Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-28

number Of Senators left to night for home.
The executive session of the Senate
to-day was interesting and somewhat
unique. The nomination of Stratham, to be
Postmaster at LYnchburg, Va, was under
consideration. He is nominated to succeed
Wilson, an ex-Unlon soldier, who was shot
to pieces during the war. Stratham is an ex-
Confederate and now a Readiuster. The
Democrats urged the claims of the ex U MON
soldier, and the Republicans were up in
arms for the ex Confederate aud Readiuster.
The discussion was quite lengthy, and the
matter went over.
The Democrats are determined to fight
for the ex Union soldier and prevent the
confirmation of any successor to him, If
possible. The Republicans want to put
Strsthsm through to show that the whole
government is in favor of Readiusterism in
Virginia, but the Republican party is un-
masking itself when it attempts to oust a
deserving ex-Union soldier in order to make
place for the late ex Confederate.
1t is expected that the Democrats will op-
pose an attempt to swear in Window as
Senator, his credentials not having arrived.
Secretary Blaine does not expect to re-
main in the Cabinet after December first,
unless to oblige President Arthur until the
new Secretary of State is selected.
THE LYNoHBURG POST OFFICE FIGHT.
The nominations of Messrs. Folger, James
and Hatton were confirmed in the Senate
executive session to-day without debate or
Ia IL 4
back from the committees to which, as a
matter of form, they had been referred.
The days session was prolonged, how
ever, until six O'clock by an ami
mated contest over the nomination
OF Clifford Stratham, a Readiuster,
OF Democratic antecedents, as Postmaster
at LYnchburg, Va, vice the Republican in
cumbent named Wilson, whose term of
office will expire on the 7th proximo. Strat-
hams confirmation was earnestly opposed
by the Democratic Senators on the grounds,
as set forth In speeches by Messrs. John
ston, of Virginia, Maxey and Voorhees,,
that Wilson was a gallant Union soldier
and severely wounded in the
war; that the business men of
Lynchburg are entirely satisfied with his
administration of the post office, and desire
his retention, and that the proposed sp-
pointment of Mr.. Stratham, an active sup
porter of Senator Malone, is an inadmissi-
bic attempt to influence the issue of a State
political contest by Federal patronage.
To these arguments it was replied by the
Chairman of the Post ONCE Committee,
Mr.. Ferry, and various other Republicans,
that recent investigations, by special agents
Of the Post Office Department, have shown
that Mr.. Wilson has been short in his ac-
counts at three different periods; that his use
of government money for private purposes,
although subsequently, made good, amount
ed to gross dereliction of duty, II not actual
defslcatiOn, and fully warrants his displace-
ment from Cffice. Mr.. Sratham's appoint
ment is recommended with great unanimity
by the Republicans at Lynchburg, and that
the objection, based on alleged Federal in
reference with State politics, is strained
and unworthy of consideration in view of
the special circumstances of the case and
the multitude of general precedents.
At the end OF three hours discussion an
attempt was made by the Republicans to
obtain vote upon the question Of confrma-
tiOn. but this was prevented by the resort
on the part of the Democrats to diatory
tactics, commonly known as flibustering,
aud fi0ally an adjournment WAS taken until
to morrow, leaving the case still pend
ing. 1t is believed by many
that similar resistance to final
action on this nomination
will be made by the Democratic members
session, unless in the meantime it shall be
sscertained that Senator David Davis will
vote with them, in which. event, If party
lines are persistently maintained on this
question, the nomination will be lost by a
tie vote.
MACvEAGH's sUCCEssOR-wHY HOWE HEsI-
TATEs.
The Star tonight says: "The delay in the
appointment of the Attorney-General has
not, iL appears, grown out OF any indecision
ss to the selection of a man TO fill the place,
but out of the circumstances surrounding
the office. Mr.. Howe does not desire to
accept the appointment with the star route
prosecutions as legacy from his predeces-
sOr. Ordinarily this would not be an objec-
tiOn, but there are circumstances that might
be peculiarly embarrassing to Mr.
Howe. His son-in law, Colonel Enoch
Totten, is one of the counsel for
the defense, and Mr.. Howe's friends
fear that should he accept the office and
fail to convict in these cases the failure
might give rise to imputatiOns that his SON
in-lsw had Influenced him. For this reason
the President was Informed that Mr.. Howe
would prefer not to accept the appointment
at present.
zone of the most prominent supporters OF
Mr.. Howe informed a reporter this after
noon that he was confident of the latter's
dent is desirous of having the star route
cases conducted by those who began them,
and will, therefore, endeavor to persuade
Mr. MacVeagh to remain In office until these
cases are concluded, and that IL MacVeagh
refuses then an dd interim appointment will
be made, and Mr.. Howe will take the office
after a while"
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate to-day. after the reading Of
the journal, the President pro TEN. laid be-
fore the Senate a communication from Gov
ernor Colquitt, of Georgia, extending to the
members of the Senate cordial invitation
to visit the Exposition now being held in
Atlanta. But little other business was trans
acted, and, at 1925, the Senate went into
and remained in executive session until
$50 p. IN.
THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The Senate, in executive session to day,
promptly confirmed the nominations OF
Judge FOlger to be Secretary OF the Treasury
and Mr.. James TO be Postmaster General;
and also that of Frank Hatton to succeed
Tyner as First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral, and Charles w. Seston, Of New York,
to be Superintendent of the Census. VIM.
p Jones was also confirmed as Postmaster
at Nashville. The greater part of the time
Of the executive session was occupied In
discussion over the nomination of Stratham
to succeed Wilson as Postmaster at Lynch
burg, Virginia, but without taking any de-
cided action the Senate adjourned. The
case will come up again tomorrow.
EoMINATIoNs.
The President sent the following nomi-
nations 10 the Senate to-day Charles
j. Folger, of New York, to be Sec
retary OF the Treasury; Thomas L. james,
of New York, to be Postmaster General;
Frank Hatton, of Iowa, to be First Assis-
tant Postmaster General; Chas. Kahlo, of
Indiana, to be Consul Of the United States
at Sydney, Australis; George w. Roosevelt,
of Pennsylvania, to be Consul of the United
States at Bordeaux; j. A Leonard, of Min
nesots, to be Consul of the United States at
Leith; John 7. Robinson, of Tennessee, to
be Consul OF the United States at Tripoli;
Volney V. Smith, of Arkansas, to be Consul
General at st. Thomas; VIM. P. Pierce, OF
Georgia, to be Consul General at Cienfue-
gos, and Clarence f. korment to be Post
master at Suffolk, Va.