The Washington critic., 1886-02-01
PRESIDENT AND SENATE.

An interview appears in this morn.
ing's Republican in which the views of
Senator Ingalls,, relative to the existing
situation between the President and
Senate, are presented with much clear.
ness, force and ingenuity-with such
ingenuity, in fact, that the public will
be warranted in accepting them, not as
the individual views simply of the
Senator from Kansas, but as state
ment of the Republican position pre-
pared with elaborate forethought and
intended to be of an authoritative char
acter. If we are not greatly mistaken
in the matter, Mr. ingalls, here speaks
not only for himself alone, but for Mr..
Edmunds and Senators generally, who
have raised the question as to the eX-
tent of the President S power.
Mr. ingalls, starts out by declaring
the doctrines of civil service reform,
las announced by its apostles" to be
"pernicious," and the tenure-of. f.oillcc
act to be, in his opinion, "unconstitu-
tional :" therefore he comedies the
power OF the President to make such
changes as he deems best in the patron
age of the different Executive depart
ments of the Government, and will
vote TO confirm any nomination where
an incumbent has been suspended for
political reasons, and mot for causes
involving either personal integrity or
official conduct"
Taking the Presidents previous
declarations on this subject as a basis,
Mr.. ingalls, is bound TO conclude that
where suspensions have been made of
officials who would otherwise have re
manned mdsturbcd to the end of their
terms there have been charges Of mis-.
conduct preferred which he, rs Sen.
ator, is entitled to know, "to the end
that if his friends have been uniustly
assailed they may have an opportunity
of being heard in their Defense" Says
Mr.. ingalls, further, and very point
edly
There is another aspect of the case in
which this information Is essential. Should
The Senate neglect or refuse to confirm the
nomination of those persons designated In the
place of Others who have been suspended
then. upon the adjournment OF the Senate, the
suspended person is by operation of law rein
stated. In, voting on these nominations
therefore have practically two functions tc
discharge. First, to inquire the fitness OF the
designated persons, and second, as 10 the aCts
and conduct of the suspended person. Be
cause, II the person suspended Is unit for the
do not wish to roinstate him, as should
practically do by refusing to vote for the per
SON nominated in his place.
mo one doubts says the Senator,
"that the President occupies an abso-
lutely independent position, and that
no one would attempt, under any cir.
cumstances, to interfere with his al
mitted prerogatives, nor is there any
any power to compel him to do any
thing that he declines or refuses to do
by any writ of quo warranto or manda
mus.
As TO what might happen in case the
President persisted in declining to fur.
nish such papers or transmit sucl
reasons as the Senate desired to have
his appointments, adds the Senator
would remain unconlirmed, In such {
case, says Mr. ingalls,
The designated persons would continue tc
discharge the duties of their respective Office
and 10 be entitled to receive the legal com
pensation therefor until the adjournmen o
The Senate, after which the suspended person
would be reinstated. But the power of the
President TO suspend Is unlimited. aud all
that he Is required 10 do Is 10 suspend again
and designate the same person for the posi-
iion, and report the same al the next follow
ing session of the Senate, and so continue I'M
III the end of his administration. Therefore
there Is no possibility of any peril or danger
10 the public service, The question T. purely
81 politics, which the people Will ulti
Inatey be called upon 10 decide in passin.
Judgment upon the Presidents official con
duet, and determining whether the profes
sions ,pisa mpon Whlch @ NE slender majority which
whether they were made only for the burmese
Of being disregarded.
This seems to cover the whole contro.
versy--a controversy which, as will be
seen, bodies no serious shock to the pub.
lie peace or the security of our civil In,
stitutions. The worst that it threatens |.
the ultimate eXtinguishmcnt of the
civil service reform system, and We've.
in this light, the imbroglio may b,
looked on as blessing very thinly dis
guiscd
COLONEL DoNIvAN, who has beer
in New York while the Legislatiy,
Committee has been sitting at COum
bus for the purpose of investigating the
charges OF bribery made in connection
with Senator Payne's election, yester