Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-12
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Meeting of the Senate Repablican Cau.
Gus COmmiatee-Session OF the House
Committee On Rules-The Labor Con.
venti0u.

Republican senator's met in caucus at IL
O'Clock today and continued in session until
O'Clock. Senator Sherman resigned his
position as chairman of the caucus. and Sem
ator Edmunds was unanimously elected to
that place. This action is due to the fact
that no senator has ever been chairman of the
caucus and presiding officer of the Senate at
the same time, and Senator Sherman felt il
incumbent upon him net to depart from the
line of precedents. The action of the carcus
committee in the arrangement of the chair
manships of Senate committees, namely, in
deciding to tender to Senator Sewall that of
the joint committee on library, and to Sena-
tor Logan his old place on military affairs,
was ratined. Nearly all the time was de-
voted to the discussion of the line of policy to
be adopted toward the presidential appoint
ments; no formal action was taken, and none
was proposed. The senators expressed their
views freely, and were found to be nearly
unanimously against any general policy of
opposition, but agreed upon the advisa-
bility of treating each nomination upon its
merits. Opinions were expressed and gener-
ally asserted to that good men appointed to
office because they were democrats should be
confirmed, except in cases where their prede-
cessors were removed upon trumped up or un-
founded charges, brought for the purpose Of
making pretexts for the creation of vacan-
cy. In such cases it was urged that the
nominations should be brought up to give
the removed official an opportunity for vindi-
cation. The senators who were present ex-
press the opinion that this plan for the pres
ent Will govern the course OF the republicans.
The caucus adjourned without day.
The House committee of rules held ses-
sion OF about two hours and half this even
ing, during which various propositions, which
were submitted to the House by Messrs
Morrison, Springer and others, were consid-
cred. No final conclusion was reached, how
ever, and consideration OF the subject will
be resumed tomorrow The committee will
meet tomorrow Immediately after the ad-
Journment of the House, and expects to COM
plete its labors and be ready to make a
report to the House on Monday.
AT the evening session of the national
labor convention resolution, indors-
ing the measure of Senator Wyck. providing
tor precluding of aliens from acquiring land
in this country, was adopted, and the secre-
tary was instructed to forward to the clerks
of both branches of Congress copies of the
resolution. 1t was decided to hold the next
convention at st. Louis, the second Tuesday
in December, 1886. Resolutions were adopt
ed, protesting against the present system of
employment of journeymen printers in the
government printing office, and requesting
the Speaker of the House of Representatives
to appoint on the committee of labo: the fol-
lowing named gentlemen: Foran of Ohio,
Weaver of Ohio. Grain of Texas, Lowering
OF Mass, O'Neill of Missouri, Haynes of
New Hampshire, Tenney of Mich, Lawler
and Plumb of Illinois, Cole of Maryland,
Farquahar of n. and Wade of Missouri.
The convention then adjourned sine die.