said that it was known that there were
doubts as to the legality of the election under
which the credentials of Mr.. Spencer came to
the Senate. The credentials of another gentle
man claiming to be elected Senator from Ala
bama, Mr. Sykes, were on the table, and he
objected to Mr.. Spencer being sworn in until
his credentials were passed upon by commit
tee of this body. Mr.. Hamlin said the custom
was to swear in Senator whose credentials
were in regular form, and then, if there were
any questions as to the legality of his election,
they could be decided upon without prejudice
to any one. This had been the precedent.
Mr.. Bayard moved that the credentials of Mr..
Sykes and of Mr.. Spencer be laid on the table,
and the question of Mr.. Spencer's admission be
postponed until some future day. Mr.. Conk-
ling said Mr.. Sykes was here solely as memo
ralist; whereas the credentials of Mr.. Spencer
were in proper form. He (Mr. C. held that
Mr.. Spencer should now he sworn in, in accord
ance with the custom and the precedent, and
his credentials could then be referred to the
Committee on Elections, without any prejudice
whatever to his constituents. Mr.. Bayard said
Mr.. Conkling was mistaken in his assertion
that Mr. Sykes was here in the character OF
memorialist. The credentials of Mr.. Sykes
are in regular and proper form. AS to the pre-
cedent in such cases, Mr.. B. instanced that MIR.
Stark, of Oregon, whose credentials were in
proper form, and for whose seat there was no
contest, had not been admitted, but his creden-
tials were sent to the Committee on the Judici-
ary and two years ago, Mr.. Goldthwaite, of
Alabama, was objected to his credentials were
in proper form there was no contestant what
ever for his seat vet we all know how long it
was before he was admitted to his seat. Mr..
Bayard then maintained that the record showed
that Mr.. Spencer's credentials were not IN
proper form, and it would be an injustice to the
people of Alabama if he was admitted without
scrutiny. The discussion on the subject was
continued by Mr.. Thurman and others. Spen-
GERS case occupied the Senate the entire day.