Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-02-05
SENATOR INGALLS, OPINION.

The Difference Existing Between the
Senate and the President Relative
to Appointments.
Washington, Feb. Senator Ingalls,
makes very clear statement regarding
the relations between the president and
the senate:
$50 far as L am aware no issue has
been joined" he said. az am not adj
Vlsed that any request has been made to
HIM with which he has declined to cum
ply. What may occur in the future I
have no means of knowing. Of course,
1t is always the unexpected that hap
pens; but the assumptions OF the press,
about which so much comment has re-.
Gently been made, SO far as am advised,
are without foundation. belong to
that school of republicans which believes
that President Cleveland in the discharge
of his duties should have the revenue
collected and disbnrsed and the practi-
cal operations of his government con-
dncted by his party friends
and those who are politically IN
sympathy with him. Regarding
the doctrine of civil service reform as
announced by its apostles as pernicious,
and considering the tenure OF Office act
to be unlawful, conoede the power of
the president to make such changes in
the patronage of the different executive
departments OF the government, as he
deems best. think the republicans of
Kansas and of the west generally main
tain similar views and that they feel that
when the political power of the govern
ment was copfided to President Cleve-
land general change in the public SER
vice was anticipated. l am ready and
willing to vote for the confirmation of
any OF Mr.. Cleveland's appointments,
where the persons nominated are COM
petent and qualified an the place of q
suspended republican, if it is understood
that the incumbent is suspended for po.
litical reasons only. and not for causes
involving either personal integrity or
official conduct. The embarrassment in
which and those who think with me
are placed result from the
fact that Mr.. Cleveland, in
many public declarations, notably
in his letter of acceptance, IN his letters
to civil service reform associations and
other utferances since his inauguration,
has stated that removals would not be
made for political reasons merely, but
incumbents whose discharge of their
duties had been satisfactory would be
permitted to continue in office until the
end OF their terms, regardless of the fact
that they were republicans. In my own
state many republicans remain in office
to this day, and Others have been sus-
pended. The inference has been ire
slstIbls that in the case of those who
have been suspended, il Mr.. Cleveland's 8
declarations were sincere, some charges
of personal or official misconduct must
have been preferred and sustained. In
justice, therefore, to those whom rep
resent, and to protect their regulations
from diehonor, see no escape from the
conclusion that / am entitled to know
what accusations have been made
to the end that if my friends
have been unjnstiy assailed they
may have an opportunity of being
heard in their defence. There is another
aspect of the case in which this lnforma
tion is essential. Should the senate
neglect or refuse to confirm the nomina-
tions OF those persons designated in the
place of others who have been suspen-
ded, thea upon the adjournment of the
senate the suspended person iS by oper-
alton of law reinstated. In voting on
these nominations, therefore, / have
practically two functions to discharge.
First, to inquire the fitness of the desig.
mated persons, and second as to the acts
and conduct of the suspended person
because if the person suspended is unfit
for the place or incompetent to discharge
his duties, l do not want to reinstate
him, as l shonld practically do by re.
fusing to vote for the person nominated
in his place"
"What would be the practical result il
the senate ,sbculd call on the president
for information on these cases, and Ii
Oh rafnpa fr, on,,.pIr xr,kk tho -,