Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-03
SENATE AND PRESIDENT.
AN OPEN DEBATE TO BE HAD ON
THE CONTROVERSY.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.--In the Senate |
to-day Mr.. RiddIeberger offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
ReSolUed, That it is the sense of the Senate |
that the Executive of the United States is not l.
restricted by constitutional law in removing /
or suspending appOintees; that the Senate has |
no right to require that reasons shall be given |
lor such removals or suspensions; that It Is |
the right OF the Senate TO call for any paper |
relating TO the conduct of removed or sus- |
pended appointed or to the qualification and |
fitness of all persons whose names are pre-
sented to the Senate for confirmation or re- |
lection, and it is the duty Of the Executive to !
comply with all demands for the same.
Mr.. RIDDLEBERGER's OBJECT.
In offering the resolution Mr.. Riddle |
berger said his purpose was simply TO |
bring the subject up in open debate. 1t
did not involve any so called high prerog- |
ative of the Senate when it should go into |
secret or executive session, but only the
abstract question as to whether the Ex-
ecutive could be called on or required to |
give reasons for removals. Mr.. Riddle |
berger asked for immediate consideration |
Of the resolution.
Mr.. Cockrell objected.
Mr. Pugh said he would submit sub !
stitute for MIR. Riddleberger's resolu ton. |
The matter here went over.
MR.. PUGH's SUBSTITUTE.
Mr.. Pugh subsequently submitted his |
substitute for the RiddleDerger resolution |
and asked that it be presented and left |
over till tomorrow. Mr.. Pugh's substi- |
tute is as follows:
l. That executive power is expressly vested |
by the constitution IN the President of the |
United States so that he shall take care that |
the laws be faithfully executed.
2. That power OF appointment to Federal |
Office is an executive power to be exercised bv |
the President under the limitation in the con- |
stitutiOn that he shall nominate, and by and |
with the advice and consent of the Senate, |
shall appoint.
3. That the power OF removal or suspension |
from the pc ers and duties of Federal Office |
Is also an executive power, vested exclusively |
n the President, without amy such limitation |
IN the constitution as is imposed thereby on /
The power of appointment, and for its eXer-
else he is responsible alone to the people, and |
not TO the Senate.
SEPARATE RIGHTS.
4. That the right OF the President to make /
nominations to the Senate, and of the Senate to |
advise and consent thereto, are each separate |
and independent rights to be exercised by the |
President and senate respectively. and sepa- |
rately and independently within their .nsO-
lutte discretion, but in relation to the person |
or persons so nominated the Senate may re- |
quest information Of the President affecting !
tine character or qualifications of those as 10 |
consent OF the Senate.
8. That when the President makes nomIna-
tiOns to the Senate of persons to be appointed |
by him to exercise the mowers and duties of |
Federal officers who have been removed or
suspended by him, no law, public duty. or |
public policy requires that he snail send or
communicate to the senate any cause, reason
or information within his own knowledge or |
contained in any letters, petitions. papers or
documents addressed to hm or any member |
OF his Cabinet, or in possession Of either, and
laff inn Off rtIa
siOns or containing charges, causes or reasons |
and proof thereof for making such removals
or suspensions, aud no Law, public duty or
J ublic policy requires or authorizes the SEN
ate to call for such information existing in
any such form from the President
or any member Of his Cabinet
TO enable the Senate TO review or question |
the action Of the President Ia exercising his
executive, discretionary ami exclusive power
OF removing or suspending Federal officers |
from the powers and duties of their offices or
10 enforce accountability 60 the Senate for /
anything he may have done in the exercise of |
such jurisdiction.
THE RIGHT TO ASK.
6. That TO obtain Information considered by |
either house of Congress useful IN passing
necessary and proper laws, either house OF |
Congress may request the President, IT not |
deemed by him Incompatible with the public
interest to give any information with
any public documents or records,
on hle or in the lawful custody of any OF the
departments, and relating TO the administra-
tiOn Of anv public office, 'Or the official con-
duct or acts affecting the official conduct or
duties OF any public officer; but for the Senate
70 make such request Of she President, OF to
direct any member Of his Cabinet to transmit
10 the senate any information or any public
documents or papers IN open or executive
session to enable the senate, ia open or exec
utve session. To review the proprety, or rea-
son, or information upon winch he acted. or
may have acted. in making removals or aue-
pensions would be au attempt to obtain such
information by false pretenses aud for uses
and purposes not authorized or justified by
any law or public policy Of the United states,
and should the President grant such request
or require any members OF his Cabinet 70 obey
such direction from the Senate when deemed
10y him 10 be made for such unjustiiiable and
unlawful uscs and purposes would be to rec
ognize and encourage an improper practice
and an Injurious innovation upon his eXolu-
eive and independent rights powers and du-
ties as President Of the United States.
HoAR DISTRESSED.
Mr.. H0ar inquired whether the request
10 print included the printing OF the
stump speech in the body OF the resOlu-
tionY
Mr.. ingalls, gave police that when the
original and substitute resolutions should
come up tomorrow, he would move 10 re-
fer them TO the Committee on Privileges
ana Elections for further consideration.
The resolution, according 70 request,
was laid over till tomorrow.
The resolutions OF Messrs. Riddleberger
and Pugh will come uD for consideration
In the morning hour tomorrow, and Mr..
logan will have the floor at O'clock on
the Dakota bill.
THE PROBABLE OUTCOME.
The Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tions will report favorably substitute
for both resolutions, which will probably |
be drawn by senator Hoar, chairman OF
the committee, aud.will set forth the stall
wart Republican position on the question
OF the relations between the President and
the Senate, respecting suspensions and
removals and appointments. This reso-
luton will be considered In open session,
which will at once enable the stalwart
Republican Senators 90 relieve their
minds OF their opinions about the Presi-
dent, and enable them (so they think)
TO compel Mr.. Van Wyck ana
one or two other Republicans OF whose
support they do not ieel certain. 10 vote
for the resolution. II the same PROPOSE
tiOn were 10 come up IN executive session
they would feel less sure OF some OF their
colleagues. But In open session, with
the yeas ana nays ordered, they think
that every Republican would be In line.
Meanwhile the Judiciary Committee will
probably pursue the Attorney General
aud the President on the case Of the |