The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-18
PRESIDENTIAL REROGATIVE
Statement as to the Position Assumed
blythe Republican Senators.
Affirm but Courteous Demand Will be Made
for Reasons for Removals-The Alleged
Attitude Of the President.
Washington Special TO st. Louis Globe Democrat.

Washington Special 20 St. Louis Globe Democrat.
The caucus Of tho Republican senators to-day
cleared up good deal of doubt about the prob
able course of the majority. The rejections will
be fewer than were generally expected. and the
prospect of quarrel with the President is al
most entirely removed. There were some sena-
tors who wanted to force the fighting, but the
positive refusal of the more conservative to en-
ter into the programme made it out of the ques
ton. The caucus was unanimous in standing
upon the ground that the President must show
the reasons for removals That is to say, the
Republican majority will insist on knowing If
he has cause for suspending. If he had none
other than offensive partisanship or the
politics of the official removed, the Sem
ate wish to know it-not with view
of rejecting the appointee but for the purpose
of showing the country the hypocrisy of an ad-
ministration which started out on the lofty
platform of making no removals but for cause
There is another argument which holds the Re-
publican senators together in this demand for
reasons of removals. If the early professions of
the administration are taken as honest by the
country, every Republican official who has been
suspended stands smirched in his respective
justice to these suspended officials requires that
publicity should be given to the grounds on
which the action taken If the charge is a
political one, the purpose is accomplished by the
publication of the fact That is all the Repub
lican senators desire.
But if there are charges affecting the personal
character of the suspended official. If he has
been DETAINED the senators will insist that that
information shall also be made public, to give
the object of the attack knowledge of his assail
ants and opportunity to defend himself Two
conclusions were made plain by the caucus:
i. The President must give reasons for re-
movals or admit he has none other than the fact
that the suspended official is Republican.
The Republican senators do not want this
information with view to rejecting Mr.. Cleve
lands nominations. They do not wish to have
any quarrel with him. They do not propose to
reject his nominations except upon such grounds
as the nomination of Republican President
would be rejected-uecause of the unfitness and
untrustworthiness of the nominations.
These conclusions are disappointing to some of
the Republican leaders Logan, it is believed,
wished to make the war on the administration
good deal hotter than is contemplated in the
programme outlined, but senator's like Hoar,
Plumb Frye and others were for more con-
seryative, not to say more dignifed. course.
AS stated above, this caucus action to- day means
but few reflections. No Democrat who has re.
ceived Office at the hands of the administration
need feel at all uneasy now, unless he knows he
is corrupt or incompetent.
A senator in speaking this evening of the atti-
tude and course of the majority, said:
This idea which has got out that we want
to contest with the administration for the Offices
is all o mistake. The public interest will be the
prompting motive in our action resnectipg the
nominations, with full recognition our part, as
Republicans, that the Democrats have the right
to the Offices. Where an improper man has
been put ill., or where good man has been put
out on charges that he hasn't had opportunity
to answer, reflections may follow. We're per-
fectly willing that Democrats shall have the of
fees, but If the President and his party have OBJ
tanned these Offices under false pretenses, we
want the fact made public"
Here said the Senator lis long dispatch
] received to-day from Western Republican,
who was removed under such circumstances that
he might suppose he was charged with some
thing terrible. He telegraphs: If you find that
have been put out because I'm offensive
partisan, for Gods sake confirm the other fellow
Immediately That is the correct position. All
we wish is for the administration to say, this
man was put out because he was Republican,
and we will confirm the successor most cheer
fully. Isn't that fart 1t strikes me So"
I'VE don't want any underhanded business"
the Senator went on. I'VE don't want these Re-
publican officials to stand before the country
with all this mystery and uncertainty about the
causes for the suspension. We feel that this
administration is characterized by lack of
candor in making removals, and it is only right
ii this is SO, that the country should know it,
Let me say once more there is no desire on the
part of the Republican senators to keep Repub-
licans in Office for a moment. We call on the
President for the reasons OF removals, simply
and only that the country may know just how
the case stands
The above may be relied upon as quite clearly
defining the position and course of the Republic
an senator's regarding nominations. There is a
good deal OF speculation as to what reply the
President will make to the demand upon him for
reasons Of removals. The conservative senators.
who carried the day in the caucus, think Mr.
Cleveland will come forward and make frank
answer to their call They think that in the
comparatively few cases where charges have
been preferred against Republicans the papers
will be forwarded TO the Senate. But in the
great majority of cases they believe the Presi-
dent will say the removals were made for politi-
cal reasons. This question is what the senators
are after, and they expect to get it On the
other hand. Mr.. Cleveland's friends say that the
PRESIDENT expects this question. and Is prepared
with his answer. 1t will be substantially as fol-
lows
Your request for reasons for the removal of
John Smith to hand. In reply would respect
fully say that said official was removed because
In my opinion, the public service would be sub
served thereby"
The President, his friends say will not be
driven into admitting that he has removed any
Dody for partisan reasons. If he lodges the
issue there will bea row, for the Republican SEN
ators are unanimous in this call for reasons.
HrpSlQ6ntS
friends are so good as to suggest for him presup-
poses that the Senate will send to the White
House blunt demand for the wherefore of this
and that removal. This will not be done. The
Senate will ask courteousiy for papers bearing
on the fitness or unftness of the man suspended
and the ma appointed. If there are no charges
against the suspended official returned by the
President to the Senate, and he does not say
there are none. the Senate may ask if there are
any charges on file. At any rate. they will so
present each "a ant yui1 he
In the attitude, frankly asserted or tacitly con-
fessed, of having made the removals on political
grounds. and then the Republican senators will
be satisfied
Attitude of the President.
Washington Special
1t can DO stated, upon the highest Democratic
authority that the following is the position
which the administration will take with resnect
10 the contest which nossihlv will Mt L. -