New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-07
.Conklinr has explained his reasons for opposing
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.


LONG DISCUSSION IN EXECUTIVE SESSION As TO
THEIR RESPECTIVE POWERS UNDER THE TEN
URE-OF-OFFICE ACT.
ny TELEGRAPH TO TRBUNEl
WAsHINGTON, Dee G.-The Senate held long
Executive Session this afternoon II plunged at
once into an exceedingly interesting discussion of
the scope and effect Of the Tcnurc-Oi-ofce Act and
Of the respective prcroCaives Of the President AMI
Senate IN connection with appointments to office.
portion Of the session spent in reading the
nominations submitted to-day lover hundred in
numbcr The discussion opened when the nomina-
ton OF alexander Reed to be Postmaster at Toledo
ONO, IN the place of Alexander Reed who failed to
be confirmed was submitted. Several other NOM
nations were made ont in similar FORM
The first tome of debate in regard 10 the
night of the President under the law, to make an
appointment in this form. II soon branched Oft
taking wide range, and embracing almost every
question that could arise in connection with the
Presidents power 70 appoint officers, and also the
rights which are conferred upon the Senate by that
clause of the Constitution which gives it the power
10 advise and consent" to appointments
Senator Conkling spoke very earnestly. but if il
said good naturally on this subject using language
which nobody could object 10, bat EXPRESSING his
opinions in a very decided manner. He insisted
that this question Of the relative powers and duties
of the President and the Senate in connection with
appointments ought 70 he settled. The resolution
reported from the Commerce Committee during the
extra session, calling upon the President
for all the papers and any other information
/ he might have in regard TO the Ncw-YorlI
aupoinlncnts was still before the Senate; and
Mr. Couklmg said he was anxious to have
the matter PROMPTLY disposed of. He wanted the
question settled whether the President was obliged
TO give reasons under the Tcnure-of-oice Act forhe
] e, Iv-ha
lie gave them, would be in any degree conclusive
TO the Senate irrespective of the character Of the
officers removed or appointed. 1t may be remembered
that Senator Couklug suthorzedby the Committee
on Commerce. wrote TO Secretary sherman. asking
for all the papers in regard 10 the NewNork Custom
House appointments, hut that the Secretary of the
; Treasury virtually declined to furnish them. There
upon the committee directed Mr. Conking to report
to the Senate in Executive Session resolution sub
stantiallv declaring that Secretary Shcrman'- an
swcr was not regarded as sufficient and calling ex-
/ pilCitiy upon The President tor the information.
Besides senator Coukhug. many other senators
participated in the discussion which took a very
wide range Among them were Ncssrs. Ihuman,
Matthews. Voorhees,, Oglcsby Teller, Sargent,
Eaton, Davis of Illinois and others.
The Democrats turned ont t. be by no means uni
ted the questions raised. Senator Thurman
seemed TO believe that the President was in degree
accountable to the Senate ana that The Senate wa,
entitled to full information i'm regard 10 any appoint
mcnts that are made senator VOORHEES,, on the othe
hand, took rather conservative ground, and was dis
posed To hold the opinion that the President coulC
not he required TO assign reasons either for making
removals or appointments.
% Senator Matthews, no spoke with much spri
and carucSfDcss held that the President could az
point, remove or suspend al his pleasure the Scnat
having merely advisory power 70 approve or Ttjec
nominations as il should see fit.
There is every Indication that the debate in tn
Executive Session IN the Senate on this subject la
Z only Just hcIun aud that lt will continue through
q many executive sessions yet 10 come. Both partc
Will be divided and it j. impossible 10 predict wha
conclusions viii finally be reached. Meanwhile tn
President shows no undue anxiety about the result
but appoints those whom he thinks best fitted aut
deserving, and leaves il with the Senate to confirm
or reject II fit.