The Portland daily press., 1886-03-19
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Mafcll 10.
Mr. Hoar'S motion to make the bank
ruptcy bill special order Tor Marcn olst
was agreed to-yeas 33, nays II.
Mr. Allison called up the urgent denclency
bill. and the Senate concurred with the
House of Representatives that some OF the
items making up the sum expended Tor the
obsequies of General Grant were not prop
erly of an urgent deficiency character. AS
TO fhe Block Island cable the Senate ordered
that that item be retained in the bill. The
remaining Senate items were also insisted
upon.
Concurrent resolutions were submitted
from the legislature of Virginia. protesting
against the proposition to place foreign coin
and ores ON the free list. Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Blair, the Senate passed
mission of five persons to investigate the
LIQUOR traffic, its relations to the revenue
and taxation, and its general economic, GRIM
inal. moral and scientific aspects in connec-
tion with pauperism,, crime, social wee, pub
lie health and general welfare of the people.
The bill provides that the commission shall
he appofnted by the President, with the
consent of the Senate; that. majority OF
the commissioners shall not be advocates OF
prohibition, and that they shall serve with
out salary. 80
The Senate, on like motion of Mr.
Blair. passed without debate the bill pro-
yiding for the study of the nature OF alco-
holic Stimulants and narcotics and their Ell.
fects on the human system IN tne nf
and the military and naval academies and
the Indian schools.
Mr.. Logan called up his bill to increase
the efficiency Of the army. me
bill having been partly read, Mr.. Hale
moved to strike out Sec. which fixes the
whole force of the army at number not TO
exceed $1,000 men, but the motion, on the
suggestion of Mr.. Logan, was withdrawn for
the present till the committee amendments
have been acted on.
Mr.. Hale said he did not think the army
ought to be increased.
As the reading progressed, Mr.. Logan Of
fered amendments of the detail, which were
agreed to- The amendment OF the detail
suggested by Mr.. Hale was also agreed to.
The bill with the amendments was then
ordered reprinted, Mr.. Hale giving notice
that he would tomorrow give the amendment
already indicated by him to strike out Sec. 2.
At 9 o'clock unfinished business was
tions reported bv Mr.. Edmunds from the
judiciary committee expressing the Sen,
ate's condemnation of the Attorney General
for refusing to furnish the papers called for
by the Senate.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered as an amendment to
the resolutions the following:
And in all such cases OF removal the matter of
confirmation shall be considered In an open ses-
sion of the Senate.
Mr.. Sewall who occupied the chair, re-
marked that tno amenQment WOulu Ue
printed and lie over.
Mr.. Brown then took the floor in opposi-
tion to the majority report. He
said said there was @ but Single question at issue,
and that question was Had the PRESIDENT,
without the advice and consent OF the SEN
ate. the power to remove a federal officer
when, in his opinion the public interest re-
ouired such removal?" Mr.. Brown read
from the constitution sections relating to the
executive power to show that the President
possessed the whole of that power except as
to particulars in which the constitution
Specially qualified. 1t did qualify the ap-
pointing power of the President as to GER
tain offices by requiring the advice and con-
Sant. S,s, of the Senate to their appointment but
placed no such qualification on his power OF
removal ,
At the conclusion of Mr.. Brown S remarks,
Mr.. Spooner took the floor in support OF the
majority report. Mr.. Spooner took up the
question from a legal point OF view and
duoted from the constitution and tenure OF
Office law to show that the power OF re-
moval, as well as of appointment, was III tne
President and Senate acting together, and
that which was in his sole discretion and
absolute was the power OF suspension curing
| recess of the Senate. one source ol nluCh
confusion in this debate, Mr.. Spooner SAID,
was the confounding by the Democratic
Senators of suspensions and removal 10
suspend a officer caused a temporary cessa-
| tion of his functions; to remove, caused a
permanent cessation. A suspended omcer
| was not removed officer, for II the Senate
refused to confirm his successor the sus-
pended man returned to the office. Ine Su-
| pTeme Court had so decided. Mr. .opooner
! criticized the Presidents expression, IN
nocuous desuetude." This term always pro-