New-York tribune., 1879-01-30
MERRrTrs FRIENDS ENCOURAGED.

SENATOR CONKLING MOVES FOR IMMEDIATE CON
sIDrRAroN OF THE NEw-YORK NoMINAuoNs
-THR SENATE VOTES TO WAIT FOR MR.. SHER-
MANS REPLY
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan 29.-The Senate went early
INTO executive session thus afternoon on motion OF
Senator Conklug. After confirming by a unanl-
nous vote the nomination Of Senator Christmncy
to be Minister to Peru the Senate proceeded to con-
slider the New-York Custom House nominations.
Senator Thurman withdrew the resolution he had
offered day OF two ago that, during the discus
sion upon these nominations the senate should sit
with open doors. AS the resolution was not re-
neved by any other Senator the matter was not
further alluded to-
Senator Conkling then indicated desire that the
Senate should proceed Immediately TO cOnsldera-
tiOn Of the report OF the Committee on Commerce.
Senator Matthews moved that all further cOnsid-
Grafton of these nominations and of the questions
which had been raised bv them be postponed until
next Friday IN order to give Secretary Sherman the
time he had requested in which to prepare his re-
iois-ler TO the letters of General Arthur ana Mr..
Cornell.
A half-hOur's discussion ensued upon this motion.
in which Senator Conkling took leading part,
warmly opposing the motion. Several Senators
spoke in favor of the delay among these being Sen
Secretary of the Treasury should have an oppor-
tunity to make good the position he had taken.
Senator Thurman repeated. with considerable
emphasis TIE suggestion he bad already made that
il was the duty of tue Committee on Commerce TO
make an investigation Of all matters of this kind
and TO report upon them to the Senate and he held
that 1t was not the duty of the Senate to repeat the
process and 90 over the whole ground after
the committee. The committee, he said, had
ample authority, all that the Senate it
self possessed. It could send for persons
and papers and could examine official records and
its work ought he thought, TO be made complete
before the matter was brought before the Senate
The motion of Senator Matthews was carried by
a vote Of 2S to 2G. number of Senators being alb
sent
This action bv the Senate seemed to be entirely
unexpected by Senator Conkling. who evidently
supposed that majority of the Senate would sus
tam him in taking up the nominations and dspos-
ing of them without delay. paying no attention TO
Secretary Sherman's request 1t is known. how
ever. that a majority of the Democratic Senators
are willing not only to give Secretary Sherman the
opportunity to prepare and file his rejoinder, but
after that to extend the privilege to General
Arthur and Mr. Cornell, if they express desire to
that effect, aud they are not unwilling that the
whole matter should 90 over until their party comes
into power in the Senate.
The vote on the pOstpOnement of the Custom
House cases until Friday was divided as to parties
"a follows In favor of the postpOnement 10
Democrats and Republicans, the latter being
Messrs. Dawes HOaT Edmunds, Morrill,, Burnside,
Ferry PlumD Matthews and Saunders. senator
Christiancv was absent and paired. If he had been
there he would have voted in the affirmative. In
the negative there were 10 Republicans aud
Democrats the latter being Messrs. Eaton. Beck,
Grover, Whyte, Cockrell, Maxey and Jones, of
Florida. Among those who were absent were sew
eral Republicans who. 1t is cOnjectured do not in
tend to be present or vote when the question of
confirmation is reached.
II cannot be said that this vote insures the cOntr-
uation of General Merritt and Mr.. Graham but il
certainly makes such an event seem more probable
Than heretofore The friends of the Administration
and OF the nominees are more encouraged by 1t than
hv ANYTHING which has occurred since the names
were sent 10 the Senate.