The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-25

power to advise or withhold advice con-
corning treaties and appointments necessa-
rily involves the jurisdiction to officially
know every step and action of the officers
of the law and all the facts touching their
conduct in the possession of any depart
ment or even in the possession of the Presi-
dent himself. There was no need to eX-
press such power, for it was necessarily
an inherent incident 10 the exercise of the
power granted.
1T will be observed that in this instance
the call for papers covered a period for
more than six months, during which the
regular incumbent of the office had been
discEarging its duties, and also the further
period of more than six months during
which the person designated to discharge
those duties on suspension of the Office had
been acting, and that that person is the one
man proposed to be appointed to the place.
1t will also be observed that the President
has not undertaken to remove the incum-
bent of the Office but has only in expressed
and stated pursuance Of the statutes on the
subject. suspended that officer, and that the
same statutes expressly provide that such
officers shall not be removed without the ad
vice and consent of the Senate, and that if
that advice and consent be not given the in
office should have previously expired) at
the close of this session of the Senate be
restored to the lawful right to exercise its
dHies.
The Senate, then, by this nomination
is asked to advise and consent TO the re
mOval of the incumbent and to the ap-
pOintment of the candidate proposed for
his place. In exercising its duty in respect
to these questions it is plain that the con-
duct and management Of the incumbent is
a matter absolutely essential TO be known
to the Senate in order that it may deter
mine whether it can rightly advise his re-
moval or rightly leave him to resume the
functions of his Office at the end of its seS-
sion, as we'll as whether the candidate pro-
posed has in the exercise of Office under
his designation so conducted himself as to
show that he is competent and faithful.
Indeed, it may be stated with entire aecu-
racy that even in case of a vacancy in
an Office, and the proposed filling
of such vacancy, it is important
for the Senate to know the previous
condition and management Of the Office, the
state of its affairs, whether there has been
cases of misconduct or abuse of power, the
ENLIGHTENMENT of money, and indeed all the
circumstances bearing upon the Administra-
ableness of appointing a particular person
10 take up lis duties, with reference to the
difficulties that may exist in its affairs, the
state of the accounts, and every thing con-
corning its administration, so as to measure
the fitness and competency of the particular
candidate to meet the emergencies of the
case"
table is presented showing large
number of persons appointed in the place
of officers suspended and the query is
made whether these suspended officials or
any considerable number of them have been
guilty of any misconduct in office or of any
personal conduct making them unworthy to
be trusted with the performance of duties
imposed upon them by the law and if they
have it is held that Opportunity should be
given the Senate TO make the most careful
scrutiny i'll respect To selecting their sue
cessOrs as well as in respect of providing
better means and safeguards by legislation
for administering the laws of the United
States. The report continues:
'Such information, it would seem, the
Executive is determined the Senate shall
not possess, for the alleged reason that 1t
might enable the Senate to understand what
circumstances connected with the faithful
execution of the laws induced the President
to exercise the discretion the statute cOnfers
upon him to suspend them and ask the SEN
ate to unite with him in their removal from
Office"
The report ends by quoting the passage
on the civil service contained in the Presi-
dents message and commenting upon it.
Mr.. Pugh stated that the minority would
also submit report, and the matter went