Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-30
ESTABLISHED 1850.
J.H. BSTILLs Editor and Proprietor.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
TIE INFORMATION ASKED FOR
DECLINED.


The Senate Seeking Direct Refusal
to Furnish the Documenta-Whs a
I;apublican Senator Has To Say About
it-Mr. Platt's Resolution to Discuss
Nominations in Open Session-Mr.
Cleveland Courts the Severest scrutiny.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Mr. Vest, OF
Missouri, talked until O'Clock in tho
Senate this afternoon on the Dakota bill,
and then the Senators were hungry and
went home to dinner. But Mr.. Vest
would have stopped long bofore if the Re-
publican Senators had been ready TO con-
slider the reply Of the Attorney General
10 the Edmunds resolution. The Repub-
lican Senators were not ready to consider
1t, and so it was allowed to lie over until
Monday. Meanwhile the Republican ana
Democratic Senators will talk the situa-
tion over in formal or informal conference.
A well informed Republican Senator, IN
a conversation this evening, indicated the
probable course Of his party colleagues in
the Senate. He said that Mr. Edmunds,
as the leader Of the Republicans, had
notified not only the Republicans, but the
Democrats of the Senate that he proposed
TO fight right on on his present line until
the information about the Presidents sus-
pensions was given, and that the Senate
wanted
A DIRECT REFUSAL TO GIvEIr
from the President himself. The Senator
also said that he thought the Republicans,
aided perhaps by Democrat or two,
Z could put through Platts resolution,
offered to-day, providing Tor the considera-
tiOn of nominations in open session. He
thought that nearly all the Republicans
would vote for the Platt resolution.
If it was adopted the Republicans would
then again call for the information ABOUT
suspensions which had been denied them
by the administration, and if it was again
refused 1t would be in a position to dis
cuss the refusal much more effectively
than now. OF course, he said, the whole
purpose OF Mr.. Edmunds and the others
who had led the Republicans into this
movement, was to show that the Pres-
dent had made changes in the offices for
purely political reasons, and show il they
would if the Senate should decide
20 consider nominations in open
sessions, they would still be
executive sessions so long as they were
devoted to executive business. That be-
ing the case the Attorney General or the
President would probably decline to fur
Hish information in response to the Ed
munds resolution should it be adOpted at
such time, because it would be a leCls-
latlNe reS0luJiOn only 10 DE recognized
when adopted at a legislative session. 1t
is needless to say that the President
would not object to having his nOmina-
tiOns discussed in open session, however
much 1t might trouble some Democratic
Senators, who have been TOO liberal with
recommendations to office. The Presi-
dent courts the seVerest scrutiny of his
nominations.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALS LETTER.
The Attorney General, after acknowl-
edging the receipt OF the resolution in
question, says; "In response 30 said
resolution, the President OF the United
States directs me to say that the papers
which were in this department relating to
the fitness of j. ID. Bennett, recently nom
mated to the said Office having heen
already sent to the Judiciary Committee Of
the Senate, and the papers and documents
which are mentioned in said resolution
and still remaining in the custody Of this
department having exclusive reference
to the suspension by the President Of
George NJ. Dustin, late incumbent OF the
Office of the District Attorney Of the United
States for the Southern district OF Ala
hama, it is not considered that the public
interests will be promoted by compliance
with the said resolution and .he transmits
sion OF the papers and documents therein
mentioned to the Senate in execu tive ses-
SION. Very respectfully,
~. II. GARLAND,
attorney General"