The Washington critic., 1886-02-03
WASHINGTON, FED. ., 1886.
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.

simplilled, by the respective resolutions
introduced in the Senate yesterday, on
the one behalf by Mr.. Riddlebergcr and
ON the other by Mr.. Pugh.
Mr.. Riddlebcrger' resolution is to
the effect that while the Senate has no
right TO require the President to give
his reasons for suspensions or re-
movals, II can call upon him for any
paper he may have bearing upon the
conduct of officials so suspended or re.
moved, in order thereby to form It's
own reasons for the President s action.
it may also call for papers touching
The fitness or qualifications of all
persons whose names he submits for
confirmation, The resolution has the
merit Of brevity.
Mr. Pugh's resolution on the other
hard, which has the dcmcrit of pro
q liXity, asserts the principle that there
nre no constitutional limitations on the
power Of the President to suspend or
remove, and that this power is his eX.
clusively; that he may, If he chooses
and deems it compatible with the pub
lie interests, give to either House such
Information as is requested, but that
the Senate has no business 10 make an
arbitrary requirement of information
for the purpose of reviewing the pro
priety of the Presidents action, or in
other words, for the purpose Of making
party capital out of the knowledge
thus obtained. The resolution con.
cludes with an admonition to the
President not TO yield in such cases,
which considering the attitude he has
already taken, seems somewhat super
tluous, if not slightly discourteous
Hence il is manifest the Democrats
in the Senate intend to "stand by the
President" which is the wiscst thing
they can do. They would look very
lonesome, if not grotesquc, huddliug
off by themselves and leaving the Ad-
ministration to fight out its battles un.
aided.
1t is question Of party politics after
all, Mr. Hoar suggests that there is
stump speech imbodicd in the internal
ANATOMY of Mr.. Pugh's resolution; but
what shall we say of the animus of the
Riddlebcrger resolution, which even
the ingenuity Of its language fails to
conceal? Nothing is palmer than the
Republican intent to score point If
possible against the Civil.Service Re
form declarations of President Cleve.
land Considerations of the public
welfare form but small element Of
the controversy.
The Mddlcberger resolution says to
the President virtually 1--WE do not
want you to give us any reasons for
your removals, inferring as we do from
your well-known sentiments that you
make none for merely political causes
We simply insist upon knowing what
there is in the conduct of the removed
official to necessitate your action. This
to us is matter of self protection, in
volving our relations to our constitu.
e1lts, " which is all very plausible, if
not Immediately honest.
In general terms the Democratic
position is the sounder of the two. 1t
strains the Constitution little to 50
absolutely disassociate the President
and Senate in regard to appointments,
when the Constitution, If it means any
thing, expressly implies certain sort
of partnership in these transactions;
but the resolution is clearly and in.
contestably right as to the Presidents
independence of all arrogant assump
ton or treacherous interference on the
, part of the Senate.
There is an adroitness as well rs
audacity in the attitude of the Republi-
can Senators, out of which they eX-
pect to derive their only advantage In
this controversy, however successfully
their argument may be disputed. Their
sole purpose is to raise question as to
Mr.. Cleveland's fidelity to his civil
service reform pledges and to unsettle
The foundations on which his admins.
tration came into power. Even his
determined and persistent refusal to
comply with their demands will be mis-
construed to the country as n practical
confession that he lacks the courage to
meet the real issue.
And thus the question stands, with.
out much likelihood of adjustment or
compromise on any different basis; and
we cannot see how its discussion in
open Senate is to be avoided This Is
the vantage ground which Republican
Senators have been schcming for; yet
the Democratic party will have only
itself orlthe unskillfulness of its leaders
TO blame, If il does not come out Of the
contest, strengthened, solidfod and
harmonized, TO much greater degree,
than when it entered the last Presiden
tial canvass.