The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-18
BY TELEGRAPH.
HE.LAST SENSATION.
Judge Robertson to be
Confirmed To-day.
PREPARING FOR THE STRUG-
GLE AT ALBANY.
Views of Senator Hale and Other
Prominent Men.

miuteo Oh Comnerce thls morning deClucd 10
port III favor of confirming the nomination OF
Robertson for collector of New York. Gen.
Merritt as consul at London and Gen. Badeau
as charge ID affaires to Denmark. These
nominations were reported back to the Senate
during to-day's executive session, and placed
on the calendar to he taken up to morrow
The Feeling in Administration Circles
WASHINGTON, May II The Conkling man.
ifesto is, of course, read with pretty keen in
terest by the Administration and their friends,
and the following may safely be taken as the
expression of their views, so far as it touches
on civil service reform as affected by Robert
sons nomination. 1t is said that the New
York relationship is VIGOROUSLY one OF nation
al and political Importance. The President
must have the power to appoint man to this
Office in sympathy with the general policy of
the Administration, and it is absurd to consid-
or it as prize in the line of civil service pro-
motion or as an Office which man can aspire
to when he enters as weigher Or gauger. Just
as President Hayes insisted on having man
of his choice in the place in spite of Conkling IS
unrelenting opposition, so Garfield has merely
insisted that he shall exercise the same right
of selection.
In Conkling's letter he boasts that he has
the Endorsements of sixty out of eighty-one
Republican legislators. This shows the alb
surdity of his appeal to body SO constituted,
as Endorsement from such body will be the
emptest kind of boast. Under the circum-
StaHCespoNeu struggle OF OppOSltlCu aU Albany
will be a moral defeat. The Administration
expects Conkling and Platt to be reelected
but says this means no more than it would be
for the head OF department to get the strong
Endorsements of all the clerks under him. No
doubt the merchants of New York regard Col
lector Merritt an efficient officer and so does
the President The fact that he was given the
greatest place in the consular service sufficient
ly shows this. Conkling cannot, however get
Endorsement OF the leading business of New
York OH his present course, which is quite
another matter than their business indorse-
ment of the merits of Collector Merritt
1t is noticed that Vice President Arthur has
not resigned, and it is uncharitably said that
it is perhaps because there was no blanket
stretched to catch him.
No intimation has been received by members
of the Administration as to the probable
course of the Republican Senators at Albany,
but congratulatory dispatches are coming in
from all parts of the country, urging them to
stand firm, and assuring them of the support
OF influential newspapers and politicians
everywhere.
The Republican Senators are practically a
unit this morning in their bitter denunciation
of Conkling.
What Cabinet Officers Say.
WASHINGTON, May lit is asserted that
the cabinet is ia full harmony with the Presi-
dent in the present CONTROVERSY. Postmast
er General James position excites much inter
est, but it is asserted that he supports the Pres-
dent. He says that he accepted the position of
Postmaster-General with view of conducting
that office on business principles. He was de-
voted to postal reform; he had entered upon a
thorough investigation of the star route sys.
TEN, and did not contemplate resignation be-
cause Senator Conilling had chosen to reip-
quish his seat. Mr.. James plainly said that
he was cordially ON the side of the President,
and that there were no discussions in the cabi-
net.
Secretary Window took the matter with
great equanimity. He said that it was sub
iect on which they really had nothing to d.;
that the designations had been rendered to the
Governor of the State, and that the fight was
now to be transferred to Albany; that the leg
islature of New York has now to settle the
matter and he had no opinion as to their prob
able action.
Attorney-General MacVeagh, when first ad-
vised of the news. said: "This is of course a
serious matter. The first important effect is
that it will leave us with minority in the
Senate. What the result will be Of course
cannot be told" Mr.. MacVeagh added that
he had no enemies or personal complications in
politics.
