The Portland daily press., 1881-10-28
THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-When the Senate
met this morning there was a rumor that final
adjournment would be reached to-day ana the
adoption of resolution for the payment OF
extra compensation to pages and other en-
ployees served TO strengthen that impression
On motion of Mr. ingalls, resolution was
adopted continuing during the recess of the
Senate the authority conferred upon the Oom-
nittee of Judiciary to examine into the sub
ject of bankruptcy and dlrecting the commit
tee to report in December.
Mr. Allison offered resolution authorizing
the Committee on Appropriations to continue
bya subcommittee the investigation ordered
as to the disbursement OF the contingent and
other expenses of the various departments OF
the Senate. Laid over for the present
Mr. Morrill, offered resolution directing the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds
to inquire into the exDediency OF provldlng
some means for the immediate removal OF the
depot and tracks of the Baltimore q Potomac
Railroad and for the removal of the Baltimore
& Ohio depot in Washington. Laid over Tor
the present
On motion the authority conferred on the
Committee on Public Lands to inquire into the
condition of the land Office was continued for
the recess of the Senate
The President pro tenn. laid before the Senate
communication from Gov. Colquitt, OF Geor-
gia, rendering to him and through him to the
members of the Senate the cordial invitation
of the officers and executive committee OF The
Cotton Exposition to visit the exposition now
held in Atlanta. Laid upon the table and or
dered printed.
The Senate, at 1925, went into executive
session.
Shortly after going into executive session the
Senate took recess for one hour to enable the
various committees to consider the nominations
received this morning and to report upon them
to-day.
The Senate before the recess was taken con-
firmed the nomination of Charles w. Seaton,
New York, to be Superintendent of the Census.
Upon reassemb ling of the Senate in execu-
tive session Charles Payson, of Massachusetts,
was nominated United States Charge d'Affaires
to Denmark.
The Senate then remained in executive ses-
sion until $50 p. M. when the doors were re-
opened and the Senate adjourned until to-mor-
row.
The nominations of Folger James and Hat
ton were confirmed without debate or OPPOSE
ton Immediately upon their being reported
back from the committee to which, as a matter
of form, they had been referred The days
session was prolonged, however, until o'clock
in the evening by an animated contest over
the nomination of Clifford Stratham, "Read-
juster," of Democratic sntecedents, to be post
master at Lynchburg, Va, vice the Republican
incumbent, whose term of office expired on the
7th prox. Its confirmation was earnestly op-
posed by the Democratic Senators on grounds
that Wilson was gallant Union soldier, So
verey wounded in the war, that business men
were entirely satisfied with his administration
of the post office and that the proposed ap-
pointment of Stratham IAN active supporter of
Senator Mabone) is an inadmissible attempt to
influence the issue Of a State political contest
by federal patronage. 1t was replied by the
chairman of the Post Office Committee FERRY
and various other Republicans that a recent
investigation by special agents of the Post
Office Department had shown Wilson to have
been short in his accounts at three different
periods, that his use of Government money for
private purposes, although subsequently made
good, amounted to gross dereliction of duty, if
not actual defalca,ion, and fully warrant his
displacement; that Strathams appointment is
recommended with great unanimity by the Re-
publicans of Lynchburg, and that the objection
based ON alleged federal interference with
State politics is strained and unworthy of con-
sideration in view of the special circumstances
of the case and multitude of general prece-
dents.
At the end of three hours discussion an at
tempt was made by Republicans to obtain a
vote upon confirmation, but was prevented by
resort on part of democrats to dilatory tactics,
and finally an adjournment was taken until to-
morrow, leaving the case still peuding. 1t is
believed by many that similar resistance to fin
al action on this nomination will be exerted by
democratic members of the senate until the
class of the present session, unless in the mean
time it shall be ascertained that Senator Davis
of Illinois will vote with them, In which event
if party lines are persstently mentioned in re-
gard to it the nomination will be lost by tie
vote.