New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-01
THE PRESIDENTS NOMINATIONS.
Mr.. CoNKLING DECLARES WAR AGAINST TWO OF THE
NEw-YORK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. TO BE con-

WASHINGTON, Now 3O-A special meeting Of the
Senate Committee on Commerce was held this
morning. IL was attended only 10y the Republican
members. Two Democratic members of the COM
mittee said this afternoon that they did
not receive notices of this special meeting In
time for them to attend; but a careful n-
quiry discloseS the fact that the notices were
left at the Senate Post Office last evening
in accordance with the custom of the Senate
and that they sent TO the houses of each of the
Senators with their regular mail early last night
IT, therefore, any of the Democratic members of the
committee not aware that a meeting had been
called, it not the fault of the chairman of the
committee the employees OF the Post Office Of the
Senate. Senator Dennis, one of the Democratic
members of the committee, was Informed OF the
meeting last evening and requested Senator Conk-
ling to pair for him in order that his abb
sence in Baltimore should not prevent the commit
tee from having quorum
The most important business transacted to-day
was the taking of a formal vote the nominations
of Messrs. Roosevelt and Prince to be Collector and
Naval Officer respectively az the Port of New-York.
One of the Republican Senators present understood
TO be General Burnside) did not vote, being paired
with Mr. Dennis The other four Senators, Conk
ling Spencer, Patterson and Mcmillan, were unani-
mOusly in favor Of an adverse report.
The ground upon which the committee will recon-
mend that these two important nominations shall
be rejected is that good reason has been assigned
either by the President or the Secretary Of the
Treasury for the removal of the present officers,
General Arthur and Mr.. Cornell. No personal or
other objections have been urged to the appoint
ment either of Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr.. Prince Both of
them are admitted on all hands to be responsible
gentlemen who would undoubtedly fill the Offices
to which the President nominated them with credit
to themselves and the public service. The oppose
ton is based entirely upon the determination OF
many Republican Senator'S, led by Mr.. Conknc,
that the principle of Civil Service reform lai down
by the Admnlstration-that there should be no re-
moyals except for cause, and no promotions except
for merit-shall be enforced, and that good
officers shell not be removed until the eXpira-
ton of their terms Of office, unless satisfactory
causes are assigned. Mr.. C0nkling and a major
lty of the committee are fortified in the position
they have assumed by the correspondence which has
taken place between the chairman Of the Com
mttee on Commerce and the Secretary of the Treas
ury. The former asked secretary sherman, IN an
official letter. to report TO the commit cc the reasons
for these important changes, ana the reply Whlcn ne
received was not satisfactory one 10 tie Rcplbli-
can members of the COMMITTEES. II assigned nO
cause for lie removal of General Arthur and Ar.
Cornell and, il is reported, denied Tie authority oi
The committee by Implication, II not drt, ti,, 20
make such demand upon the Executive Depart
mcnt OF the Government.
The case of General L. A. Merritt nominated to
be Surveyor Of the Port of New-Nork. presents en-
tirClv different questions. The position Which Iic
President has designated him TO iili Is now vacant
Ii has been 50 for months. No officer has been r.
moved in order q give The PTcS'd M an opportunity
TO appoint General Merritt, and the only question
that arises before the Committee on Commerce is
whether not the candidate whom the President
las designated Is competent ID MI the pace
To this question there can be Only one answer:
Mr Conkling has never far can be learned, said
a single word against the appointment OF GeneIu
Merritt, nor infatuated his desire that Ills homina-
tiOn Should not be confirmed.
1t was natural, therefore, that when adverse ac-
ion was taken upon the other TWO cases, that
of General Merritt should be made an eXccp-
unanimously in favor Of In, confirmation.
Such was the disposition made of his case hs Ter
noon, and there Is no doubt OF his CONTINUATION D.
fore the adjournment Of The extra session OF Con-
gress.
HOW DEMOCRATS FEEL.
What will tie Senate do with the nominations Of
Nessrs Roosevelt; and Prince when they are reached
on the executive calendari THIS is the question
which every one interested in the subject is asking
tonight If the adverse reports had been made two
weeks ago and the question OF confirming the
two nominations had been put to vote,
not all the prestige of the committees
report nor the eloquence Of It's chairman
could have defeated them. The temper OF the
Democrats has greatly changed since then lhcy
have been the Presidents warmest friends; bu!
among the Republicans men who. If not by words
at least by their acts, had given evidence OF their
determination to vote against tie admission of eX-
Governor Kellogg, no matter what majority oi
their party associates might do, apparently have
whipped back into the party lines again, and
helped to form solid party column where
they were before divided. eff party lines are
TO be drawn 50 closely" say the Demo
crats. If Republican Senators who are friendly
to the President surrender their individual conyc-
tons for the sake Of partisan advantage, why
should we do anything to help either faction? Ifrc-
spectable nominations made by the President, which
all the country approves are rejected by the Re
publican Senator's what is that to us Ii will only
bring the Republican party into dIsrepute and we
have no interest IN saving il from the results Of its
folly7 These are not the words OF any particular
Senator, but they represent the feeling of consid-
cradle number of them
Under these circumstances il would not be strange
if the Democrats arc stless and uninterested spec
tators of the contest among the Republicans if
occurs when the New-YOrk nominations reached
IN executive session. Before, they would have taken
off their coats and entered into the fight in behalf of
Messrs Roosevelt and Prince with great zest Now
a majority will probably vote against the commit
tees report but it Will be more pro forma than other
wise. This change in the political situation in the
Senate may not cause the defeat OF the Ne%-loIh
nominations, but II certainly makes Their cOnuilna-
ton more doubtful than before.
OTHER NOMINATIONS.
The Senate Committee Commerce agreed to-
day to report the nomination of William Henry
smith 10 be Collector of the Port Of Chicago, With
out recommendation. Senator Oglesby says ne has
not opposed Mr. Smiths confirmation and the
pectation now is that he will be confirmed at the