The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-28
Relation of the Senate to Executive
Appointments.
IL VARIOUS VIEWS ENTERTAINED
Favorable Prospect for the Matthews
Resolution in the House.
A Measure to Facilitate
Investigations.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1873
THE EXECUTIVE APpoINTMENTs-vIEws OF
SENATOR'S ON THEIR RELATIONS TO THEM
WHAT THE PRESIDENT THINKS ON THE SUB
JEor.
The Louisiana and Maine nominations have brought
up again, in private conversation among Senators and
Others the question Of the relations of the Senate
executive nominations, which IN part Senator
Edmunds' letter to the President discussed. Tho
statement which follows. as will be seen with
some care, comes from republican sources and 10
believed 10 represent the opinions hold this sub
ject by considerable majority OF republican
Senators:---
BY accident or design a delusion seems TO have
been imposed upon the public strangely, transparent
when examined In regard TO the position held Wy
IL repeatedly asserted that tho Senate contends Tor
right 10 suggest or influence or dictate to tho
President In advance whom shall Office
The ground held Ny the Senate Is not only different
but opposite Tho President has the independent right
10 nominate to the Senate any eligible person, aud
the Senate has an equally independent right-nuy,
binding duty-.to ADVISE whether the nomination
act separate and substantive as much Is nom
nation Each Is committed to the judgment OF the
has i,s own sonurpss rssnnns,S S "'u T r1s
Ct Of nominating Is reposcd by tue constitution in the
President the act Of advising 10 confirm reject IS
repoSec exclusively III the Senate The same clause
oil tho constitution which empowers the President 10
do the thing enjoins the Senate, conscience
ana Judgment ~ do the other Both acts are COM
mttted 10 the judgment and discretion Ut those who
are to do them. When al oiico IS vacant, assuming
that II ought to be filled, which IL not always
the by any means, for otentlmes Offices exist by
law which there is need have occupied at a par.
ticular time; but when an office IS vacant which
should be filled and nomination Is the Sem
ate tho solo duty VI the Senate is 10 ADVISE as the
fitness and expectancy Of appointing the particular
person nominated. Whom, however, Office al
really hlict and nomination Is made person
70 dspIace The incumbent tho duty Of the Senate IS
TO advise whether the change should pc made. The
advice ana consent Of the senate IN such case IS
twofod IN character and effect. Ii 1t advises alra-
G. D. put in his place G. d. may be good man and
good even for the particular place; but A. b. IS
already In, has been tied. has acquired practice ana
experience, and II the Senate believes that
10 dispense with bis services and substi-
tu,e ono untried IN his stead would be
unwise, lnexpedicpt, injurious the public service
or even an experiment which could not improve the
efficiency Of administration. and may injuro It; Ia
such case Senators on their oalhs Obligated 10 eiye
honest ana discreet advice, cannot evade their duty
W shutting their eyes 10 the question OF cxpolling
the man who is In. TO do SO would be SIMPLY 10 paer
ana shirk plain constitutional duty.
II may be added that some republican and moro
responsible 70 tho country Tor tho execution OF the
laws and the administration OF public business. tho
Senate ought not to compel him in service an
odlcor whom Tor any cause public or private, he
wishes to remove and that Its duty is done when II
cots III judgment on his nominations. examining and
passing upon Iheir character and Htness and reject
ing only such as shown 70 be incapable or other.
wise unit.
third opinion is also held that the President
ought, when proposing to remove an officer, TO give
tho Senate full aud to 1t satisfactory reasons for his
removal, and that unless he can satisfy the Senate
with his reasons that body in the interest of tho puo
lie service, ought to refuse Its consent the removal
Those who hold urge that q strict observance OF
,,,s h.
In fact, greatly help to that permanence OF tenure
which The President desires 10 bring about In the
civil service.
The President is understood to hold that he ought
to be allowed large liberty about rem ,vaIs from
Office, inasmuch he is responsible for the conduct
OF public business, and that no may be justified in
removing an officer BY the fact that while the iucum
bent does well in some respects tho person he would
substitute would be better man In all the relations
OF the place. He holds also that q federal officer
ought only to be capable OF performing the duties
Of the place no holds but should be satisfactory
TO the community in which he is TO hold office, and
that man entirely capable otherwise would be an
improper nomination II by of hts relations to
the community no wore generally disliked.
Mr.. MATTHEWS SILVER RESOLUTION IN THE
HOUSE.
The silver men tho House will, II Is understood
endeavor 10 push through the Matthews resolution at
once. Three speeches made on the subject on
Saturday. Tho resolution will be reported from tho
Senate on Monday, and II two-thirds agree to sus-
pond the rules it then be passed without debate
or amendment, the motion being TO .'suspcnd the
rules and put this resolution on its passage" There
Is little doubt that this Will be DONE as most Of those
who opposed 10 II think II matter OF no impor
taDcc. Being only concurrent resolution 1t has no
O. n q n M re q ypra of mi