Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1886-04-16
WASHINGTON.
Lengthy Debate Upon the Open Execu-
tive Session Resolution.

Mr.. Platt took the hOOr on the resolution
relating to open executive sessions. The
question was a political one, he said, but in
no sense question of party politics. 1t
arose above all party questions. It was the
most important question of administrative
reform to which the senate could at this
time devote its attention. Among other
things Mr.. Platt said: "There are two
words which the people of the country
want to see expunged from the political
vocabulary. Those words are sprerogatiYe'
and privilege and if it were not for being
alliterative would say two other
words patronage and 'perquitites,' which
the people want to have CO. People desires
to have done with them, and the senate
had better have done with them. This is
no place to assert prerogatives. We had
better stand pretty close to the people, and
trust the people, if we want them to trust
us. The public sentiment and the senti-
ment Of the press" he said. sis for open ses-
sions; of the 140OO newspapers in the coun-
try, fully 10000 have declared for open ses-
sions." He asked the senators to endeavor
to realize how the people regarded secret
sessions. He did not know how
much or how little of what the
newspapers printed about executive ses-
sions was true, but he was justified in say
ing, that the secrets got out to greater or
less extent; mixed as they might be with
the fertile imaginations ofreporters. Never
theless no senator could deny that, either
through some senators or officers of the
senate, the secrets got out, aud Mr.. Platt
did not by that mean to cast the slightest
suspicion on the officers of the senate.
Mr.. Platt then took up the subject from a
civil service point of view, and claimed
that civil service was mockery and
sham, without open consideration of nomi-
nations for offices made to the senate.
On motion OF Mr.. Butler, house bill was
passed authorizing the secretary of war to
deliver to the lawful owners, on proper
proof, certain classes of property captured
in the late war, consisting of family heir
looms, silverware, watches, etc.
The fisheries resolution was then placed
before the senate. The resolution was de-
bated at length by senators Frye, Morgan,
Gray and Evans, brought to vote and
agreed to-yeas, 35; nays, 10.
OF the affirmation votes, twenty-six were
republican and nine democratic.
The resolution declares it to be the sense
Of the senate that congress should not pro-
vide for any joint commission to consider
and settle the fisheries question.
The interstate commerce bill was then
placed before the senate, in order that it
may have right of way at 2 o'clock tomor-
row.
adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE,
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia, called up as privi-
legged question the Ohio election case of
Hurd VS.. ROmeiS. In this case three re-
ports were submitted by the committee on
elections; the majority report confirming
the right Of the contestee, Romeis, to his
seat, minority report unseating the sitting
member and declaring Hurd entitled to the
seat, and another minority report taking
the ground that neither contestant nor con-
testee is duly elected. After debate and
without action on the report, the house ad-
journed.
MANNING'S INTENTIONS.
The nearest friends of Secretary Man
ming say til settled that he will not at
tempt to resume his duties in the treasury
department, if, as now seems probable, he
shall partly recover his health One Of his
near friends thinks when his physicians
will permit him to travel he will take sea
voyage, and that he will then be ap-
pointed minister to Austria. The climate
of Austria is healthful one, and Vienna
is near to the healing springs of Europe
.Mr. Manning's appointment" said this
gentleman, "would be very pleasantly re-
ceived by Austria, and would help to re-
move the slight differences that have ex-
listed since the Kiely incident" "
SECRETARY MCCORMACK CONFIRMED. =.
The following were confirmed today:
John 4. McClernand to be member the
board of registration and election in
Utah; N. l.. Mccormack. of Dakota, to be
secretary of Dakota; n. G. Barney. Of
Washington territory, receiver at Spokane
Falls, Washington territory: F. j. Parke
of West Virginia, principal clerk of public
lands in the general land Office; NJ. D. Bald
win, of Ohio, agent of the Blackfeet agency,
Montana; E. B. Miller. postmaster at Pierre,
Dakota, also ten postmasters in Wisconsin.
A large number of naval appointments
were also confirmed. Z.
The house committee on public lands
has agreed to report favorably Mr.. Pay
sons bill forfeiting the land grant lying
along the uncompleted portion Of the St.
Croix River 6 Lake Superior railroad, and
the bill to forfeit the grant of the Hough-
ton 6 Ontonagon railroad.
The Hon. T.. G.. Johnson, of Ordway,
Oak, was unanimously selected tonight q
member of the national congressional com
mittee, by a joint caucus Of the democrats
of the senate and house