The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-03-18
WASHINGTON T
From Our Regular Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, D c.,
MARCH IS. 1885,.

~ 4OOO.
The Senate galleries are crowded
this week, and great interest is felt
in the discussion ofthe Presidential
prerogative. 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 refusal of the
Administration to send to the SEN
ate papers and information bearing
upon the suspension of officials and
touching the appointment of their
successors.
Probably no such thorough over
hauling and minute examination of
historical documents has ever be-
fore been made with reference to
this question. Consequently as one
Senator expressed it, both sides
"were loaded to the muzzle with
material" for the performance
which is now in progress. 1t was
to have begun on Monday, but the
STAR" MI. Edmunds, plead a ore
throat and the people went away
disappointed. He kept his engage
ment for the following day, how
ever, and promptly at the appointed
hour, arose with an imposing pile
of manuscript before him (his pre-
cedents to support his position,)
which he used freely during his
speech of two and a half hours.
When it was learned in the House
of Representatives that Mr.. Ed
munds was actually discharging
his loaded broadside at the White
House, members poured into the
Senate Chamber and filed the
space in rearof the Senator's desks.
The only vacant seat on the floor
was heavily draped with black. 1t
was hat of the California Senator,
Nh. Miller, who had died the day
before.
Mr.. Edmunds, in his speech,
which had attracted much atten-
ton, and which will be generally
discussed throughout the country,
made, as was expected, the best of
his side ofthe controversy. He took
such precedents as best suited him
and handled them with ingenuity.
He was most specious perhaps
in saying that the Senate does not
ask the Presidents reasons for max
ing 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 forth
coming, they would show the very
confidential reasons which he dis
claims any intention on the part OF
the Senate to demand.
Mr.. Edmunds said with a sneer
that the most conspicuous result Of
improved methods of Government
under the reform" Administration
was the suppression of official
papers. AT this point Senator Beck
caused a smile to ripple over the
audience by remarking in an un.
dertone, but loudly enough to BIZ
heard half across the chamber, thar
it was a clear case Off fly on barr
door! You remember the Vernon
leader has been accused of seeing
fly on a barn door when he coult
not see the door.
AS yet only Senator Pugh, O
Alabama, has replied to Mr.. Ed
mund's speech. Mr.. Pugh showed
among other things that the paper:
called for by Senator Thurman
when chairman of the Judiciar,
Committee, in a case of suspension
related TO territorial court, and tina
the tenure ofoffice act especially ex
empts Judicial officers from thos,
to be suspended by the President
MI. Edmunds has been followed b,
Senator Wilson, ofIowa, and Sena
tor ingalls, and Evats will be mex
to support him. On the Demo
cratic side Senator Kenna, Becl
and Jackson will be among tn
champions of the Administration
A prominent Democratic lawye.
of this city who was talking,on thi:
subject a few days since, remarked
that there was nothing in the posi-
ton of the majority of the Senat'
Judiciary Committee but a politi
cal maneuvre. The Presiden
stands on impregnable lega
:, grounds, continued he, but the Re
publican party is languishing 70:
an issue. The expedient of bully
ing and embarrassing the President
seems to be the best it can do TO,
the present.
Senator Miller's death lessons thu
Republican majority in the Senate
temporarily. The legislature o.
California does not meet until De
cember, and the Governor of the
State, Gen. Stoneman, being a Dem.
ocrat, will doubtless appoint one OF
his own party to fill the vacancy
Senator Miller's funeral will take
place at the Capital Saturday after.
noon, and the Senators, in a body
VIII escort the remains to the rail
road depot en- route to California
The social season closed brilliant.
ly at the White House. The third
OF the series of Diplomatic, Mill.
tary and Congressional receptions
ecllpsed those preceding it in sew
eral respects. The attendance was
larger, and the proportion of dis
tinguished men, and handsomely
dressed ladies, was unusually
ly large, while the White House
apartments were rarely, if ever.
more effectively decorated. Sena-
tor Edmund's presence there at
tracted attention owing to his az
raingment of the Administration a