The Evening critic., 1881-10-19
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE.
Why the Election of One or n,
Authorization OF some One 20 AZ
IN u Nepcssity

Why the Election of One Or the
| Authorization OF some One 10 Act
lisa Necessity.
What OF the situatlon?" asked THE
CRITIC of Democratic Senator who was
met at the Capitol this morning.
What do you refer tor queried the Sen.
atdr
DWELL, to the secretaryship," was odr
answer.
1--WE are just in the middle of d--n
bad FIX" said our statesman.
"WhyS"
Because the law Is as follows:
Section 1,775 of the Revised Statutes,
provides that the Secretary Of the Senate
| SHALL ut tho close of each session thereof
deliver to the Secretary OF The Treasury
and to each Of the Assistant Secretaries Of
the Treasury and to each of the Auditors
and to each of the Comptrollers in the
Treasury and to tho Treasurer and to the
Register of tho Treasury full and COM
plete list duly certified, of all the persons
who have been nominated to and rejected
by the Senate during such session, and
like list of all the offices to which nomna-
tions have been made and not confirmed
and filled at such session.
"Now you will perceive from this that
something has got to be done. We may by
resolution authorize somebody to perform
the duties of the Secretary, bit imagine
that when we come to try that the Rcpub-
licans will outgeneral us, For instance, if
we offer d resolution empowering the Chief
Clerk to perform the duties set forth In The
section of law referred to the Republicans
will oppose it, and we are left just where
we are, even should Judge Davis vote with
us, which l doubt very much. They can
move to amend by inserting the name of
George G. Gorham, and if Judge Davis votes
with them, they will win, of course"
Suppose the Senate should fail to elect q
Secretary, would not the Chief Clerk per-
form the duties rs the law now stands 2"
"No, sir. Strange as it may seem, yet; is
true that the only law in reference to the
Chief Clerk Is the law creating the office.
There are no duties assigned to him. He
could if the Secretary were alive
that is if we had q Secretary-thc Chief
Clerk could certify the nominations up to
the Treasury officials, as John Jones, Chief
Clerk per John Smith Secretary, but we
have no Secretary. You cannot sign dead
mans name to paper legally. So, You see,
we must provide some way to carry out
the provisions of the law or adjourn and
leave oiir business in an unConiplcted con-
dtion. l hold that it is within our power
to authorize anybody to perform the duties
referred to by Section 1175, but the ques-
ton is, can the Democrats in the Senate
do it?"
Senator, see by the New York Herald
that the Democrats contemplated substi-
tuting Mr. Hutchins, of the Post, for Col
Westinghouse there any truth in the re-
port?"
None whatever, so tar as l know. 1t
has never been discussed by our caucus to
my knowledge, and l think | would have
known it if 1T had. Why should we sub
stitute any other person for Col.
W. He, II heightened, honor
able gentleman. l have never heard
of his being mixed up in any way with any
questionable transaction. He has done
the party good service then why drop him
for any one else. am not one of those
who think Col. Washington's the best NOM
nation we could have made but it is good,
and 1t Is made and we ought to stand or
fall by It,"
Senator, do you think it necessary to
elect Secretary at this session of the
Senator"
ave ought to have Secretary, or en-
power some one to perform the duties of
the office. Suppose the Treasury Depart
mcnt should see proper to rescind the order
making Mr.. Nixon its financial agent for the
purpose of paying the Senators and en-
ployees of the Senate, and such other bills
rs are presented every day, it would
leave things in bad fix, would it not ?
Then, again, those gentlemen who have
been confirmed at this session of the Senate
might find il somewhat difficult to get any
money out of the Treasury, owing to Il fail
ure of the Senate to have the fact of their
properly certified to-"