The Harrison times. (Harrison, Boone Co., Ark) 1876-1938, 1886-03-20
our WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d, C., March u, 's6.

ca thts week, and great interest Is
felt in the discussion Of the Preai-
dental prerogatiye. For more
than two weeks nearly every Sena=
tor ON both sides Of the chamber
has been at work preparing for
the conflict growing out OF the re-
fusal of the Administration to
send to the Senate papers and IN
formation bearing upon the sus-
pension of officials and touching
the appointment of their success
ors.
Probably no such thorough over
hauling and minute examination
of historical documents has ever
before been made with reference
to this question. Consequently as
one Senator expresses it both sides
"were loaded to the muzzle with
material for the performance
which is now i'll progress. 1t was
to have begun ON Monday, but the
"star', Mr.. Edmunds, plead sore
throat and the people went away
disappointed. He kept his en-
gagement for the following day,
however, and promptly at the ap-
pointed hour, arose with an inn
posing pile Of manuscript before
him his presidents to support his
position which he used freely
during his speech of two hours
and q half.
When it was learned in the
House of Representatives that
Mr. Edmunds was actually dis
charging his long loaded broad
side at the White House, mem
bers poured into the Senate Cham
Der and filled the space in rear OF
the Senator's desks. The only
vacant seat on the floor was heayi-
ly draped with black. 1t was that
OF the California Senator, Mr..
Miller, who had died the day be-
fore.
Mr.. Edmunds, in his speech,
which had attracted much atteH-
ton, and which will be generally
discussed throughout the country,
made, as was expected, the best of
his weak side of the controversy.
He took such precedents as best
suited him and handled them with
ingenuity.
He was most speeious perhaps
in saying that the Senate does not
ask the Presidents reason for
making removals, but simply for
the papers of every description
relating to suspended officials. In
saying this he admits that should
papers which the Senate wants be
forthcoming, they would show the
very confidential reasons which lie
disclaims any intention ON the
part of the Senate to demand.
Mr.. Edmunds said with a sheer,
that the most conspicuous result of
improved methods Of Government
under the reform Administration
was the suppression of official pa
pers. AT this point Senator Beck
caused a smile to ripple over the
audience by remarking in an I'M
dertone, but loudly enough to be
heard half across the chamber,
that it "was a clear case of a fly
on barn door" You remember
the Vermont leader has been ac-
cused of seeing a fly on a barn
door when he could not see the
door.
AS yet only Senator Pugh OF
Alabama, has replied to Mr.. Ed
muud's speech. Mr.. Pugh show
ed among other things that the
papers called for by Senator
Thurman when chairman of the
judiciary Committee, in case of
suspension, related to territorial
court, and thai tbs tenure Of Of
fee act especially exempts Judi
cial officers from those to be sus-
pended by the President. Mr..
Edmunds has been followed by
Senator Wilson of Iowa and SenG-
tors Ingalls, and Eyerts will be
next to support him. On the
Democratic side Senators, Eoma,
Beck and jackson will be among
champions Of the Administration.
A prominent Democratic lawyer
of this city who was talking on