Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-04
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE WAR or THE RADICAL ROSES,
Who Struck Senator COnkling2 - The
Senate Confirms the New York
Nominations - Analysis
Of the Vote.


ritt To he collector Of customs and Silas
W. Burt to DO naval officer OF the port
ui New York, was resumed by the SEN
ate in executive session to-day, at =, NJ.
Senator Bayarl as soon as the doors
were closed, submitted motion that
they be reopened and all their proceed
ing he conducted in public.
Mr.. Edmunds objected to the present
consideration OF the motion and it
therefore went over under the rule.
Mr.. Bayard took the floor and made u
speech of considerable length and much
earnestness in favor ut continuing the
nominations. lie referred in detail to
the testimony taken by the investigating
committee, Of which hc was membcr,
some years ago, showing, lac alleged,
gross maladministration OF the
New York custom house under
Collector Murphy, and he claimed 1t
was then, and had been since, mere
machine and source OF currup-
iiou. lie therefore heartily favored the
Presidents : declaration OF intention tu
reform its administration 10y placing 1t
on business principles, and In this cnd
would vote for the removal OF Arthur
and Cornell, and the confirmation OF the
pending nominations as step in the
direction ut the much needed reform.
Mr.. Eimunds Was the next speaker.
lie strongly opposed the removal ut
Arthur, ,thr pending question being on
ten. MCrrltt's nomination only, and
insisted that no sufficient cause had
been shown To- justify il. In the course
ui his remarks lac Cumbattcd the idea
that, ia order To property administer
the affairs ui the Custom House, Il
was necessary Tor the collector to be "a
personal friend ui the President or of
the Secretary ui the Treasury. II was
the duty uf the officer 10 obey the law,
and unless corruption or ineilicicncy
were proven hc should bc retained in
office regardless at mere personal feel.
iugs or PARTISAN preferences.
Mr.. Voorhees, opposed the Cuniirma-
tiuu ot ten. Merritt on the ground that
ihCre were abuses to hc cor
rcctrd hc Was not satisfied that Merritt
was tit man tu hc entrusted with their
correction.
MIR. Herman took the same ground
that the New lark custom house had
been run rs a political machine, hut ia
his opinion there would he no improve
mcnt effected by placing 1t under the
control oi Merritt, who was mere poll
ticiau with nothing To commend him
Iur the place. While, therefore, hc
keanan Was not willing To- endorse
Arthur consequently ho should decline
lo vote at all
MIR Howe made speech ui about 4
hall hours duration, ia which he took
up aud compared the charges aud re-
plies, and arrived at the conclusion that
there was uu good cause shown Tor the
proposed removals.
Mr. Cuckrcil reviewing the cuutUuver-
sv, said It appeared that very grave
charges had been made against General
Arthur, aud that IN return very serious
were made against Secretary
sherman, the truth ut some which the
Secretary seemed to admit lie, there
Inre thought the only proper Way To deal
with the subject would bc To- rrcummIt
the nomination to the Committee on Com
mrrre with the power To send for per
sous and papers and make a thorough
ui the Custom House al
iairs, under Mcrritt's administration.
Tie therefore submitted motion tu
that effect.
Mr.. Morgan, after making a speech ut
the same purpOrt as Mr.. COCkrclis,
moved 10 indefinitely postpone the
pending nomination On the ground that
thi. would Indicate that the Senate did
not consider Merritt a proper man for
Ihr place and would open the way Tor
the President tu send IN another name.
The Presiding Officer Mr., Mitchell
In the chair ruled this motion out uf
order, "a 1t involved final action, and
under the rules uf the senate, although
A puStpOnement to "a tiXcd date was per
uiSsahlc, the final question un the nom
.uatiuu must always he. Does the sen
ate advise and consent tu the uumlna-
IIun'
\ long discussion Cnsucd on the par
question thus RAISED, and al
Ter siN or seven Senators had spoken
nearly all at them supporting the de
'IsIOu Ot the chair Mr. Morgan with
irvw his motion.
The question then required on Mr..
.D,krrll's motion Ia rccommit, and Mr.. |
.uuklins took the floor Ia close the de- .
,atr. liz sent to the clerks desk ten.
Arthur's letter to him oi the lst inst,
n reply L. Secretary Shermau's last /
aud after itS reading /.
Mr.. COnklIug pruCccdcd 10 make an /
luur's speech, very earnestly opposing /.
hr confirmation AMI going over the /.
\ hole ground Oi the changes against Ar |
huraud Carntii tu show that they have /
Been thoroughly rciuted RctCrringtuthc |
ul the President aud Se,rr- |
Ary sherman that the New York Gus
um house hal ttCn used as a political |
Machine iur the benefit oi personal and |
,,iltlyal friends ut persons WAC cun- /
ruilc,i the appointments, he reat /
several letters from SECRETARY sherman |
.ud Assistant Secretary Mccormick al |
irrsS,.d o. Collector Arthur, in which |.
hey requested appointments tur /
heir personal or political friends |
Anon. them was one trum yrytary /
sherman to Collector Authur earnestly |
,vpmmpniug >nn Ot Justice Bradley |
or an appointment. At the close he .
>hermanl hoped Tor manifest rCasons F.
nat II would hc considered tayOrably.' /
Mr. CuuSliug also read to hhe senate F.
. letter written o. Arthur hy the frCsi- T.
lent. .or by the Presidents direction, /
pcommeHdlng Tor the appointment a.
ieputy CullrCtuT a gentleman Mr.. j. .
,. Howard who had written PrrSi- t.
len: Hayes a biography.
ten, Arthur declined 10 comply Wit 4
be President inquest, on the ground |
hat he did not think IL advisable "a I
proper % confer So important an ap-
Dojutment on any man who hAi not .
-ume up through the lower grades ot !
,ervhe and shown fitness TOR the posi- /
ion The day he thus declined a. violate /
the Presidents civil service principles !
Vas. said Mr. COnkhRg. "A sorry dAy
or Geuerli Arthur, for the Presidents
opposition seemed to date irom this n
ussil
In the course of his further remarks,
he referred to the Presidents alleged
purpose t0 make new nominations %
l,aul..-, Artbnr and t,ornau IN tho