Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-01-30
'WHIRLP POOL IN WASHINGTON.

WHIRLPOOL IN WASHINGTON.
Western Kansas World CORRESPONDENT c.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1885.
The skirmishing between Presiden,
Cleveland and the Republican senator's
which has been progressing quietly for a
week, has now reached an interesting
crisia One point in the controversy is
the presidents inconsistency. In many
1T bis letters he has violated his professed
principles of civil service reform through
competitive examinations. He has made
partisan appointments, and has ignored
that clause of the constitution which says
the president shall nominate, and by and
With the advice Of the senate, appoint, etc.
How can the senate advise with the
president in regard to appointments with
out some Interchange Of views? And
how can such an interchange be brought
shout while large number of senators
hold that the senate has no business to
know anything about the presidents
reasons for making appointments. This
10 precisely the situation now. When the
senate finance committee called upon the
president to furnish information in regard
10 certain removals, suspicious, and ap-
pointments of officials, the president in
structed his cabinet to send to them GER
tain papers on file in the departments.
But these papers relate only to appoint
ments. Each package Of papers furn-
ished bore evidence that the documents
bearing on suspension from office had
been withheld from the committee. Each
package was accompanied by letter of
transmittal in which the cabinet officer
lstated that he had not been directed by
the president to furnish any information
in regard to suspension from office under
section 1,76S of the revised statutes.
The Republican senators then took the
position that they would require reasons
for the suspensions from office and that
the administration should be made to
furnish them. Senator Edmunds made a
long speech on the subject maintaining
that while the senate may not call upon
the president to explain his acts, it is
justified in asking of him all information
in his possession upon which his acts are
based He said the officials who were
suspended and their friends were entitled
to know what charges has been made and
what influences had been exerted to bring
about removals under an administration
which had repeatedly declared that faith
ful officials should be retained in Office,
and that the removals would not be made
except for cause. The senator from Yer
mont declared positively that he would
not agree to the confirmation of the sue
nessor OF any suspended officials unless
the administration would furnish infor-
nation on which the senate could act in
telligently. He was in favor of authoriz-
ing each senate committee to send for
persons and papers and to bring before it
the members of the cabinet, If need be. to
ascertain why suspensions had been
made. He would oppose all such con-
firmations until there was at least
extracted from the administration the
avowal that it had no information bear
ing upon such cases.
The situation is very puzzling to Dem
ocratic senators who caucus on the ques-
tion "What to do" about once day.
Since the president has declined to hold
confidential relations with his party in
the senate, it is difficult for the latter to
reach basis OF harmonious action.
When asked by the Democratic senators
what he would have them do in regard to
the action OF the Republican senators and
his nominations. he told them to do what
khey thought best. The latest report
HON the president is, that he viii recede
HON his position and furnish all the in
formation desired. but this report has not
vst been confirmed.
In the senate again this week, the sill
ver question he's held sway. The speech
= Il senator Teller. Of Colorado, Eustis,
Z Lousians; snd Morrill,. of Vermont at |
r1stsa conidstsbls attention. Senator
Tt11G9's sta&s produces oas-focrth q the !;
Inppt 4ilyer yisId q tie world His q. |
ut Aes directed principally against
he oe1sof the secretary q tho treasury,
Il