Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-09

! ~-<."S 80 FAoSS 80 business. II
T AS to the exchanging of silver certificates
for silver dollars Mr.. Sherman Thought il
proper the exchange should be madeD by the
8 treasury As the banks did not ordinarily have
: accommodations for keeping large masses of
siiver dollars. IL the banks were compelled
10 thds hoard SILVER dollars il would brng
discredit on those coins. Ii should be right
Tor srocerymen or any other citizen 10 90 TO
, tue suo-tressury and deposit his silver dollars
! there and get silver certificates instead IL
was not right Of the government to refuse TO
give him that accommodation.
Mr.. Morrill--Can he ask for their rea.,n.
l If they refuseg (Lsushter.)
Mr. Shenandoah question of reasons
does not arise here. We can call for reason
J tor any official act. The real question in
that matter Is that we cannot call on the
PRESIDENT for the reason why he removed A
person believe that no Senator denies
thatthe Senate as q legislative BODY can call
tor reasons for any act of the executive de-
partment. When the question was raised
during Hsyes Administration PresidentiIlayes
did what President Cleveland has done, He
SAID that rs coordinate branch OF the gov
ernment he was not 10 give his reasons for
what he had done. think that is right but
that We have a right to seek information of
any department OF the government do not
thnk there Is any doubt whatever. We do
nor cialm 10 exercise any power whatever
over the discretion of the President We
admit, even, that we do not ask for his rea-
son. but we have power to control our own
discretion, and We have a right to all the in-
formation We can get from the executive de.
psrtments to enlighten us. All the same time
we should be TO the president always courte-
Gus, and II he should give any reason Tor
withholding paper. for example, because IL
| N ark pl rnntilantia1 I
10 that
MIR. Pugh-Do you believe the Senate has
right TO call on the President to furnish
the Senate facts or information on which he
acted in making removals or suspensions?
Mr. Shermsn-lf that information il on
the hies OF any department of this govern
ment II is his duty to furnish ii to us.
Mr.. Pugh-llave you the right to make
this call on President for such information
TO enable the Senate TO review his actions in
making removals?
Mr. Shorman-lt is not a question what we
have right to review, but what information
we have right TO get from the executive de-
partment. What we will do with these papers,
whether we will steal them or burn them or
destroy them, we do not allow the executive
department to put an, inquiries to us We
would not put any inquiries to the President
OF the United States, because the independ-
| ence OF that great office demands that he
should not be inquired of for his reasons, IL
demands he should be treated it'll respect, but
every paper on which he acts on in any duty
whatever, executive or legislative, Is ours a.
well as his. Papers filed with him to induce
removal of an officer are the very papers We
ought to consider in question Of appoint
ment. Whether we shall use
them for one purpose or another is not now
m M mutt al. l.
of this government until now these public
archives have been ~ open to the houses Of
Congress Ms to any other department Of tho
government. The law has been kept on
books, unbroken aud unimpaired, by which
the head OF the great department may not
only be compelled to bring all the papers in
his department., private or public but may
be compelled personally to come before
either house to be examined, cross.pxsmincd
and re-eximined. | state to the senators,
as have told some of YOU, probably, that
you are making false issue here that will
some day return TO plague you. | would not
recognize that any paper in the government
is beyond the right OF this body or the other.
They have a plain right to them. They are
charged in the House of Representatives,
with the power of impeaching where the
motives may be inquired into. With this
power to impeach every officer of the United
States. are they not armed with the power Of
ascertaining facts? They legslate on every
question coming under the jurisdiction OF the
United States. Have they not power to inquire
of the department as to matters that may af-
feet their action in the passage of law? SO
in the Senate we have broader power be-
cause we have the power to try impeach-
ments. We are court Of the last resort.
We are executive officials also, because we
: participate to great extent with the presi-
Y dent. No appointment can be made in this
e government except by and with the consent
\ of the Senate. How is that consent to be
: obtained? Is it by a suppression of papers
n OF denial of information2 L. il by mar
r row and false, for may say false, pretext2
o Is it by denying the customs of the century,
. Nol no! We ought to maintain and uphold
e to the utmost the power Of the Senate for in
formation, stopping only at the bounds Of
n courtesy, which the law Of gentlemanly pro-
r prietv imposes upon men not to press an in-
# quiry where it may impair the dignity and
n honor of another branch of the governm ent.
o But short of that, and only short OF that, we
}. are entitled TO all the information contained
: in the departments.
| The debate then closed and the resolution
d of Mr.. Eustis went over until tomorrow.
l. The Senate then at 4. 10 went into execu.
tive session and when the doors re-opened
= adjourned.
y HOUSE.
n Hinder a call of States the following hills