Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-13
be an official paper subject to any uses to
which he chose to subject 1t

Suppose some vile man should addres
to the presiding officer of the Sena'e o
should have done 60 some weeks ago, q lei
ter in which he stated that the Preslden
pro tsmpore was behind the times, that tn
Senator from Vermont was moving IN I'D
vance on this mstter--thst it was popu
lar issue among the people. promising 4
retain large number of Republicans II
responsible and lucrative positions-shoul'
say: Don't allow him to take the advance
look to the approaching national con
vsntion in 1888, look to your laurels-tsk'
the floor yourself
"Bat the question is not up"
Take the floor yourself"
"Bat the Senator from Vermont has no
yet prepared his report"
Take the floor yourself. This issue
must be mel"
"But there is nothing pending in the
Senate on which to take the floor, unless il
be the silver resolution OF the Senator
from Louisiana."
Take it notwithstanding"
WOULD BE "oFFICIAL" PAPERS.
Suppose some vile man-and be would
be vile TO write such letter-should have
addressed communication OF that char
acter to the President pro tempore IN bis
official capacity That paper, according
to the definition, would be paper OF
which the Senate and the House OF Repre-
sentatives and the whole Government
would be entitled to. Suppose some other
vile man should have addressed letter
TO the presiding officer OF the body,
in which he declared that the Pres
ident of the United States in
his civil service communication
had declared that the Senator who took
the initistion in framing and maturing the
issue with the executive which should have
the practical effect OF enabling the Repub-
licsn majority on the floor OF the Senate
to stand between those who hold Office,
hariag got it under former Administra.
tion,, and those who aspire TO hold office
under the present Administration, would
advance himself with that vast army Of
political implements" that letter, too.
wou'd be an official paper under the def
nitioa laid down by the Senator tron Yer
mont.
EDMUNDs BEATEN POINT BY POINT.
Mr.. Eeuna went on to controvert the
argument of Mr.. Eimunds point BY point,
citing precedeuces and circumstances 10
sustain his views.
"Of course," Mr. Kenna said, mo man
denied the right of the Senate to call on
the President for private psper-eVen a
private letter in his pocket-but no ration
al man would deny the President the equal
right to decline to send it if he chose SO to
do"
Mr. Kenns would say, however, that
communications had been made over and
over again during this session of the
Senate by the present Executive
department touching matters involved in
this controversy. The Senator from Ken
tucky (Mr. Beck, and from Indiana, / Mr..
Voorhees,. knew OF cases from their States
and Mr.. Kenns knew ofa case from hls
own State as to which calls had been made
by the Senate touching the conduct Of an
officer before the present Incumbents ss-
sumed their functions, and the papers were
sent 10 the Senate az the Executive had
right to send them on request but that fact
had nothing to do with the sentiment OF
the issue before the Senate. 1t had no
more TO do with this issue than the offer Of
the man who stole the pig to produce
thirty meE Who had not seen him steal it
SOME soCEDoLAGER PREoEDENTs.
The Presidents precedents which went
10 establish the constitutional prerogatiVes,
were those in which the President had
denied the right of the Senate to review
such papers.
Mr. kenna quoted from message Of
President Grant to the House Of Repre-.
sen.a,ives dated May !, 1876, declining to
furnish certain information which he said
related exclusively to the Executive fanc-
ton.
he alse read letter fcom Mr. Sherman,
yhsp Secretary of the Treasury, relating
TO the removal OF Mr.. Arthur from the
Col!ectorship OF New fork, the letter being
addressed to Mr.. Conkling ss chair
man of 8 committee. Ia that let
ter Mr.. Sherman said TO mske official re-
ply would compel him to disclose matters
contained in papers Of confidential chsTac-
ter Eisd X to department and require
him 10 discuBs 9lssLcI 'tQts' II imms-
,s, al to The nominations sent 10 the Ser
ate" also that IL IL Law requires the Pfe'i
dent to give reasons, etc.
Mr.. Keuna continuing said: The
issue after sil Rss whether Democratic
administration should appropriately
perform its functions in the face of a negs-
tive, obstructive majority on the other side
of the chamber (Applsuse in the CALLER
les. which drew from the occupant ct the
chair, Mr.. Blackburn, the admoniuon that
evidences Of approval or disapproVal were
not allowed
IT'S THE POPULAR WILL.
The people, Mr.. KeGna continued, were
unable 10 change their officials except
through the Executive. When the people
elected Grover Cleveland to the Presiden-
cy it vas IOr the purpose OF
ehecting such change as would
make the Government confirm to the pop
ul6f Wll,-lL was bhsAt tuC AOA HOA AAnA AoASsaS
aud collectors and pcstmssters and consuls
and ministers should go so far as necessary
and that if necessary to carry out the
purpose of the Governments in good faith,
then that they should Gil go,
Mr.. Keuua then discussed the question
of sound civil service in connection with
Mr.. Clevelsnd's public utteranceS, compar,
ing those u,terances with deliberations Of
the early authorities of our government
particularly Jefferson, and finding, he ssid,
Mr.. CleyeIsrds declarations in no way
disparsged bY comparison.
he then toek up Ar. Elsire's neg boosr
TWENTY YEARS IN CONGRESS-"
and read number of spicy extracts from
the tenure of Office act The writer OF that
look, Mr.. Kenns said, came within a
thousand voies o. being the object OF this
warfare" on the executive power, toT o.
course the war would have come ell the
same.
The galleries relishsd the extracts
though hsrdly more so thar
the Senators-the occupsuts ot
both the aoor and galleries indulgipg il
considerable laughter over Mr.. Blaine
caustio comments on heststssmsnship in
yolved in the passage and attempted repea
of the tenure Of Office act.
IL IL A