The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-02
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE
AND SENATE.
Minority Report Of the Senate Judi
ciary Committee On the Dus-
tin Case.

The Chair laid before the Senate let
ter from the Secretary OF the Treasury,
transmitting in reply TO recent Senate
resolution report showing the claims,
accounts and vouchers suspended in
that department. In discussing mo-
ton TO print the papers Mr.. Sale said
the accounting officers Of the Treasury
had lately taken wba. seemed 10 him
the extraordinary course of holding
M" or suspending the accounts or
vouchers OF the government, who &C
cording 10 custom and the usual au-
thorizlt!on had paid out moneys which
had been intrusted to them for the
purpose Of being paid out The con-
tention Of the accounting officers OF
the Treasury, Mr.. Hale said, were that
the payments were authorized. The
papers, which are volumnous, we've
ordered printed.
Mr.. Pugh, representing the minority
Of the Committee on the Judiciary,
submitted the views OF the minority
on the resolution referred 10 the COM
mittee concerning the Office OF the
District Attorney for the Southern
District OF Alabama. II was ordered
printed in the Congressional Record and
also in separate form.
Atl2:20p M, ON motion OF Mr.. Hale,
the Senats went into executive ses-
sion.
At2:40 p m. the Senate doors were
reopened, aud the Chair laid before
the Senate lengthy message from the
President bearing on the right Of the
Senate or Senators TO have access TO
papers, etc In the Executive Depart
ment relating to suspensions nom
office.
When the Presidents message had
been read Senator Edmunds said II re-
minded him OF the communication OF
King Charles the First b the Parlia-
ment. He also said that the President,
unintentionally no doubt, had entirely
miss tatsd the question involved be-
tween himself and the Senate. think
/ am safe in saying that II is tha FIRST
time in the history OF the Republic
that any President OF the United
States has undertaken TO interfere
with the deliberations OF either House
OF Congress on questions pending be-
fore them, otherwise than by messages
on the state OF the Union, which the
constitution commands him TO make
from time to time. This mess aga Is
devoted solely TO q question for the
Senate itself in regard TO itself that II
baI under consideration. That is it's
singularity. II, think, will strike re-
fleeing people in this country as
somewhat extraordinary II, in these
days Of reform, anything at all can be
thought extraordinary. The Senate
oil the United States, in its commuDi-
cation 10 the heads OF departments
(not his heads. Of departments, hut
the heads Of departments created by
law directed them to transmit GER
tain official papers, and that is all.
The President OF the United
States undertakes to change the
question into consideration by
the Senate Of his reasons or
motives for putting a civil officer,
as II might be called "under arrest
with which the Senate has not under
taken in any way to make any ques-
ton at all. By every message he has
cent to this body-and they are all pub
lic--he has asked the Senate to advise
and consent TO him the removal OF one
officer and the appointment OF an.
other. That is what he has done, and
the Senate in calling for those papers
Ito say nothing OF wider consdera-
tons about any deficiencies in the De-
partmant OF Justice-is asked TO re-
move these officers without knowing
the condition Of the administration OF
their offices. .6 JI
Senator Harris remarked that for
reasons 10 which he might net refer
here he had no desire 10 discuss u Q
matter, and moYed that the message
20 pfiR,ed and lie on the tAble--fhs
usual course, he said,
After little sparring between Sen
ator EdmundB and Senator Harris as
TO the disposition OF the message a
motion Of Senator Edmunds's was
agreed 70 fvivI i;,;g Il 70 the judiciary
Committee and ordering II printed.
The Sena'e then again went into
executive session, and when the doors
respened adjourned.