Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-11
POLITICS AT WASHINGTON.
wAsmINoroN, d. c., March s, 1880

Washington concerning the confirma'
ton of Kerns as Marshal of Philadel.
phia. The facts in the case, as they
appear of record, are as follows: When
Mr.. Kerns' nomination was received by
the Senate, il was referred to the Ju.
dietary committee, and by the latter to
a subcommittee, consisting of Messrs.
Mcdonald and Garland, Democrats, and
Edmunds, Republican. Mcdonald and
Garland were also members of the com.
mittee that investigated Kerns' known
as the Wallace committee. To them
Senator Wallace wrote protest against
Kern's confirmation, accompanying
which was copy OF the testimony talk
en- in Philadelphia concerning Kerns,
before the Wallace committee. Hence
it will be seen that this sub. committee
had all the facts before them. Notwith.
standing this, they reported favorably
10 the full committee, and the latter re
ported favorably to the Senate, result.
ing in Kerns confirmation. The rea.
sons which induced this action by the
committee and 10y the Senate were, that
kerns' behavior as an officer on elec.
ton day was not Objectionable that he
had testified that these deputy mar
shals were not needed in Philadelphia /;
that he was compelled by law to ap.
point them; that their appointments
were made upon the recommendation
of political friends, who had deceived
him as to the character of some of
them. 1t was thought best by the Ju.
dietary committee to confirm man
who openly expressed himself as against
the use of the deputy marshals on elec.
ton day, rather than TO risk the up.
pointment Of a new man.
On the question of the deficiency ap.
preparations for the Pest Office Depart.
ment the point of contention between
the Senate committee of appropriations
and the House was whether the Senate
would agree to strike down the expect.
ed service on the l07 western routes.
This was the test question before the
committee, and on it the vote stood,
yeas, Beck and Eaton, Democrats, and
nays, Davis Wallace and Withers, Dem.
ocrats, and Window, Blaine and Booth.
Republicans. On the preamble Mr.
Wallace declined to vote, as it contain.
ed, if true, impeachable allegations on
which he might be required to vote as a
judge in the Senate on m impeachment
trial.
General Colt, of Norwich, Connecti.
cut, who for many years has been the
leader of the Democratic soldiers Of
Connecticut, and also Chairman OF the
Democratic Town Committee Of that
city, has taken strong ground in favor
of General Hancock's nomination. He
writes as follows: "IIaucock would
surely carry Connecticut as against
Grant or any other man the Republi.
cans may nominate. He is the best
man yet suggested, all things considered.
He is competent, honest, loyal and
popular, and believes with the people
that the civil authority should take
precedence of the military. The senti.
mentin Connecticut was. until recently,
divided between Bayard and Hancock,
but is now overwhelmingly for Han.
cock. From all the information can
receive, believe Connecticut will send
Hancock delegation TO Cincinnati"
General Colt is, perhaps, over sanguine
as to Connecticut's preference for Han.
cock, but it was we'll known fact that
the delegation from that State to the
1876 Convention was divided between
Tilden and Hancock then as to prefer.
ence, the majority being for Tilden, he
securing the whole vote of the State
under the Unit rule.
There is every indication now that
the session of Congress will be prolong
ed beyond the time generally agreed
upon by the majority at its commence
ment. Since the certainty that there
will be no legislation directly Hostile
to the manufacturing interests, there
seems less awe of a prolonged session.
Pennsylvania politics seems to inter.
est every one at the Capitol, and one
frequently hears the remark that she
will decide who shall be the nominee at
Cincinnati in 1880 as she did in 1856.
/. N. Il.