St. Paul daily globe., 1886-06-01
THE SENATES SINS.
Gov. Hill of New York Thinks They Are
so Numerous as to Demand "Radi-
cal Reform"
He Desires the Immediate and Total Abo-
lition of the Appointment Con-
frming Power.
Senator'S, He Says, Are Mainly Office
Brokers and the President Their
Powerless Bondman.
On the Ruins of the Courtesy of the
Upper House He Would Build
the Peoples Rights.
Helps vigorous Vie ws.

Special to the Globe.
NEW YORK, May 31.-The New York
Herald this morning publishes four
column interview with Gov. Hill. In the
course of the interview the governor spoke
i'll regard to the confirming power of SEN
SerateS. both state and national, as follows:
have thought long and deeply on the
whole question. l have considered it apart
from any collision between myself and the
senate of the state but not without consider
alton of the preteusionS OF the federal senate
in the action against Mr.. Cleveland and other
presidents. The time has come for a
THOROUGH, SWEEPING AND RADICAL REFORM.
The oligarchy and ariStocracy i'll our national
system are represented by the senate OF the
United States. The obstacle TO homogeneous
and responsible administration of our state
system is the senate of each state. In both
the cause of intolerable senatorial pretension
resides in the confirming power The remedy
is the immediate and total abolition of the
confirming power. The substitute Tor IL
should be direct executive appointments, with
full right in the executive to remove cause ut
viii those whom he appoints. The senate,
national or state. has never been an inter-
vener except with bad results"
"CAN YOU GIVE SOME INSTANCEs|'
Half century ago the federal senate for
reasons of partisan rancor alone, rejected
great New Yorker as minister to England.
The people elected HIM president as
4 AREBUKE TO HIS REJECToRS.
Half decade ago the final result of the
Ylay of violent passions between the senate
ard the president on the latters selections of
his own agents, was the assassination OF the
chief magistrate. The confirming power has
been used always only to be abused. 1t does
not reject bad men. 1t rejects good men to
keep bad men in. 1t does not work as help
or enlightenment OF the president or gov
ernor. 1t works rs a ball and chain on
both. 1t makes in the federal senate
e series of as many presidents in petto as
there are representatives of states IN that
body. It makes senators Office brokers and
executives the bondmen of such Office brokers.
The duty of executives is administrative.
They should have the right to appoint and
remove their agents in administration. The
business of senates is participation in legis-
latioE. They should be free to attend to 1t.
Now they claim in effect to be assistant
presidents and assistant governors, and seek
to make elected presidents and elected
governors subject to them. Presidents
are chosen by the people Indirectly
but really. Feoeral senators are chosen by
subsidiary elections in state legislatures.
Senators are not amenable to public opinion,
for it cannot reach them They use the con-
tirming power to abuse it, TO strengthen and
at times to enrich themselves in that satire
on all free AMI responsible government
known as secret SeSsiOnS-a menace and an
abOmination to decency and liberty. On the
ruins of the courtesy of the senate let us
build the rights of the people and crown
them with the principle of the freedom and
responsibility of the executive whom they
elect to do their will, and who should have
the power to do it through agents of their
number selected by himself. TRUST this Will
be made an issue by the Democratic party in
its next national platform.