Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-12-14

prompt and partisan support OF Kellogg.
lie admits irregularities IN the constitution
OF the legislature of 1873, but alleges these
were due to the within OldIng Of returns by
Gov. Yarmouth, which compelled the re
turning board TO proceed on estimates. This
legislature existed for the Constitutional term
of two years and performed all legislative
functions and was deemed sufficiently valid
Pinchback accuses senators OF inconsistency
in refusing him admission and admitting
Kellogg who presents claim essentially
like his own, but weaker. he
argues against the validity Of the
Packard legislature which had no legal
quorum and which passed away IN a lew
weeks. He prOnounces Packsrd's title as
baseless and his tenure Of office a. uncer-
tam as his general assembly. PlncnoacK
says i. taxes his credulity and charity to
cOncede either sincerity or consistency to
republican Senator'S who so earnestly OPP
posed his claim from 1873 to 1875, and who
so promptly and sOlidly supported the new
Senator from Louisiana.
PATTERSON coNGRATULATEs HIMSELF
NEW YORK, Dec The Posts Wash
ington special says Patterson claims that
since his recent speech the President no
lima appointments. To-day the President
transmitted to the Senate the nomination of
Cyrus Baldwin to be collector of customs at
Charleston. This. Patterson says, Is his ap-
pointment. Baldwin is, he says, his per-
sOnal friend.
PATTERsON's INFAMOUS BARGAIN.
The kilograms Washington despatch says
there is little doubt that Judicial proceed
ings against Patterson will not be pushed
any further. 1t is stated that Butler has
procured him immunity. He will be releas-
ed on bail from the Indictment against him.
IL is arranged that Patterson shall resign
in few months, and be succeeded by Wade
Hampton. Patterson will resign Ostensibly
because the state is democratic and should
have a democratic Senator.
the NEW YORK CUSTOM HOUsE-rHE NONISA-
TIOSs OF ROOSEVELT AND PRINCE RE
JECTED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I2.-The Senate was
in executive session to-day nearly SIX hours.
The entire session was devoted to the New
York custom house nominations. No op-
position vas manifested to Merritt, but
the contest in regard to Roosevelt and
Prince was extremely animated and took
very wide range, covering discussion of
the rights, powers and duties of the Pres
ident in regard to removals from Office. and
the subject OF his civil service policy in gen.
eIal Mr. COnkling opened the debate with
the statement Of reasons why, in The opinion
OF the committee OF commerce, ROOsevelt's
and Princes nominations should not be
confirmed. These were that NJ charges
either Of corruption or inefhciency had been
made against the present ineumbents, bus
on the contrary, were conceded to De faith
iul, honest, experienced and able officers
Mr. Bayard followed in an extended argu-
ment, maintaining the right OF the executive
to make changes which would be a benefit
to the public service. he being responsible
for the execution of the laws and entitled
to select his agents, subject to the confirm
alton of the Senate, but without being
Obliged TO furnish statement Of the rea-
sons MIR. Herman delivered speech OF
considerable length on the same side of the
question defending the action of the Presi-
dent. His remarks were made mostly from
manuscript. Mr.. Gordon warmly com
mended the civil service policy OF
the President in regard TO the pending
nominations. and asserted emphatically
that the removals which they Contemplated
were demanded by proper regard for the
purity of the service. He charged that
Cornell and Arthur had dlsgracefully used
tor merely partisan and selfish purposes,
and intimsted 1t was time for the one man
power in New York state to be broken
The debate became general. Messrs.
Hoar and Matthews favored Confirmation,
and sustaining the President in the exercise
of his constitutional power and bis sound
public policy in removing the civil serviea
from partisan control. Msssrs. Ednunds,
Maxey, Teller, and others opposed confir-
nation arguing that in the present instances
at least the President had departed from
the principles of civil service he himself an
nounced, namely that faithful and efficient
services should protect 0thcers from re-
moval, etc
Mr.. Conkling closed the debate in a
speech of considerable length. He replied
In detail to the various arguments advanced
by supporters OF the nominations. and re-
PEELED with the utmost emphasis the
| charges made against the official character
and conduct of the officers whom the Presi-
dent proposed to remove. tie Insisted they
| had been faithful, honest and efficient in
every particular, and that not single
| charge has ever been made against them
| either by mercantile community, the secTe-
tary Of the treasury or the President him
| self In conclusion he claimed that the
Senate would be unjust to faithful officers.
careless of its own prerogstives and duties
and unmiadful of the dictates of true civil
service policy, il it failed to vote that these
nominations should be rejected.
The vote by yeas and NAYS was then taken
upon the nominations of Roosevelt and
Prince. In each case Eaton, Dennis,
White and Maxey, democrats, united with
the great body OF republicans against the
| confirmation. The vote was-yeas %,
nays y.
TIE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
Senator Morrills bill for commission on
the liquor traffic provides for five commits
slOners to investigate the subject 10 all its
aspects, and take testimony regarding the
results of license and prohibition. The bill
| appropriates $4,000 for the necessary ex-
penses of the commission.
GEN. SHERIDAN ON THE MEXICAN TROUBLES.
Gen. Sheridan was before the House mill
| tary affairs committee, to-day He said
there was no danger of war with Mexico.
unless through the accidental collision of
American and Mexican forces.
THE COLORADO CASE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. I2.-The contested
case of Patterson against BeliOrd from Colo
RADIO, Is expected to be called up in the
House to-day. Alexander II. Stevens in
tends to make speech in support of Patter-
son. The democrats are not united and
some wish to declare vacancy on the
ground of no election.
SILVER FOR C1ISAGB.
Nineteen tons of pure silver we're sent
from the assay office to-day to the Phila-
delphia mint for coinage.
SorTuEHN NEWS