New-York tribune., 1879-03-13
AN AsTONISHED CROWD.
TUE AsPIRANTs FOR PLACES IN THE GIFT OF TIL
SENATE INQUIRING ANXIoUsLY ABOUT TIL
STANDING ORDER RFPFRRED TO BY THE TRIB

SENATE INQUIRING ANXIoUsLY ABOUT THE
STANDING ORDER RFPFRRED TO BY THE TRIB-
UNE-CAsEs OF IT'S ENFORCEMENT.
Try TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBrSE.I
WAsuINGTON March 1.-THE ardOr which has
characterized the proceedings of the swarms OF
seekers for the subordinate Offices in the Senate
received decided check to-day by the publication
in the morning TRIBUNE of the standing order
passed by the Senate when that body under
Democratic control, and which prohibits the dis
charge of the present incumbents of these offices
except for cause, and then only with the approval
of the Vice-Presideut Not only the Office-seekers,
but many Senators who seem to have forgotten the
existence of such an order. are now manifesung an
interest in the new feature which this development
brings out Before reading the article. III to-days
TRIBUNE several Democratic Senators bad ex-
pressed a wish that there could be found some
good method of escape from the opportunities oil
ofice-seekers, and by which the old Snd tried OH
cals of the Senate as a general thing could be re-
tanned.
1t is admitted on all hands that the present force
of the Offices of the Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arns
of the Senate is highly Efficient and that me I'M
portant duties of these offices cannot possibly he
discharged by an entirely new set OF emplO!cS'
vitbopt great confusion and delay. Al
most without exception the gentlemen compos-
TINS force nave nau Il IOuB tAptI4'hCc III ''i'
discharge of their respective duties, and no one II
ls believed can find the slightest ground for com
plant against them. Il is possible. however that
simple standing order which might be found TO
be an obstacle to the accomplishment OF the wishes
of the party which now controls the Senate would
he swept away at once, whatever might be the rsk
70 the interests OF the public by such an act But
wien if comes TO an interference with the personal
convenience of Senators, and even 10 risklng the
success of their own personal and political schemes
by the inevitable blundering OF new Set OF men,
reason is found sufficient to make even Demo
cratic majority pause and reflect before taking
action.
The question is asked by the new aspirants for
Office. whether this standing order, admitting It's
existence as they are obliged to do, has been en-
forced during the continuance of Republican power
IN the Senate or is now merely revived as a meas
ure to keep the Democrats from filing the places
for which they yearn. A careful examination OF
the records and Of he history of the administration
Of the Offices in question shows that This standing
order has always been considered a, of full force,
and has on many occasions been officially recog-
nized by a direct vote of the Senate. During the
time that the Republicans have been IN power IL
the Senate there have been very few removals, but
in every single instance where the question has
been raised the validity of thus standing order has
been recognized
In 1861, when the party first came into power,
and Colonel John ". Forney was appointed Secre-
tary of the Senate. there a NUN Der Of volun-
tary resIgnatlons while few vacancies existed i'll
consequence of the decease Of employees of the
Secretarys Office. This gave TO Mr FOrney an op-
portun1ty TO make more appointments than he
otherwise would have been able TO do.
When the present Secretary of the Senate, Mr.
Gorharn was elected no cha ges were made. The
Office was left for time exactly as II mad been
organized by Secretary Forney. Only two removals
were made during the early part of Mr. Gorhams
administration. The chef executive clerk al that
time who prepared the journal Of the Senate pro
ceedings. wrote very blind hand, and Secretary
Gorbam. whose duty il was TO read 1t the Senate
the next day was unable TO do so readily. Mr Cor
ham. after time found it necessary for this reason
10 make change, and letter of dismissal to this
clerk was submitted to the President of the Senat"
for approval Nil Sumner, who felt q strong per
soua interest in the fortunes OF this clerk, made an
effort To prevent hls removal, and when removed 10
have him renstated but was unsuccessful An
other clerk who neglected his duties, failing even 10
report at the Senate for duty, was DISCHARGED foT
that reason, his letter Of dismissal being first sub
nitted to the President of the Senate for approval
A case more fully illustrating the force Of the
order in question under Republican administration
is that of Thomas W. Ph.Pps. who was appointed by
the Serceapt-at-Arms on the 18th of April. 1867, to
be an assistant doorkeeper. For some reason the
Serceant-at-Arms wished to remove Mr.. Phipps. and
submitted letter of dismissal to the then Pre- iden-
of The Senate. Mr.. b. F. Wade. Mr.. Wade indorscd
upou it Not approved" and signed his name. Not
vitLstanding this dIsapproval the Sergeant-atArms
refused to allow Mr.. Phipps to perform the duties
of the position he had formerly held and during
the following two years persisted III this refusal,
although he did allow hIm to perform certain other
duties for a portion Of the time at much lower
rate of compensation Mr.. Phipps with equal per
sstency. refused to consider himself discharged.
holding that under the standing order of the Senate
the Sergeant-at-Arms had no power to remove him
as long as the President of the Senate disaUproved
such a proceeding; and in March. 1869, he sue
ceeded In getting the matter brought before the
committee TO audit and control the contingent ex-
pepses of the Senate.
On the 9th of March Mr. Cragin reported from
that committee a resolution directing that Mr.
Phpps be paid from the contingent fund of the
Senate bls salary Gs messenger and acting assistant
doorkeeper from the 1st of May, 1867, to the date
Of this action, which was March p, 1869, deduct
ing thnrefrom the amount received during that
time. Upon this resolution debate took place, IN
which the facts already gwen were brought out.
speech. II SAID that the law Of the Senate, when
person had once been appointed, kept him in Office
until removed with the approval OF the President
Of the Senate. The Scr geaut-atArms had attempted
10 remove Mr.. PhppN without such approval and had
put another person actual possession; this person
was an intruder and was not entitled 10 a cent Of
nav IN contemplation of the law Mr.. ri ipps could
not come to the door Of the Senate even when
backed by its President and tight for the privilege
of dschaiqug his duties; he had, however, held
himself IN constant readiness and had been making
continual claim for hls pay. Tho question Is.S
said Mr. Edmunds, aside from justice and law to
1Iis man whether we shall acquIesce IN the viola
non OF our own orders or whether we shall enforce
them and do TINS mau justice"