The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-03-14
IN Which Senator ingalls, Takes a
Leading Part, and ''Shuts up
Senator ConkIing in Ra!h-
er Unceremonious
Manner.

name to the Senate, tnat 10 oe ioio"e
his giving bond2 Is that true? In the
case in Louisiana, could not name have
been sent here for confirmation as readiy,
az rapidly, practically, as designation
could have been made under the propose
Mr.. DAWES. My difficulty with the
case is this The Secretary OF tie Interior,
on whom the law has devOlved the discre-
tiop. has decided that it is not safe Tor the
nubiic service for man 10 hold that POSI-
lion until he has given bond OF s2oo,ooo.
The effect Of this bill is to take away that
and annul that judgment, and
enable man to enter upon the duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES OF the oiiice for less sum.
Mr.. BLAINE. Will the Senator allow
me a moment just there?
Mr.. DAWES. Yes, sir. i
Mr.. BLAINE. want to ask the Sena-
tor from Kansas, who has the bill In charge,
if this measure does not 60 upon the pre-
81 mption that the Secretary Of the Interior
can find a man whom he is more willing
10 trust without bond than he Is willing
TO trust this pension agent without bond.
Mr.. DAWES. That is what was going
to say.
Mr.. BLAINE. That is what strikes me,
that the Secretary Of the Interior will not
,rust this man unless he gives bond OF
$3.50 600: but if you give him right to
roam around he will find any number OF
men whom he will trust with less bond or
without any bond.
Mr.. DAWES. Mr.. President-
Mr. INGALLS,. As the Senator from
Maine has said wi at the Senator from Mas
sacbusetts was going to say, when the Sena-
tor from Massachusetts has said it, will an
swer both. +,
understand the spirit and animus OF all
this discussion. i do not differ at all with
the Senator from New York or any other
Senator who has spoken in regard to the
action that ought to have been taken IN
This case. Had been President and a man
nominated for a place like this had failed
for three weeks to give bond, should
have concluded that he was incapable of
qualifying and would have sent In the
name of somebody else.
Mr.. SALISBURY. Will the Senator
from Kansas allow me to ask him ques-
ton? =,
pleasure.
AIR. SALISBURY. This man having
been nominated 10 and confirmed by the
Senate at this session, l ask the Senator
whether it is competent during the present
session for the Pre- tsident to send in another
name. / ask tie Senator from Kansas II
his construction of the tenure of-otfice acl
would Justify the President in that condI'
tiop of things sending in another name?
Mr.. INGALLS,. l do not know anything
about it. l have not examined the tenure
| 81 o.{,oa in hat ennnpcflpQ.
Mr. CHAFFEE. Or the civil-servics
rules?
Mr.. INGALLS,. say if had the pow
er under the law and a man had refused ol
failed to qualify for three weeks l should
have considered il my.duty to exercise thai
l power and should have sent in some othe
name for the purpose OF being acted upor
q by the Senate 10 exercise the duties of tina
Office. But that condition Of things doe.
not exist. Whether under the tenure-of
5 Office act or not here is an actual, existing
/ vacancy. Colonel Howe resigned. Ih'
a man who was appointed to I'LL the vacanc!
has not qualified and cannot exercise IN
duties Of the office under the law. There
: fore, the question for the Senate to decide !
: how shall these fourteen thousand pension
ers at New York City be paid on the Az
day of March, which is Monday next. Ihi
proposed statute is intended to provide 10
4 that emergency. 1t it in strict harmon.
: with the provisions that have been enacte
in regard to all other Departments OF tn
Government.
Mr.. DAWES. Does the Senator froI
l. Kansas recollect what answer he got fror
Y the Senator from Massachusetts,
II Mr.. INGALLS,. This is a matter er
= tirely immaterial to the Senator from kar
e sas.
Mr.. CONKLING. Mr.. President
n Mr.. EDMUNDS. l wish the Senate
n from New York would let the chairman I
e the Judiciary committee defend himself ft
= a minute. will begin by saying that if m
Il friend from Maine knew even little la
e he would know something of everything
II He has not read section that applies
! this subject at all, allow me to say to hin
&c 1t may happen sometimes, where PEI
a sion agency falls vacant only day or tw
j. before the time Of the payment OF the pei
sions, that you must provide some step,
r matter how good your man is. The pla.
1. NAV be 80 distant that a hand could not
'r transferred. You cannot transfer har
, by telegraph. Take a pension at San Fra
-
III and how are you to do at the last momen
!, You cannot get the bond, no matter nc
le promptly the Senate acts. The Preside
e cannot appoint by telegraph; he can desi
nate; and if he is authorized to designa
ne some other officer Of the United States,
" thi there is no great danger
ne the public revenue, that for such q temper
- - ry and pressing exigency, no matter how
/ 4 vSnf <sr1 trn
III whose fault it is, but here it is ;, the Pre-.
So dent can be trusted and the officer can
trusted with the drawing Of checks on !
III public depository for the payment oil
pensions.
Mr.. BLAINE. If the point made by Z
'e chairman OF the judiciary committee isgo
il proves little too much for his case,
;, cause the broad assertion OF amy other
IL fcerr would of course include .Pensl
ne agents, and removes any necessity for pa
Vi ing this bill.
Mr.. HERMAN. l wish to make I
suggestions in the hope that we may
y something that will insure the payment
pensions to these people next week
r. chairman of the judiciary committee os
ut not believe that the President now has
at right TO designate any officer Of the Uni
D. States to 70 and pay those pensions. WI
u ont having time to examine the questl
much. think the chairman
the committee is entirely rigt
nj but at least it is very doubt
whether such power exists; and there
little chance that these people will be n
Ire next week unless Congress shall legislate
ity the direction indicated by the committee
IN pensions. have nothing to say about v
rs is to blame for this condition OF afsirs.
Tor speak for the sake Of the people who y
he be disappointed and many Of whom v
suffer II while we are differing about
law there is nothing done to render cert'
ID the payment Of the pensions due to them
This provision think is . wise one
the future, while it covers this Particu
nls case. do not believe, If pension a.
'I' at New Orlean or at New York shot
AZ drop down dead or be stricken with par
"a, ysis the day before the pensions are to
me paid. that under existing law there y
'0 power legally to appoint man to 60 tn
and nav those pensions on the day they
due and think there should be some
- remedying any such difficulty. 1t 10 IN
line of legislation as to other departmei
This provision il TO cover all cases in
out future. and We should have such cases g
cred, think. The measure as ii Is q
OK before the Senate is as follows:
ys, Be Il Enacfed, &C., That whenever, durinl
, II sesston of the Senate, q vacancy snail oc
or. in the Office Of pension agent oy reeson
reclamation, death, removal, or expiration
the term OF once, OF Then any ,,sa s%en n ~ .s
O. sh.t the vacancy continues