The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-03-20
wAsHEHN Gr0N KaETTEER.
WAanIaeroN, aIareh la, 1850.


From our Regular Correspondent.
The Senate galleries are crowded this
week, and great interest is felt in the
discussion of the Presidential preroga-
tive. For more than two weeks nearly
every Senator on both sides OF the
chamber has been at work preparing
for the conflict growing out Of the re-
fusal OF the administration to send to
the Senate papers and information
bearing upon the suspension OF officials
and touching the appointment of their
successors.
Probably no such thorough overhaul
ing and minute examination Of histori-
cal documents has ever before been
made with reference to thus question.
G Consequently, as one Senator expressed
| 1T, both sides 'swere loaded to the mtiz-
zle with material for tine performance
which is now in progress 1t was to
have begun on Monday, but the star
MIR Edmnndsplea o sore threat,
and the people went away disappointed
He kept his engagement for the follow
ing day, however, and promptly ut The
appointed hour, arose with an imposing
pile Of manuscript before him [his pre-
celents to support his position which
he used freely during his speech of two
and half hours When it was learned
in the House of Representatives that
MIR. Edmnnds was actually discharging
his long.loaded broadside at the White
House, members poured into the Senate
Chamber and filled the space in rear of
the Speakers desk. The only vacant
seat on the floor was heavily draped
with black. 1t was that of the Galifor-
mia Senator; Mr.. Miller, who had died
the day before.
MIR. Edmnnds in his speech, which
had attracted much attention, and which
will be generally discussed throughout
the country, made, as was expected,
the best of his weak side of the eontro-
yersy. He took such preeedents as best
shifted him and handled them with in
ginuity. He was most spacious per
haps in saying that the Senate does not
ask the Presidents reasons for making
removals, but simply for the papers OF
every description relating to suspended
officials. In saying this he admits that
should papers which the Senate wants
be forthcoming, they would show the
4
claims any intention on the part of tine
Senate to demand Mr.. Edmunds said
with q sneer, that the most CONSPICUOUS
result of improved methods of Govern
ment under the 'treform" adnlinistra-
tion was the suppression OF Official pa.
pers. Atthis point Senator Beck caused
q smile to ripple over the audience by
remafking in an undertone, but loudly
enough to be heard half across the
chamber, that it was "a clear case of 6
i fly on q barn door" You remember
the Vermont leader has been accused Of
seeing a fly on barn door when he
could not see the a00r.
AS yet only Senator Pugh Of Alabama
has replied to Mr. Edmund's speech
A Mr. Pugh showed among other thingt
that the papers called for by Senator
Thurman when Chairman of the Judi
ciary Committee, in O case of suspension
related to territorial court, and tina
the tenure of office act especially eX
empts judicial officers from those to bC
suspended by the President. Mr.. Ed
+. munds has been followed by Senator
Il Wilson, Of Iowa, and Senators 1ngalli
and EYarts will be next to support him
81 On the Democratic side Senators Kenna
Beck and jackson will be among tht
H champions Of the administration.
II A prominent Democratic lawyer O
this city who was talking on this sub
n iect a few days since, remarked tina
II there was nothing in the position OF the
majority Of the Senate Judiciary Com
/ mittee but political maneuVer. Th'
Z. President stands on iinpregnable lega
I grounds, continued he, but the Repub
Z lean party is languishing for an issue
The expedient of bullying and embar
raising the President, seems to be tn,
best it can do for the present.
II Senator Milleris death lessons tn
Republican majority in the Senate tenn
porarily. The Legislature of CaiiforniI
does not meet until December, and tn
+ Governor OF the State, General Stone
I man, being Democrat, will dcnbtles
appoint one Of his own party to fill tn
vacancy. Senator Miller's funeral vii
take place at the Capitol Saturday after
noon, and the Senators. in body, vii
j escort the remains to therailrOad depo
/ en,route to California,
The social season closed brilliantly a
the White House. The third of tn
series of Diplomatic, Military and Con
gressional receptions eciipsed those pre-
/ ceding it in several respects. The at
/ Tendance was larger, and.the proportion
! OF distinguished men, and handsomel.
dressed ladies, was unusually large
while the White House apartments wer
/ rarely, if ever, llore effectively decor
4 ated. Senator Edmuntls' presenc'
there attracted attention owing tolhi
arraignment of the administration o fes
!, lhours before. He and Mrs. Edmund
stepped to chat few moments wit
1 the President and Miss Cleveland.