The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-09
The Attitude Of the Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 3.-The Star this
evening says:
"It seems to be generally agreed among
Senators that the fact of certain nomina'
tions having been left over without action
does not signify that there is any dispo'
sition among the majority to antagonize
the President.
"Senator Dawes, a prominent and re.
cognized Republican leader, said to a
Star reporter that the tenure of Office Act
does not apply to either revenue or con
sular appointments. The question oi
the terms of Office of such officials had
not been raised for quarter of century,
because Republicans during that time
had controlled the Administration, and
appointments were simply putting one
party man in to succeed another. This
being the condition of affairs there had
been no rigid scrutiny by the Senate into
the question of appointment, but now, be
thought, there was disposition in the
Senate to assert its full power in the
matter of appointments. For instance,
he said during the recess of the Senate
the President can suspend an official for
cause and appoint another in his stead,
but should the Senate at the next session
refuse to confirm the appointee, then the
incumbent would retain the office.
What could the Senate next session
require the President to submit his rea.
sons for the suspension p asked the repor.
ter. oh, yes replied the Senator, that
would have to be done.' Upon being
reminded that such had not been the
custom in the past, even when the Senate
was Democratic, Senator Dawes said that
it was chiefly because the appointing
power was in the Republican party, and
there was no disposition among the con.
trolling party to make very close inquiry
about appointments.
"Another prominent Republican Sena.
tor, who represents one of the staunchest
Western Republican States, stated that
thereis no disposition among Republicans
to antagonize the President. we feel
he said, thai me election of 8 Democratic
President imposes upon that party the
responsibility of selections for offices, and
unless there should be palpable viola.
ton of the civil service Law or of public
propriety NC are not inclined to interfere.
Now, should man noted as union
soldier be displaced to make room for a
Confederate, we would no doubt oppose
it, but ordinarily we are willing to con-
firm the Presidents selection
"This Senator asserted that the non.
action of the S,nate upon number Of
nominations did OF in any sense signify
an antagonism to the President in making
removals. Said he: In gome of the
cases which had just been reported back
under our rules single objection could
and did carry the nomination over for
one day. Some Senator of either side of
the Chamber might see fit to object
"From the best information, some Of
it authentic, there is no reason to believe
that anything which occurred in the
last hours of the special session indicates
any purpose of the Republicans to fight
the President in the matter of official
appointments. On the contrary there is
good reason to say that the disposition of
tho Republicans is to accord to the
President all the power and authority
which his party can claim for him in the
matter of his selections for Office"