Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-04-01
THE GREAT DEBATE ENDED
TaE REs0, UrJ0AS OF MIR. ED
MUaDS AOOPTED.
NV. Edau".'- nsd var. Graf E-ea age
i'm "a p"ba'r-sp ",ss.- b. res.s I.
Ingalls,. Vi asrrIsOn aud I.ps s..

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WASHINGTON, March "a The da,s.i,. n
the Edmunds' resolutions Ia dug. WAS
opened by MIR. Morgan OF Alabama. whD
was followed by Senator Mitchell OF Org M
and Senator Hoar. The latter took NJ the
question OF the power Of removal and
said that the Democrats were diverting do
bate from the true issue, which WAS the
right Of the Senate to have the papers, and
were arguing In defence OF what three-
fourhs of the Republicans admitted, the
Presidents right to make removals.
Mr.. Gray was glad to hear Mr.. Hoar say
that he agreed with the contention OF
Democratic senators as to the power OF re-
moval. Mr.. Gray was therefore mystitied
at MIR. Hoar's remarks In view of the reso-
luton which asserted 1t to be the duty Of
the Senate under the circumstances to re-
fuse assent to proposed removals OF officers.
MIR. Hoar said he could clear up the mys-
tery. The President was netting under u
statute when he said: 'By virtue OF such
statute, ! have suspended A." The Conati-.
tuition gave tin' President IL" IHiw.-r 10 sus-
pend IN officer; and the power .f su-Is4,l
sion was never derived bv Mali ON from ;i,u \
power OF appointment. 1t itros, iini.r ttlT
law AS long ny this litw was nn the is,uh
and the Presfdent, br virtuss VI II asked ihu
Senate TO cohs"nt I"H rr,posei rm,uvel.
was the Senate nOt ,sOrsriird bs tlf'. law A-
much as the President? -i.1lsi
Mr.. Harris duni,gi tliit the Irusid,I,t ,,,.r +
asked the SenEie's consent TO stspen-ioii
OF removal de only asked their action oh
nomination Of n successor to Or y. sns-
pended or removed.
A colloquy ensued between Nj ssrs. H,mr
and Gray, in which the former tried to pin
the latter down to discussing the question
OF the senate's right to demund oiiiritd
papers from the departments.
Mr.. Edmunds called Mr.. Gray's attention
to some messages from the President that
had come in within ten days, reidiug ~
follows: II nominate A B to be collector
of customs at (for example) Memphis,
Tenn, In the place OF @ ID, whose removal
Tor cause is hereby proposed" What dill
that mean? Mr.. Edmunds asked md whar
did 1t mean that in other messages the
words "for cause" were struck out and the
message made to read: Il noinilnltt A 3 in
the place OF O ID, whose removal (leuvints
out the words for cause) Is hereby pro-
posed?
Mr.. Gray understood this TO mean simply
that the President proposed to Remove "a
or b. and did not invite the Sennte's par-
tieipation.
Mr.. Butler wished to wif the messages
to were re41 in open session.
Mr.. ,Edmunds-"The messages ara not.
But the Senate rules provide in express
terms that they are not secret
Mr.. Gray contended that the form OF the
Presidents message was not 10 be taken us
m exposition of the Constitution. and that
Mr.. Edmunds' construction OF the phrase
referred to was forced. 1t simply meant
lint the President proposed TO remove him.
Mr.. Edmunds-tiMay / ask the senator
from Delaware what he supposes to be the
status Of A In the meantime. Is helm -
office or out OF ofiice--the person whose
for cause is proposed ?"
Mr.. Gray-s'He is removed Just as soon as
he other man is confirmed. >"
Mr.. Edmunds-"Yes, but not befose.
That is exaetly our position. [Great
aughter.]
Mr.. Gray-"The senator from Vermont
proposes in this soeratic way to make the
point that the nomination Of person TO
AXE the place of one whom the President