Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-20


reasons for the removal OF the Director
Of the Mint. Even President Cleveland
bad stated to the Senate his reasons Tor
the removal Of the last Director Of the
Mint.
MIR. Salisbury said he was unwilling
to content himself with silent vote on
the question. The President sought no
controversy with the Senate. When
the President was elected it was the
object and intention Of the people that
he should adjust the offices at least
more nearly between the political par
ties than they had been. The Presi-
dent had proceeded with caution
and forbearance unparalleled in the
history Of the nation. Republican SEN
ators had said they had no desire to
protect Republican officials. If that
were true, was it not strange that the
Presidents nominations had so long
been allowed to remain Enacted on?
Was it not strange that Republican
senator's were now making claims for
class of papers never claimed before?
Was it not strange that they were
claiming the right to supervise the re-
movals Of the President. and that they
were claiming to be entitled to see even
private papers in pursuit Of their OBJ.
iect? Mr.. Salisbury maintained thatthe
tenure off Office act was unconstitutional
and contended that the Constitution
could not be overriden by an act. Of
Congress neither could the President
dissociate his constitutional functions
from the presidential office. The Con-
stitution placed the power Of removal
solely in his hands. Decisions Of the
courts had been uniformly to that effect.
Mr.. Salisbury read at some length
from decisions Of courts to sustain this
point. lie also read from the proceed
ipgs Of the First Congress, in 1889, to
show that removals we're left entirely
to the discretion of the President.
Commissions Of naval officers, even to
this day, he said, showed by the words
on their face that the Office was held at
the pleasure OF the President.
Mr.. Colquitt obtained the floor, but
gave way for a motion to adjourn.
At 4:30 the Senate adjourned till
Monday.
House Of Representatives.
In the absence Of the Speaker, Mr.
Crisp, Of Georgia, was designated to pre-
side over the proceedings Of the House.
Leave was granted Mr.. Hammond, of
Georgia, to file the views Of the minority
Of the Committee on Judiciary on the
bankruptcy bill.
A resolution was adopted setting
apart April 10th for the consideration
ofbills reported from the Committee on
Commerce authorizing the construc-
ton Of bridges, the establishment Of
lighthouses, and bills relating to the
life-saving service. 1t is understood
that the Arthur kill.bridge bill will
not be brought up on that day. The
latter bill is one giving the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad admission to Staten
Island and New York harbor.
The House took recess until $50
p. NJ, the evening session to be devoted
to the consideration Of private pension
bills.
At the evening session the House
passed thirty pension bills. The last
bill to be considered was that granting
a pension Of 60, 900 year to the widow
Of General w. S. Hancock. Mr.. Bing-
ham, of Pennsylvania, eloquently sup
ported the bill, and quoted as prece-
dents the cases Of the widows Of Adj
miral Farragut and General Thomas.
Mir. Price, Of Wisconsin, opposed the
bill, and stated that it must be consid-
cred in full House. He knew that the
country had paid General Hancock
brilliant, brave, generous in all his pro-
portions-the sum of 1852, 600 during
the last twenty years.
He helped save your country"
suggested Mr.. Bingham.
Mr.. Price: And there are hun
dreds of thousands as good as he who
helped to save the country who are
starving" Continuing, he said that
the practice of granting large pensions
to widows Of men who had been re-
ceiving big salaries and who had died
poor was destructive Of American man.
hood. The influence was to make men
live up to the last dollar Of their sala-
ries in pomp and extravaganza and
champagne. 1t shook every principle
of Justice and created a privileged
class.
Mr.. Bingham regretted the necessity
of taking the bill before the House in
full session. He thought it would be
such graceful act, such generous act,
to pass the bill now, that he felt that
the gentleman's own constituents would
applaud him for being a party to it.
He (Bingham) could not argue the ques-
ton without losing his patience. For
four years he had served on Hancock's
personal staff, and he regretted that the
pension of the widow Of that general
should be fixed as low as 50, 900. The bill
introduced by Mr.. Pulitzer granting a
pension equal to that Of the widows
Of ex.Presidcnts would have been more
in accord with his feelings. With the
exception Of Lincoln he knew no man
Of modern times who had done more
for his country, for civilization, hu-
mainly, and liberty than Hancock
had. Applause. lie trusted that
the gentleman from Wisconsin
Price would let the question
come before this gathering tonight.
Let this case 90 through as cases Of
this kind should 60 through--a tribute
Of the representatives of the people to
the widow Of one Of the bravest and
most chiyalric soldiers Of our war. On
the question of passing the bill the vote
stood 25 to 4 (Messrs. Price, Zach.
Taylor, johnson Of Indiana, and Wi
naDs).
Mr.. Price then raised the question of
no quorum. The previous question
was, however, ordered on the bill, and
it goes over until Monday.
The House then adjourned until to-
morrow.
Distinguished Excursionists.
lBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l
WASHINGTON, March ia party
composed of Senators Ransom, Ingalls,
and wife, Salisbury and niece, Palmer