New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-12
NE. CoyKLNG's POSSIBILITIES.

ROOSEVELT AND FKlNNE-Ni''A'1'''
DFv0CR ,TIC VOTEs-A MEXICAN INVESTIGATION |
rBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRiBuSEl
WAsurvGTON Dec 1.-THE Senate committee |
nm Commerce held its first meeting to-day since tue
reorganization Of the committees OF the senate
All the Republican members of the committee were
present and Senators Randolph and Gordon III 'Ho
Democrats Senator Dennis was construcuNey pres
ent having authorized Mr. Conklns to vote LOT MIN
on the New-York nominations. Senator Ransom was
absent on account of i'll health. As soon as the
committee was called to order by its chairman
Senator Coukliug MIR. Spencer moved that
the nominations of Mcssrs Roosevelt an"
Prince as Collector and Naval Officer for the
Port of New-York be reported to the senate
with recommendation that they be rejected a
vote was taken upOn this motion without dlscusSoh'
it's understood and resulted as follows; Aihrma-
tiyc-Nlessrs. Conklmg, Spencer Mcmillan, IateI-
son. Jones, Of Nevada, and Dennis, whose vote was
cast by Senator Conkhug-G; negatiye-Sen-
ators Gordon and Randolph. The nonI-
nation of General Merritt to be Surveyor OF the
Port Of Ncw-York was subsequently approved
I'm the Senate after the debate on the Matthews
Silver resolution had continued for several hours tins
afternoon Mr.. Hamliu moved to proceed to the con-
alteration of Executive business. During the secret
session winch followed, the reports on the NcW-loiA
Custom House nominations wcrc submitted. lhel
went upon the calendar under the rule which pre-
vents any resolution from being acted upon during
tL day on which it is reported or introduced except
by unanimous consent.
Nj. Coukuq's friends assert most positively that
he is certain of securing enough Democratic votes
AGAINST the confirmation of MessrS. Roosevelt
and Prince TO insure their defeat; and they
also say that the case of General Merritt !
will not be acted upon until after those Of the |
othcr two sc itleucn disposed Of For several |
DAYS past Mr. Conklmg has apparently been IaDof-
ing earnestly with Democratic Senators for the puT-
pose of securing their votes against the continuation
of the two New-YoIk Custom House appointments |
to which he Is opposed Democrats who understand !
the sentiments Of the representatives Of their party
IN the Senate say that he has thus far met with little
success. Senator Dennis a member of the Com |
mcr,e Committee has from the first been OPP |
posed to changes IN the New-YorB Custom House, |
and will vote against the confirmation /
Of the new appoiutees Senator Eaton, Tor /
reasons which have not been explained, Is |
also said 10 have announced his determination to |
vote i'm the same way. Aside from these two Sen !
ator 10 others can be heard Of who intend to fol-
low Mr. Conklings lead As the latter is exceed !
ingly judcious and expert in his wirc-pulling how
ever lie may have secured pledges of other votes of
which q majority of the Democratic Senators have
10 knowledge.
Some OF those who have been approached, either !
by Mr.. Coukling or his friends, and urged to take |
grounds against the Presidents New-York nomna- |
tions say that they no chance to gain a !
party advantage by allying themselves with |
MIR Conklug IF any one in the Repub- |
can party" said prominent Democrat
to-day. represents Grantsm, bayonet rule in
the Southern States disregard for Constitutional
limitations and in brief every principle of govern
mcnt which the Democratic party detests, that man
is Senator Conkling. We do not think there is
much Hberality toward the Democrats or toward
the South in the Republican party any way.
but what there is is represented by Presi-
dent HAYES. lie is certainly the most liberal
Republican now in public life. 1t seems 10 me that
il would be the height of folly for us TO unite with
the most radical and INSCRIPTIONS of our opponents
10 overthrow OF to weaken the Administration Of a
President whose ideas are less obnoxious to MS
than those Of any other prominent Repubh-
can. Under these circumstances ! assume that the
Democrats will be substantially solid IN their sup
port of all good nominations made by the President,
and that they will Lot ask any questions about the
circumstances under which officers have been re-
moved in order TO make the appointment of Others
possible
On the Republican side of the Senate there are be-
leved TO be four or five who viii vote
for the confirmation Of Mcssrs. Roosevelt
and Prince, when that question is reached.
One Of these Mr.. Hoar, has gone to Massachusetts
and will not return until after the holiday
IT, therefore the vote should be taken before next
Saturday the Presidents candidates would lose one
vote which they would otherwise be pretty sure to
secure. Mr.. Stanley Matthews is expected TO vote
in favor of their confirmation Three four Others
are mentioned. Those vino sympathise with the
President and desire TO have those nominations
frmed express the belief that no combination which
Mr. Conkling form will be strong enough to
defeat them.
The report of the Commerce Committee will prob
ably be taken up when 1t is regularly reached
on the calendar, and not before. By the rules /
Of the Senate all reports made from committees !
III Executive Session upon the Executive calendar
in the order in which they submitted. When |
the Senate proceeds TO the business that calen-
dar, 1t takes up the in the order in which they
stand. As considerable number Of nominations |
already reported from committees were disposed of
to-day, 1t would not DO at all surprising
II the New-YOrk cases were reached within !
the next two or three days, but it will not follow
amatter Of course thatthey will be disposed Of mme
diatey. Nominations Of this kind over which con
troyerses have arisen ~ the past, have sometimes
been discussed two OF three days. and several days /
have occasionally been allowed 20 intervene during |
which they have not been considered at ALL 1t was |
the general opinion, about the Capitol, to-day, |
that If MI Conklng felt perfectly sure that he could
secureihe defeat of Messrs. Roosevelt and Prince he
would allow the vote TO DO taken upon their NOM
nations ~ speedily possible; but it. after can