New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-30
r,,r co,,u1rrFE OF SAFETY.


,ovr,s prr ATFD BY TIE REPUBLICAN CA'O''
~,,nyr ,,,poRrANr DUTIES TALKS WITH
~s..,-r prpr-RtIC,Ss-THE SITUATION IN
VIRGINIA.
fay TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrSEl
urs,,,vcrox Anril 29.-Creat interest IL mani
tested by politicians of both parties IN "as"i"so"
=; ,be result of the deliberations of the commute
~ Safety which was appointed Ill pursuance Vi ''
agreement Of the Republican caucus "euneSu"''
correct list Of the members OF the comihi''oe ""'
nrinted in THE TRIBUNE to-day Members OF 'I'
4 committee are reticent regarding 'neii u0'ns
Pegardinc the jurisdiction of the committee II
'y hnovS, from perfectly Trustworthy sources that
a ia committee with full powers, as the organ oi
.ho Rennhlican caucus, to consider all matters re-
iog IN the present situation. Ii has power 10 Hay
hen Il will be expedient to hold executive sessions
md N direct what the order of business IN these
.sssions will be- 1t is authorized 20 consult Wlth uo
President in regard TO pending NOMINATIONS anu 70
sxnress TO him the Senatorial view OF the enect VI
certain nominations upon the prospects Oh inc ne
nublican party; and il is empowered to take hi'o
consideration the political situation in Virginia ana
10 confer with President Garfield and the members
:. of his Administration in relation thereto
. There is reason 10 believe in regard 10 the hrs'
hrancb of the committees work, that II has already
been virtually determined that All executive session
and IL is regarded as probable that the business st
tronsacted aside from referring to the appropriate
committees the nominations now upon the wee
president's table will be the consideration OF the
Chinese treaties When the treaties were FIRST pub-
iished an effort was made to create sentiment oi
opposition to them and there appeared 10 DC pros
pect that the Pacific Coast Senator'S would all Wig
orousIy oppose them. Now, however, it Is under
stood that all those Senators strongly i'll favoro OF
the treaties which, it is expected Will be promptly
atitied.
The second branch of the committees work is OF
n very delicate nature How committee ot
Senators properly approach the President in regard
To nominations after they are made n asked a
TnIptySy correspondent of a Republican Senator
his evening.
81 think there are precedents for it," was the re-
NV "I understand that after President Grant
nominated Caleb Gushing to be Chief-Justice OF the
gupreme Court a ca ucus committee OF Republican
Senators called upon the President and represented
10 him that If the nomination should come before
the Senate il would be likely to create dangerous
dissensions in the Republican ranks and he there
upon withdrew Mr.. Cushing's name"
1t is not understood, however, that there Is pres
ent probability that the Committee of Safety will
feel called upon to request President Garheld to
withdraw any Of the nominations now pending
II IA more probable that the committee will con
tent itself by explaining TO HIM the reasons which
NAV control them in agreeing TO pursue certain
order of business in reference TO those nominations
In the course of conversation with a TRIBUNE cor
respondent to-day, Republican Senator, who isn"t
q member of the committee. but is usually well III
formed as tn what is going said he was inclined
to think that at the next executive session after
the Chinese treaties shall have been disposed Of the
Senate will take up and dispose of the nomination
al. hn
thinks, the nomination of William E. Chandler
may be considered, and at both sessions some nn-
contested nominations, like that of MIR Hit TO be
Assistant Secretary of State, will he confirmed.
Another Senator who will vote for the cOnfrrna-
ton of both Mr. Matthews and Mr.. Chandler, when
asked his opinion regarding the prospects of their
confirmation replied: "As 10 Stanley Matthews,
doubtful; as to Mr.. Chandler very doubtful" The
same Senator was asked his opinion concerning the
confirmation of Judge Robertson, and he replied
"If his case comes before the Senate, l think he
will be confirmed. My opinion however, is
that the nomination will not be reported
from the Committee Commerce, OF which Mr..
Cenkling is chairman. / know that Mr. Conkling
will use every effort to keep it in committee, and
do not believe Republican Senators WILL in view of
the necessity for party harmony at the present time,
be anxious to have it brought to a vote. l know
number of Senators who will vote for Judge Robert
sons confirmation whenever the matter comes to
test, but who for certain reasons, would be glad TO
have il postponed few months My impression,
therefore, is that the will not be disposed OF
soon.7
The third branch Of the work of the Committee of
Safety is the Virginia question, which is
,ne that presents considerable difficulties. II
has been q matter of considerable COM
nent among Republican Senators that while
they have been unitedly doing everything in
their power TO encourage and strengthen the anti
Bourbon movement in Virginia the two Republican
Congressman from that State and certain Office
holders in the same State have been strongly dis
posed to do what they could to discourage and
weaken that movement, Leaving out of considera-
ton any motive which may be supposed to govern
the Republican Congressmen in their course Re
publican Senators are generally disposed to say that
Federal officers in Virginia who are Republicans
ought to be admonshed against placing obstacles in
the way of movement which the Republican party
iu the Senate is so strenousy endeavoring TO aid.
One Of the duties of the committee therefore. is
understood TO be TO confer freely with
the President regarding the course to be
pursued by tho Administration and its
officers in regard to the anti-Bourboun movement
with view to securing concert and harmony of
actlon II an Administration party Is to be built up
tn Virginia with view TO liberalizing the politics
q that State and ultimately efecting the political
ninntegnti0n of Solid South now kept solid by
traud and prescription, ii is felt that there must be
the most cordial understanding between the Admin
hfration Senators and the Administration itself.
Among the practical questions which must soon
ne dealt with and wisely settled is whether or not
the Republican party Of Virginia shall hold State
Convention this summer, nominate legislative
gcket and preserve distinct organization during
nc campaign. Certain Of the Virginia Republicans
erc strongly determined this course. The anti
Bourbon leaders are strongly opposed to any such
programme, and declare that it would be fatal TO
she independent movement in that State. II is I'M
avwtn . A.