The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-05
PRESIDENT AM SENATF.


If Senator Edmuuds pushes the con-
tlict between the Presiden, and the Sen
ate to extremes it may Ue well to con-
slider what results will dow from the
quarrel. President Cleveland would,
of course, be compelled by his 0bliga-
uOns to the Constitution 60 resist to the
utmost the Senate's pretensiOns to share
In his power of removal from office.
Should the Senate pursue the policy
outlined by Senator Edmunds aud reject
nom nations in mass. the President
would only have to make new suspen-
siOns and new nominations. Not re-
moved OF suspended -OffiCiIi- would be
restored even for a day as a result Of
rms threatened Senate pelicy. But iD
the conflict confusion and denOraliZa-
tiOn would result in nearly every depart
ment Of the public service. For this
tue responsibility would rest with the
Senate
Senator MoTgan's resolution ztoztrans-
fer this question from the Judiciary
Committee to the Committee on Priyl-
iegss and Elections presents to the Re
pubiicans way out of TIE bog into
which they have been led by Senator
Edmunds in his eageIness to regain the
good will of his party in Vermont. The
Chairman of this committee is Senator
HOar, who has offered a bill to repeal
the Tenure of Office act. Yet upon the
Constitutionality of this Tenure ef OF
fee act Senator Edmunds has taken his
position. If Senator Hoar did not be-
l;eve the act unconstitutional he would
hardly have introduced a bill for its re-
( peal. The other Republican members
of the Committee on Privileges and
Elections besides Logan and EVarts, are
Frye and Teller, neither OF whom is
believed to be in strong sympathy with
Edmunds on this issue.
The Democrats Of the Senate have no
4 cause to shrink from cOntli t in be
half of the authority OF the Executive.
In the very first Congress Of the United
/ States it was determined that the power
! of removal from Office belongs eXc.u-
sively to the President This was The
/ uniform and undisputed Interpretation
of the Constitution down to the Ten
/ uIe Of Office act of 1867. In the four
/ years tenure act the power of the Pres
ident 70 make removals is expressly re-
I served. In the amendment made 10 the
acr of 1867 20 accommodate President
Grant The President was no longer re-
Quired 20 give reasons for removing or
. suspending officials when making nOni-
then, cannot be required 10 Jransmjs 10
the secret executive session Of the Sen
ate papers relating to suspensions and
removals.
In face of all The facts and pTecederts
that sustain the action OF the President
Senator Edmunds will hardly succeed
IN carrying a majority in favor of his
resolutions. II he should do 50 his res
OlutiOns offer no issue to the conflict
when passed. The heads Of d-paIt
meuts viii give themselves small con
Germ over the censure pronounced on the
Attorney General for his refusal TO de-
liver up pers relating 10 removals. s.
far from it, the boundary between th'
Senate's legislative functions and ir
relations to the Executive in advising
upon nominations to Office will be NOR
strictly defined than ever before. As
result the Sauate's disposition to usuIl
powers that do not belong to it on,
more than 20 the other house Of Con
/ gres4 will be effectu3ilY cuTbed. TEa
is a gain which the cause of good gov
ernmput Will secure should he cOnfiI5
inaugurated by Senator Edmunds b
carried to the bitter end PlilQd'
I Prr0rT