The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-03
THE PAPERS In THE CASE.
FOUNDATIONS LAID IN THE SENATE
FOR A BIG FIGHT
On the Disputed Point of the Production
of the Reasons for the Removals and
Suspensions from Observation-Disclosures
and Pugh Offer Opposing Propositions.

ana fugh tHer Imposing ffoposieiohs.
WASHINGTON CITY, Feb. Sin the SEN
ate Tuesday Frye presented a petition from
Knights of Labor of Maine, praying that
the territory of Oklahoma be opened to set
tiers; referred
Blair reported a joint resolution from the
committee on woman suffrage providing for
q constitutional amendment extending the
suffrage to women Cockreil said the reso
luton was not unanimous and the minority
of the committee reserved the right to make
an adverse written report calendar.
Riddleberger offered the following reso-
luton: "Resolyed, that it is the sense Of the
senate that the executive Of the United
States is not restricted by constitutional
law in removing or suspending appointees;
that the senate has no right to require that
reasons shall be given for such removals or
suspensions; that it is the right of the senate
to call for any paper relating to the conduct
of removed or suspended appointees, or to
the qualifications and fitness OF all persons
whose names are presented to the senate for
confirmation or rejection, and it is the duty
of the executive to comply with all demands
for the same
In offering the resolution, Ridderberger
said his purpose was simply to bring the
sub iect up in open debate 1t did not in
volve any so-called high prerogatives of the
senate when it should go into secret or
executive session, but only the abstract
question as to whether the executive could
be called on or required to give reasons for
removals. Riddle5erger asked for the i'm
mediate consideration of the resolution;
Cockrell objected.
Pugh submitted the following substitute
for Riddebergers resolution: First-That
the executive power is expressly vested
by the constitution in the president of the
United States, 50 that he shall take carr
thst the laws be faithfully executed,
Seeond-That the power of appointment
10 federal Office is an executive power, to be
xercised by the president under the limita-
ion in the constitution that he shall nomi-
nate and by and with tho advice and con-
sent of the senate shall appoint
Third-That the power OF removal or sus-
pension from the powers and duties of fed
eral Office is also an executive power, vested
exclusively in the president without any
such linitaton in the constitution as is i'm
posed therein by power Of appointment, and
for its exercise he is responsible alone TO the
people and not To the senate
Forrth-That the right of the president
to make nominations to the senate and of
the senate to advise and consent thereto, are
each separate and Independent rights to be
exercised by the president and senate re
spectively and separately and Independently
within their a! solute discretion; but
in -alo IN h..
sons so nominated, the senate may request
information of the president affecting the
character or qualifications of those as to
whose appointment he asks the advice and
consent of the senate.
Fifth--Ihat when the president makes
nominations to the senate of persons to be
appointed by him to exercise the powers
and duties of federal officers who have been
removed or suspended by him, no law, pub
lie duty or public policy requires that he
shall send or communicate to the senate any
cause reason or information within his own
knowledge or contained in any letters,
petitions, papers or documents addressed
TO him or any member of his
cabinet or in the possession of either ard
relating to the subject of removals or sus-
pensions, or containing charges, causes or
reasons, and the proof thereof, for making
such removals or SUSPENSIONS; and no law,
public duty or public policy requires or
| authorizes the senate to call for such in
formation, existing in any such form, from
the president or any member of his
cabinet, to enable the senate to re-
view or question the action of the
president in exercising his executive, discre-
tionary and exclusive power of removing or
suspending federal officers from the powers
and duties of their officer, or to put the
president on trial by the senate or to en-
force accountability to the senate for any
| thing he may have done in the exercise of
such jurisdiction.
Sixth-That to obtain information con-
sidered by either house of congress useful in
passing necessary and proper laws, either
house of congress may request the president,
IL not deemed by him incompatible with the
| public interest, 10 give any information
within his knowledge or contained in any
public do sument or records on5file, or in the
lawful custody of any of the departments
and relating to the administration of any
| public office or the official conduct or acts
| affecting ths official conduct or duties of
any public officer, but for the senate to
make such request of the president or to di
rect any member of the cabinet to transmit
to the senate any information or any pub
| lie documents or other papers in
open or executive session, to enable the
| senate III open or executive session to re-
view the propriety or the reason or the in
formation upon which he acted or may
have acted in making removals or suspen-
sions, would be an attempt to obtain such
information 10y false pretenses and for uses
and purposes not authorized or justified
| by any law or public policy
of the United States, and should
the president grant such request
or require any members of his cabi.
net to obey such direction from the senate
when deemed by him to be made for such
unjustifable and unlawful uses and purpose.
would be to recognize and encourage an i'm
| proper practice and an injurious innovation
upon his exclusive and independent rights
powers and duties as president CT The United
States
The document went over for the day.
Morgan's resolution regarding the trustee:
| of the Mormon church was referred to thC
| judiciary committee. A bill to permit the
| United States consul at Warsaw, Russia, II
receive decoration from the Russian gov
eminent, brought the remark from Logan
that the decoration of an American
citizen should be his daily walk in life
The consul, however, is a Russian subject
Hears electoral count bill was then takeI
up and debated, after which it was sent Il
the committee on privileges and elections b.
a non-partisan vote The senate then wen
into executive session, and when this door
reopened ad ,ourned