New-York tribune., 1886-02-01
EVILS or SECRET SESSIONS.
RECALLING THE CASE or EMORY SPEER
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
IrROM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l

RECALLING THE CASE or EMORY sPEER
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
lFROM TIE EEGUIAV CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l.-The principal argu-
nado by Senators who favor Of considering
nominations in secret session is that frequently num-
her of frivolous and ruu ped-up charges brought
forward against candidate. which il made puolic
woud cover AN innocent man with scandal and need
lessly damage his reputation. The answer 10 this arsu-
ment IS GbviOs II charges cannot be sustained they
ought to he made. THO secrecy OF tho proceed
irgs is n dhcct encouragement for making frivolous
char -es. THO Senator who is willing tn mako charge
against candilte helind closed sOors ought to have
courage onou III to make il ia public. II Is not true that
populations saved and Ito character Of candidate
is shielded 10y The discussion ~ nomination in secret.
ON tho contrary. the character o: candiat Is often
seriously damaged by such The rejection Of
candidate ia generally looked pon stigma upon his
The Senate Ia, considered hin 1T to hold the
Office TO Which he nominated That is the uniycI sal
Interpretation given to il by tho public Yet how often
docs it occur that worthy mon oi ireproachahe ch"rac
ter Oi supcrio. ability ana c,cat fitness. made the
victims OF iutriue bargains and log rolling carried on
With SAFETY behind c0,cl doors' Will cite an instance
of Li kind shortly before President Arthur went ont
of Office ho nominated igory SrCcr to be United states
Judge rur the Southern District Georgia. N. Sprcr
oneh mly supported by senator Brown, of Georgia
opposed by tie latters colleague, Mr.. Coquitt.
l!r most NiO'it or pSul, however can from Nc<IN
Butler and Hampton. Of S"uth Carolina who strained
every do.cat Spcrrs nomination. They hated
hun, because, Dis riot Attorney ho had secured
yiCtion Of gang oi s0ath Carolina Ku KIuX. While
Coquiit delayed consideration oi the case by fill
clustering so rs 70 let 1t 90 by Geiault, Butler AZ
preached Now-Enclaud senator over whom no bas
at al times exercised a wonderful influence. and Vest
oi Nj s,ur, did the ola Western Senator
En;lar Aai 10 difficulty in putting his man under his
social spell" The New En- -laud Senator promised to
yo" against Specr Vest Piled hi' 'nan with promise o
support in certain schemes in which the Republican
Senator then rduch Interested. The Congress-
men from the state which The New-England Senator
rcrrcs,nis heard OF what going on. Tncy went to
HIN ana d-kcI tu4; hc V0to for ~pccr. lie remained
firm. ic would not vote for -pcer. senator Limunds
devoted himself the conversion q, thc Western
tor. but uu,ucccs5iuly. The hre; attempt 20 put Mr.
.rcer thiou4h resulted Ia to vote. Two days
later auo,hcr vote W., had AMI Mr.. Specr
was confirmed by the narrow voto OF y
to 2G. Tie Ncw-ullaud senator the last against
-pccr. ava tue Western senator declined 10 vote; 10
all StHer re- es. S. va a. sit P'ry Eoie d ms m 'S i
s.rI,t session II ~perr had been defeated there wOnd
record "a lawyer auI mau The fuvoity
Of the opposition was apparent to those
who knew OF H. but not to those TO whom the executive
% ,r ~ 'cI I. . Nm T,r1aud S.,a or and nj,
cui.c,.uc from the West would never have been taken
j., hcm publicly. 1L"y couI not have Justified IT, BE
hind closed doooss iheJ were SAFE.
friend of General Tazcn. the Chi-f Signal officer.
say, that Controller Maynard. oi IA" Treasury Depart
meut. was directed from the WA!'c House TO make
thorough uycstlsat!cu Of the accounts OF tho signal
OH,c from tie time Of the appointment OF tie present
incumbent with a view 81 rcta.iairg on John T. Nc
Lean. oi Ihe Ct"c,H"1t iHq"'7r for hi- criticism Of
iu-llw. Bat Mr.. Maynaid u seems went back too ftr
and s'tnclrl General ila|rn Tor easing telegraph
line 10 900 and tur other ~ucl ma tcrs 10 was th"
nn G't Hell 70 sct ocncr ulzcn oa OF
ltf tI q
persons who advocate suc change are not nspicd by
opposition 10 General Il11ru.
,.For refurui,line Tie Executive mansion $4,000"
IS one Of the items IN the estimates 10 Congress.
which body was officially informed Of the shabby
character of iAc furniture ~ some Of The bedrooms
EoV there s, good deal "f t~lk oi the need 81 u' res
drn'o for ID" PRESIDENT "ud "I- amy te I"P"'i'l"h
helms % devote H." present hulldaE rHticN to cAre"'
tive Offices. The Jcirroultn simplicity %! th!' Admins
trau0u I- something sUIAing.
The work Of changing the sulodna,es IN The depart
mcuts goes quietly but with cciery. One OF the pc
culnr way, Of getting clerks out has Just been brought
to ~ht An association has been formed to furnish sub
stutcs FOR clerks away on l'ave ui absence" "cl,rA
has had Ms lhrty dayS leave OF al-o"ce during the
thc place temporarily II is then made an excuse to
Tie participants in tho celebrated Garcclon steal In
Maine seem To be doing we under THIS Administration.
P.bury one OF the giuators OF that effort to over
turn the win Of hr pe@c ~a' made an Internal Keys,
u!Ator" Chase. Brown. another OF the prime
movers in the "stch." Is the man
who has been dispensing fourth elias. post
masters by the Wholesale. Pratt, who went about tho
state looking for "deiects.' was made postmaster at
Phillips ana another Democrat eugaged In Ike work
has q $50 been given post of'e. Mark Harden, vino
was messenger for Garceiou, has been nadc special
agent OF Treasury for NewErgand, taking the place OF
Mr. BlnlhAu efficient officer who held the place Tor
over twenty ycars. Harden. nv tho WAS Ht the
time appointment unable 10 tel tho difference be
tween a manifest aud Invoice. This KIND OF
reform il relied upon by the Democrats to carry the
! stat. uf Main fOr