New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-19
THE SENATE OFFICES.
FRESH DEBATE IL THE SENATE WHEREIN THE
REPUBLICANS DISPLAYED THE BEST WIT AND
STRATTGY
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSEI

lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRmUSEI
WAsHINGrON, April 1S.-It would be a relief to
those whose duty it is to chronicle for the public
the proceedings of the Senate to score an occasional
victory for the Democracy in tho contests of wit
and logic which are Of almost daily occurrence. Up
to this time the only strength manifested by the
majority has been brought out during the roll
calls.
Senator Wallaccs resolution repeating the stand
ing order Of tho Senate which requires the Vice
Presidents approval to the removal Of Senate
employees came up to-day during the morning
hour. Mr.. Anthony ventured to protest. although
he said he knew the matter had been decided upon
by the Democratic caucus, and all he could say
would be futile to prevent the injustice.
Senator Ill., of Georgia. read Mr.. Anthony a long
lecture upon the singular course he pursuing.
Mr.. Hill was surprised to hear his venerable friend
oppose a practice which had been almost universal
merely because his party to be the sufferer.
With stupcudous manifestation Of cheek Mr.. Hill
vcntured to compare the present line of removals in
the Senate with those made By the Republicans in
1861.
Otcourse Mr. Anthony demolished him with the
record. The Democratic side of the Senate had
been almost empty in 1861, and the Republicans
did not think ii well to retain in positions where
the secret proceedings of the executive sessions
could be accessible to them any except loyal men.
Mr.. Hill made no response to this He however
took Mr.. Anthony 10 task for his reference to the
Democratic caucus, and he made lame denial of
the domination of the caucus. This he did at some
length and quite pointcdly referred to the impro-
prlety of the Senator's course.
Mr.. Anthony retorted that neither ne nor his side
had brought the into the discussions of the
Senate.
Mr.. Hill denied that Mr.. Beck had ever said, as
Il Il, -
coed with the business before the Senate in tho
absence of the chairman of the Democratic caucus
committee.
This, of course. made it necessary to produce and
read again the unfortunate speech Of Senator Beck,
and it had its usual effect. Mr. Hill had nothing
further to say. These references to Mr. Becks mis-
hap are getting to be nearly painful to the Re-
publican Senators as TO Mr.. Beck himself, but so
long as Democratic Senator'S deny the record they
will, of course be necessary.
Senator Edmunds offered a substitute in the form
Of an amendment declaring that tho correct and
safe transaction Of the business of the Senate is ma
terially dependent upon retaining corps of expert
enced and weltraincd officers, and this only be
done by continuing in their situations during good
behavior the employees Of the Senate. Mr. Edmunds
said that this was the exact language of a resolu-
ton adopted by the Senate in 1854 by a unanimous
This was q contingency which the caucus had not
foreseen and provided for; and 4 rather ludicrous
scene of confusion occurred until Mr. Wallace went
TO the desk. looked at the resolution, and then
shook his head as a signal TO the Democrats to OPP
pose It.
record was needed, however, and Mr.. Salisbury
Jumped into the breach He said 1t was mn assump-
ton on the part of the Republicans to offer inter
ference of this kind with the will of the majority.
We" he said, "are fully competent TO manage the
business of the Senate and retain such officers
are proper 10 be retained, and remove such as in
the opinion of the majority of this Senate proper
TO be removed" He then remembered that he had
ON n former occasion been ndscreet this same
snbjcct and he tried 10 create diversion, in which
effort he came grief He said he would read doe
umcnt which showed the animuS of the Republicans
i'm such matters. He read from pamphlet contain
ing the documents laid before the Wallace Commit
tee a circular 10 employers, signed by the Republl
can State Central Committee OF Massachusetts, re-
oueStug employers 10 use their Influence with their
employees to the election for the Rcpub
cans.
Mr. Dawes tried but was not permitted TO inter-
Mr salisbury dwclt at some length upon the
enormIty of the course taken by the Republican
about him chuckled VITA delight at the new point |
he was making. ,
that the document was forgery winch had been |
denounced by the State Central Committee the |
moment it appeared The committee had even |
offered reward for the production OF
single employer who had received a
copy of it, II had also been seeking in vain to find
ov to the origin of the circular. and the Senator
from Delaware the first responsible person who !
had been found wiling to acknowledge any con !
nectiou with the matter
scene OF great merrmcnt ensued a. the senator
from Massachlsett piled the senator from Della
ware with questions which the latter lodged until
the close of tue morning hour brought him relief.
NJ