Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-03-25
TAKING THE BACK TRACK.
ooNFTRMATIONO OF POsTMAsTER
BEWLEY OF safPRNA.
senators Beck and Edmunds En-
gage tn a TIT in which Senatorial
Dignity IN Entirely FOrRotfeu-

Dignity is Entireiy Rorgorien-
WAsHNoros,. March 17.-Although the
Senate wns In executive session but ii
minutes this afternoon good dea
more was said and done than Is usual il
the same length of time. Just before the
executive session there was quite a breez,
tilt between Senators Edmunds and Beck
which accounted for some of the proceed
ings which followed when the doors were
closed and the two senators were beyond
the public ear.
Senator Edmunds Is great sticker fol
observing the rule of secrecy as 1t applies
to the proceedings OF the executive session
as well as his own committee. To-day. In
rather surly way, he charged Mr.. Beck
with having diyulged the secrets Of the
executive session. Mr.. Beck INQUIRED
where MIR. Edmunds hud got the Thurman
matter he read the other day.
Mr.. Edmunds replied from the committee
minute book, upon an order OF the Senate
Withdrawing secrecy from 1t. Perhaps the
tinction," he said.
II can see barn." replied Mr.. Beck,
"but cannot see fly on tho barn door
without seeing the barn."
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures and the
senator has seen o good many barns, un-
doubtedly. l am inclined to think he has
notseenmu ofanything else" Laughter. j
Mr.. Beck-'I have not seen the fiy."
Mr.. Edmunds-"No, the senator never
takes anything on the hy." [Renewed
Mr.. Beck-"Nor on the sly, either" [Up-
roarious laughter on the hoor and In the
galleries.l
Mr.. Edmunds admitted this, and then
moved an executive session.
When the galleries had been cleared and
the doorq plOafad Mr. naot nffa,.aJ N raa,t,,
tion that the injunction Of secrecy be re-
moved with regard to the papers In the
hands OF the judiciary committee relating to
the Duskin case.
Mr.. Oonger proposed an amendment that
the resolution should not take effect unil
the Attorney General or the President
should have sent In the papers In the case.
Thereupon the resolution and the amend
ment were referred to the committee ON the
Judiciary.
WAsmHaToN, March l8.-Publie interest at
the capital In the controversy between the
President and the Senate has perceptibly
abated: There ls a general impression that
the majority In the Senate can not be held
together much longer to prevent the con-
trmation of nominations. There is not the
faintest indication that the President will
allow access to the files OF the executive
department for papers showing tho causes
OF removals, and the pressure exerted in
behalf Of nominees against whom no
charges are made to secure their confrma-
tion Is tremendous.
1t took long time and required much
persuasion before q majority of tho Repub-
lican senators could be induced to enter
Into the controversy with the executive
about the confirmation of his nominees.
When the facts In the Duskin case were
laid before the Republican caucus by Mr..
II lts... 49,. Il. A.
resolution that 1t was proposed to report
from the Judiciary committee, the pro
gramme was approved with some reluct-
ance on the part of n small minority OF the
caucus. A change Of only four votes is re-
quired to make the Senate tie, and doubts
were then expressed whether all the Repub-
llcan senators could be relied upon to op-
pose the confirmation of nominations to
succeed suspended officers.
There is no doubt but that the Judiciary
committees resolutions will be adopted by
party vote, but there may be o sufficient
number OF Republican senators acting with
Democrats to confirm nominations made
where the papers in the case of the sus-
pended ofilce-holders are absolutely re-
fused. The Republican senators reported
to be lukewarm are. Messrs. Mitchell of
Oregon, Cameron of Pennsylvania, Van
Wyok of Nebraska, Hale of Maine, Teller OF
Colorado, Stanford Of California and Plumb
Of Kansas.
