New-York tribune., 1886-01-29
PAPERS TO BE WITHHELD.
prrrs1y1 TO RESPOND TO THE SENATE.
60 THE cAsWsr SEEKING TO ABRiDGE TUE RIGHTS
OF CoNGREss9
rny rrLE0RAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

,v,su,vcTOv. Jan, %. - The prospect
, oontest between the Administration and the
sote concerning the control OF the public records Is
soter tonight than at any previous time This isdue 10
G decision ef the Cabinet to-day to deny the right OF
rgress 10 have to documents on ne In the de-
rtments This is unprecedented action on the part
the President and few persons ready to believe
utbs would take such extraordinary course. II Is
NOT question of giving his reasons for removals. THESE
,ove not been asked. Indeed the Senate has had no
communication with the President on the subject lie
hos gone out OF his way 10 make an issue with II.
The senate without opposition adopted resolution re-
or.ed by Mr. Edmunds from the Judiciary Committee
lp, on the Attorney General TO inform the Senate as
" he condition of the DistrictAttorneys office for the
co,tbern District of Alabama at date named In the
soution and also for all papers on te relating TO that
Hce No call made for the Presidents reasons TOT
omovng public officer, and If there were no papers or
norts ON file it would have been simple matter for
hc Attorney General TO so report II thero were papers
ee the question arises has the Attorney General any
,ht n refuse to permit either branch OF Congress TO
see them
Tho eneral took the matter to the President
with settled purpose OF making an issue between the
President and the Senate. in the hope of befogging the
,,c mind as TO the real question, and the President
hos directed the TO refuse to produce
a. ranors What form the refusal will take Is not
Known; but as Mr. Ewing, the appointment clerk
y, the Department Of Justice, was at the "hlte
uopse for some time to day. 1t Is supposed
that he has taken the papers there. and that tue
will that he has 10 papers In
a., ossassion relating 10 bis office that date. AS
senator remarked tonight "This would be silly SUP
and few persons believe that tue PresiGehV VIII
take such course. gentleman who was at inc "hio
House to-day says that the Attorney Genera WAS ui-
ooted 70 make a straightforward reply and deny the
right OF the Senate TO inspect pubic documents "hon
,he President may see fit to withhold from IT, 1here 10
oson To believe that the Senate would welcome SUCH
contest as that IT, however the subterfuge OF declaring
that the papers the White House Is adopted
will be evident that the President wants tne oen"'o "
call upon him for the papers aud give MN al oppoi
tunty to assert his position.
INQUIRY of a prominent Republican senator
+onioht As to what that body would
do under the decision Of the CaDinet
ecited the following reply: eli the Attorney-uener
undertakes deny the right OF the senate 10 eA"0
the public documents We shall give MN al oppor'un,'
tn defend his position. 1t would be such an eStraorui
nary course ana so entirely subversve OF the rights OF
Con,ros. that 7 am uuprepared to believe that the
Cabinet has reached such a decision IL IL mas NO"
ever we shall at pass resolution lhs'rue'hE Wv
committee to investigate all the facts III reSau W III
administration Of the office of Disrlct-AttOrhey LOT t
southern District of Alabama with power 70 sena 10
,ersons and papers We shall then subpoena the Atlor
,or ,op.ral and direct him to produce tho papers. l
boottemnts to shield himself by the puerile pea ina
,be naners are in possession OF the President lhe'
we may may not 80 iur1ner
1he matter or course neither Oraucu u
Congress would admit that by the Withdrawal
Dapers from n department where they DeionS ah
,lac,n Them in the White House that they are DeyOh
reach of Congress- II that the case the Pres
dent would have powers uneQHalled by any elVlIZe
ruler excepting the Gar Of Russia THIS Is an oI
settled question in our Government. How many TINE
have Democratic committees in the House searcne
oenartment files for all sorts Of documents
NewYork Custom House the letters from senator
and the President and everybody else conoeI'
ing appointments spread before the country. Du
ing the time OF President Hayes, when MI UIahu ""
a member of the Judiciary Committee OF the senate
cali was made on Attorney General Dcyens for all th
napers relating to a change = in dlsiTlcFaltoi
nevs Office Attorney General Devens said tha
LIE would submit them as matter OIL cou''eS
but not as "a matter OF right The committee ihciuIh
MI Garland, unanimously voted to refuse 10 aGeePM M m
Dapers as matter OF courtesy. hut demanded tnl Ho
Be produced. Mr. Devens took the mater M 10 en1
nc nc ssnate II Mr. Garland has changed his mind o
mat SUBJECT We nave not changed ours In me case
give information to either branch OF the leglsatuI
from to time III person or IN "Ttns DIS may po ~
quired respecting matters winch ahdI! pertain 10 10 ~
office To leave to him or to any other IeParatn9D %
head the right TO decide how lar he snal conP'S wa" ~
position Of The Cabinet Is untenaDe ana CANNOT 'o d"
Anoher Republican Senator said: II the Presldel
is so anxious TO make an issue with the senate that
Nyil
oexawne them do not know that We Shall go so Il
az m demand their production from the white IiOus@'
fV ." " sra nm "a 6epartment shall roqune them 10
rro1uced. of our purpose Is 70 ptocS
rcn Ton he ing falsely branded The president mas :"
nisrad time and that removals would nol De ma,
for nartlsan reasons; and under lhFe7lleatIu
30 Vuts's circular all SORTS of lying and infa'uol
ch,rGes have been made against honorable puhlc mel
Thev nave been denied access 10 these papers OF any o.
norfnnIty TO make replies. The public now wciI Know
fHat lie President has violated his pledges ana mas
mnyed officials on trumped-up charges. But SupiO'
thnt ten wears from Congress Is ln'c7jl@dhS u
management OF some Office and these ldIse char5I'
mr. then brought out as matters OF pupl
racord The man whose fair name tht} u
dnce NAV then be dead and there may be /
,,eans of answering the charges which will thcn re-
forever as a stigma upon his family VIII the IuDi
snsain the President in any such position thIhk no
Resiaes any attempt deny either branch O COngie
access TO public documents is uSurPatloh a"u Wh!
resisted Democratic senator tod me To-Day thnt
would never vote to ahrdgc The rght OF th" senate
evamine the official documents on Me III any Pu"I
o0ire Other Senators have expressed similar OlIhlo
In private II is not question oil the IIGsldchI re
ton. for making removals No one asks those. IL Is
matter OF public honor and public decency; ana Hi
nrreuded assumption OF JGck>Oildn dlslb Oh tuo pa
ri the President will not serve him IN this case