Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-26
THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATE.

The most animated debate and the bit
terest fight witnessed in the Senate for
years will be opened on Monday if the
minority report of the judiciary com
mttee is then presented. a. is expected.
The majority of the committee said their
say on Thursday last. Their report
states the fact and circumstances of the
removal of Dustin and the appointment
of his successor aS United States attOr-
ney for the southern district of Alabama
1t declares that it has been the uniform
practice of the judiciary committee since
the passage of the tenure of office act to
call upon the heads of departments for all
papers and information in the possession
of the department touching the condition
and administration of the officer propos-
ed to be removed and the character and
conduct of the person proposed to be ap-
pointed. This has been done with the
unanimous approval of all the members,
although the composition of the commit
tee has been during the period sometimes
of another. In no instance until this
time has the committee met with any de-
lay or denial in respect to furnishing
such papers and information with a sin
delay and suggested denial lasted only
for two or three days. The precedcntS
are cited and discussed at great length.
One of the appendices is list showing
the number of officials of various ranks
who were suspended or removed by the
President during the first thirty days of
the present session of Congress.
Accompanying the document outlined
above is this series of resolutions. which
are signed by Messrs. Edmunds, ingalls,,
Mcmillan, Hoar, Wilson and Evarts:
| Resolred, That the foregoing report OF the
committee on the judiciary be agreed to and
adopted.
| ReSolred, That the senate hereby express
| its condemnation of the refusal ofthe attorney.
general, under whatever influence to send
/ the senate copies OF papers called for by its
resolution of the 25th of January and set forth
| in the reports of the committee ON the iudici-
AIRY as in violation OF his official duty and sub.
versive of the fundamental principles OF the
/ government and of good administration
thereof
! ReSoired, That il is, under these circum-
stances, the duty of the senate to refuse its
advice and consent To proposed removals of
officers, the documents and papers in refer
| encc to the supposed official or personal mis-.
conduct of whom are withheld by the eXecu-
tive or any head of "A department when deem
ed necessary by the senate and called tor in
considering the matter.
ReSOlred, That the provision of section 1854 of
the Revised Statutes declaring that "pcrsons
/ honorable discharged form the military or
naval service by reason of disability resulting
from wounds or sickness incurred in the line
OF duty, shall be preferred for appointments
To civil Offices provided they are found to
possess the business capacity necessary for
the proper discharge OF the duties of such
Offices" ought to he faithfully and fully put in
in execution. And that to remove or to pro.
pose to remove any such soldier, whose faith.
fulness, competency and character are above
rcproach, and to give place to another who
has not rendered such service, is II violation
of the spirit OF the law and the practical
gratitude the people and government of the
United states owe to the defenders of consti.
tutional liberty and the integrity of the gov
ernment.
Here is material enough for an all-win-
ter's contest; and its progress will be
watched with much interest. The last
resolution appears to have been written
by one who had the Burlington collector
ship in his minds eye.