The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13
SENATOR CONKLING In WAR PAINT
Bitter Denunciations Of the Presi-
dent Reported.
REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.
Report Of the Special Committee
to Congress.
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, Dec. 70, 1878.
THE NEW YORK NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE COM
MITTEE ON COMMERCE.
The Senate Committee on Commerce which has in
charge the various Custom House nominations and
others. held its first meeting this morning. This
meeting was, according to the gossip of the evening
very poorly attended, and the following account OF the
proceedings is given by persons who pretend to be
well informed. When the hour came for the meeting
of the committee at haf-past ten. of the nine men,
bers who are Senators-Conkfng, the chairman;
Spencer, Mcmillan, Patterson, Jones Of Nevada
don, Dennis, Ransom and Randolph-only four sp-
pearcd-namely, Mcssrs. Spencer. Patterson. Dennis
and Randolph. The Chairman. Senator Conkling did
not arrive until f-past eleven, and his arrival
business was begun. The Chairman brought mp be-
fore the four committeeman q considerable num-
Dor Of unimportant nominations, which were
considered and passed upon referred, and finally,
at about ten minutes before twelve the hour Of adj
journment. the Chairman brought up the New York
Custom House nominations. Having laid them before
the committee, Mr.. Conkling thereupon made ad-
ressd upon them, speaking his mind, with freedom
and acrimony, of the President and Of his action in
making these nominations, and stigmatizing in par
ticuar the act of removing Messrs Arthur and Cor
nell and appointing others to their places during the
recess of Congress by very opprobrious cpthets It
is asserted that he used the words "cowsrdly" and
"sneaking properly descriptive Of these acts. and
it is added that he has rarely spoken conemptn-
ously bitterly Of the President than he did to-day
When he had done, Senator Randolph arose and said
that in his belief the act Of the President entirely
proper and within his discretion. 1t violated law.
but was in strict accordance with the Tenure OF
act and he held that the duty of Senators to look
to the merits and character Of the appointments and
i, 10 cNH
nominations he should consider it his duty to sup
port them and move their confirmation.
At this stage Of the proceedings, when good deal
of Senatorial heat had been evolved Mr.. Dennis
moved that as four members Of the committee were
absent the further considerations Of these appoint
ments be postponed. On this motion vote of those
present taken. which resulted in tie, Messrs.
Dennis and Patterson voting for postponement and
Messrs. Spencer and Randolph against. This caused
an evident embarrassment to the chairman,
seeing which Mr.. Randolph the report says,
suggested to Senator Spencer that he had
better save further embarrassment to the
chairman by changing his vote and thus
carrying the postponement to which, the story goes
Senator Spencer replied with considerable wild West
ern energy tllat he would not do 80.
Finally Mr.. Conkling declined to cast the deciding
vote. and motion the committee adjourned not to
adiournng the holidays being set by the House
for the 20th in which the Senate win probably agree
This story is the of eager discussion among
republican politicians tonight tits thought to set
tie the hitherto undecided question of Senator Conk
lings attitude toward the administration. It has
been supposed that he was, II not friendly at least
neutral. and it is now seen that he means to make
fight No doubt is felt that tho nominations will now
go over until after the holidays and they cannot be
considered then until the meeting Of the 10th of Janu
airy. Some of General Merrits friends assert
that they have known for some time that his
nomination would be opposed by Senator Conk-
ling and they not surprised, but they
add that the Senator will find that no cannot carry
the strength in the Senate this time that he did
on the occasion when he defeated Roosevelt and
Prince and that the longer he delays to report the
nominations the longer the present officers will
retain their places 1t is generally understood that
the President will not under any circumstances
nominate General Arthur or Mr.. Cornell.