Secretary Blaine, upon being inquired of by
visitors for his views on the situation, said that
he did not care to speak about it. He occu-
pied peculiar position, and he thought he
ought not to express any opinion for rublica-
ton.
Views of Senator Hale.
MANCHESTER, N. H., May 17.-Senator Hale
OF Maine who is here attending the deathbed
OF the late Senator Zach Chambers only sur
viving sister, was asked by Boston Traveller
correspondent to express his views on the re-
signatIon of Senators Conkling and Plat. He
replied that it certainly would not have the
desired effect of inducing the administration
to back down.
The New York Senators simply failed TO
realize that the New York custom house was
national office, of equal importance with a
cabinet Office, and that the President had the
right to have it occupied by a man who, while
being, capable and fit, was also his political
friend. Given supposing,'' said Mr.. Hale,
"that they (the New York legislatufe) shall re-
elect Messrs Conkling and Platt, and add to
that resolution endorsing their action, that
would not change the matter, nor affect The
strength of the Presidents position. It would
simply be the declaration of the majority of
the New York legislature that IN their opiulon
the New York custom house is the private per-
quisite of the two State Senators. That
the administration in this controversy, and it
will prevail.
Replying to the correspondents question:
Will not the result be to damage the party?
Mr.. Hale said "No not in the end. This
fight had got to come some time; it was in
evitable. We had better have it now and be
done with it.''
The Situation in Albany.
ALBANY, May 17.-Administratio members
of legislature are unit in their determination to
vote for no man for Senator who is not known
to be in cordial sympathy with the administra-
ton and they will under no circumstances vote
for any man who has antagonized Gen. Gar
field or has avOwed purpose to do SO. There
are more than forty-fve thus determined.
Thirty-fve members of the State Assem- bly,,
including Speaker Sharpe, met tonight. The
utmost secrecy was maintained as to the pro-
ceedings
ALBANY, n. Y, May 17.--Opinion is grow
ing that the Senate will refuse to 60 into an
election for United States Senator and leave
the choice to the next Legislature. Some of
the Senators think the question as to whether
the reSgning Senators should be returned and
their conduct approved is one the people
should have an opportunity to pass upon.
ALBANY, May 1.-THE Republican general
committee tonight elected officers, choosing
Hon. Andrew s. Draper. Resolutions endors-
ing the action of Conkling and Platt were
unanimously adopted and copies ordered sent
to President Garfield 1t is reported that As
semblymen Congdon, Sheldon and Finner
come out against Conkling
The following is the resolution:
Resolced,, That we deeply deplore the course
recently pursued by the President in attempt
ing to force the Senate of the United States
to approve the nomination of VIM. H. Robert
son to be collector of the port of New York
"Hcu ~ FdCdHCy o6lSCS III Salu OlHCe anu With
out other cause than to pay a personal obliga-
ton, which obligation was created through the
treachery of said nominee to the regular Re-
publican organization in the State, and that
we earnestly and confidently express the hope
that the legislature of the State of New York
will promptly stamp its condemnation upon
the act by re-electing Senators Conkling and
Platt to the positions they have felt called
upon to resign in the Senate.
Mr. Crowley Not Candidate.
BUFFALO, May 1.-THE Commercial Adver-
tlser today states upon authority that Hon.
Richard Crowley will not under any circum-
stances be a candidate for u S. Senator He
thinks that under the circumstances both Conk
ling and Platt should be Immediately recalled.
The President Endorsed.
CINCINNATI, May 1.-THE Lincoln Club to-
night adopted resolutions endorsing the Presi-
dents course in reference to Robertson's nom
ination.
Speaker Sharpe Thinks the Senators will
be REFLECTED.
Speaker Sharpe said: 81 have had but lit
tie opportunity to learn the opinions of my
colleagues on the matter, but so far as 1 can
learn think there is very general DISPOSE
ton to return both Messrs. Conkling and Platt.
They certainly have friends in the northern
part OF the state who have heretofore been
AGAINST tham''