The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-31
BY TELEGRAPH.
THE SENATE.
Failure to Confirm the Lynchburg
Postmaster.
FINAL ADJOURNMENT REACHED.


WASHINGTON, Oct 29.-There was small
attendance Of Senators when the journal was
read this morning.
Mr.. Hill of Georgia offered the following:
Resolved, That appointments to offices I'M
der the federal government ought not to pc
made to control or influence elections in the
several States, and appointments made with
such intent are unwise, unpatriotic and con-
trary to the spirit OF our political institutions,
and If they are continued without rebuke Dy
the people will become dangerous to the per-
petuity of our institutions.
Mr.. Hill asked for its immediate consldera-
ton, but Mr.. Mcmillan ob1ecting 1t was laid
over under the rules.
Mr.. Hoar offered resolution directing the
committee on printing to enquire whether any
improvement can be made IN the exlstlng sys-
tenn of distributing public documents ana TO
devise means for the more prompt supply OF
the same to public libraries. Adopted.
At 1880 p m. the Senate went into exeou-
tive session.
Immediately after the Senate went into ex-
alarms made ms return OF Inc oraer "
which last night ne was directed 10 pring IN
the Senators named tnereln as peing apseng
without leave. AN animated aepate ensueo
regaraing tne power o. m,norl'y ~, ahoe tt eae
constitution and rules 10 compei the aetehu-
ance OF absent senators, me purpose o. Inose
questioning the validity OF the order oelng I'M
derstood to be TO prevent actlon upon the
Lynchburg postoface nomination.
After speeches oy many Senators protesU
was presented ana entered upon uno IouInai'
together with the sergeant-at-arms return
against the execution OF tne resolution Oh yes
terday direcslng tne sergexns r, 70 com.
pei the attendance Oh SENATORS. Inc protess
declares that the resolution IS 10 VIOLATION OF
the NTH section OF the nrst articie OIL INC COLI
stitution inasmuch as the manner OF compel-
ling the attendance OF absent members and
the penalty for refusal has not been PROVIDED
for by the Senate; because the resolution VIOLA
lates the freedom from arrest guaranteed SEN
ators under article l, section OF the constltu-
ton; because said resolution violates the I'M
broken, unquestioned and honorable usage
and custom, ana because. ~ was lnlrouu sa
without previous notlce ana adoptea ailes
midnight when no opportunity was aHorded
Tor DEBATE. -,
The protest IS signed Dy Bayard, vest,
Hampton, Slater, Jones, Earley, voorhees,,
Davis wv. Va.), Hill (Ga.), Brown, Williams,
Groome, Johnston, Fugn, Fendieton, Call,
Morgan, Ransom, George, Maxey, Walker,
Jones (Fla) This protest was next discussed
at great length. 1t was vigorously commended
by Edmunds and other KepuDllcan Senators
that the warrant did not direct the arrest OF
anybody and that nobody had been arrested;
cit having been executed tney SAID, Oy readlng
Sit in the Senate chamber IN the hearing OF
compulsion Mr. Edmunds also referred to
the journal to show that many Senators who
signed this protest had on the z4th OF Febru-
airy, 1879, voted for the issuance OF a much
more stringent order.
Finally motion to lay the whole subject
on the table prevailed without division and
the Senate was once more brought face to face
with the direct question OF confirming the
nomination OF Clifford Stratham, postmaster
at Lynchburg.
Mr.. Ferry, chairman OF the post office COM
mittee, remarked that in view of the manifest
determination OF the Democrats OF the Senate
to continue the employment of dilatory pro-
ceedings against final action on the case in
definite postponement or least until after the
Virginia election the Republicans had con-
cluded that rather than permit any further OBJ
struction of remaining public bust
ness they would lay the Lynchburg nomina-
ton aside, and he accordingly made that mo-
ton, which was unanimously agreed to and
the Senate proceeded to confirm the other
nominations.
Mr.. Ferrys motion is understood to have
been the result of consultation between
himself in behalf of the Republican caucus
and President Arthur in which Senator Ma
hone also participated, and it is further well
known to have been predicated upon the ex-
plicit understanding that the adjournment of
the Senate should be promptly followed by
Stratham's appointment by the President.
The nomination of Pay Director Wortmough
as payrnaster general of the navy was also laid
aside and eight or ten others principally post
masters at small places similarly expired with
the extra session.
While the doors were still closed, but after
the transaction of executive business had been
concluded, Mr.. Sherman offered resolution