On the other hand, several Democratic
senators are SO anxious TO secure the imme-
diate confirmation Of intimate friends ap-
pointed TO office that they are making every
concession the Republicans demand. An
example of this Is shown in the action of
the senate finance committee, which to-day
agreed to report favorably for confirmation
eight collectors OF Internal revenue, several
OF whom were appointed to succeed sus.
pended officials. At the solicitation of
Democratic senators Secretary Manning,
some days ago; wrote u long letter to the
chairman ofthe Finance ComWittee. Init he
called attention to the fact that special
statute requires the Secretary of the Trea-
sury to furnish information whenever re-
quired by Congress. After reatflrming in
strong language the position taken by the
President In his special message, denying
the right OF the Senate to have access to all
papers on file In the Executive Departments,
he stated that there was no information on
the files Of the Treasury Department affect
lug the moral or official characters of the
men removed from office. He added that
the President determined to suspend them
and put new men in their places because he
considered that In so doing he was acting
for the best interests of the public service.
The President believed that men holding
positions Of trust and responsibility should
bo In entire sympathy with the Admtnistra-
tlon.,,
This letter did not satisfy the Republi-
can members of the committee. They OBJ
jected to the 'stump speech" which they
said Mr.. Manning had fnteTjected in the
letter, and they refused to report the nomi-
nations favorably. Senator Beck, who was
extremely anxious to secure the eonflrma-
tion of a kentucky friend, voted with the
Republicans to return the letter to Mr..
Manning for revision. The letter was
returned and Mr.. Manning wrote a new
one, certifying simply the good moral and
official character of the persons removed,
and repeating the reasons why, in the
interest OF the public service, they had been
suspended. Upon this modified appeal the
committee to-day agreed to report the
nominations favorably.
WASHINGTON, March 18.-The President. Is
40 years OF age to-day, There was no cole
bratlon of the occasion at the White House
but this evening the President, accompanied
by Miss Cleveland, Miss Van Vechten and
Colonel and Mrs. Lamont, attended ''Ihe
Mlkado" performance by the Emma Abbott
Opera Company at the New National
Theatre. The Presidential party occupied
n private boz, and upon their entrance
were warmly applauded by tho audience.
BUFFALO, March 18.-president Cleve'
lands birthday was celebrated this evening
with a mass meeting, in which the Demo.
cratic Legion, Cleveland Democracy and
Union Veteran Legion took part. The large
hall was decorated with flags and flowers.
The Senate confirmed u number OF nomi,
nations. Yesterday among them being thai
OF John II. Bewley to be postmaster a.
Smyrna, Delaware.
John i, Mincher, one Of the registers o
voters In Baltimore last fall, was yesterday
convicted OF having Illegally erased namei
from the list, mostly Of colored voters. Th'
maximum penalty for the offence IS nneo
$500 or two years Imprisonment, or botr.
WASHINGTON, March 19.-The chair to-da.
laid before the Senate a communication
from the Secretary Of the Treasury. 1t
reading was begun as follows:
40 the President pro tempore OF w
Senate-I have received u resolution OF tn
Senate, dated February oath, 1886, adoptet
bv the Senate In executive session..
At this point something seemed to hRvl
burnt Clerk Gilfry's mouth, for, with qulcl
Inhalation of breath, he stopped short, ,foldet
up the paper and handed 1t back tothe presi
dent pro tempore, who announced tnae tn' m
Communication would be withheld for ex
ecntiye session. The incident created 10
the moment buzz Of suppressed excite
ment followed by deep silence. MIR. FIAT
mep.. Conn., was the first senator TO re
cover his voice. He inquired OF the chal
whether the communication was marke'
Executive" President FRO IemPore Pn,. sneI d,,l,
man replied that it was not. Mr.. Plat sub
mitted that, in that case, It was Tor the opei
session of the Senate. The president pr
tempore said he felt bound to suomit IN
matter to the Senate in executive session.
After another pause, MIR. Coekrell, lpem'
MOI inquired what had become OF tn
iatter of the Secretary of the Treasury
The president pro tempore replied tnat o. q
examination the letter was found 70 pe ..
executive document. 1t not having pee
go marked. the chair was not 70 blame. Ml