Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-19

hoidl tacts or information, existing either IN
the departments created by law or within his
own possession could, save as before stated,
&c withheld from either of the Houses OF
Congress, although such facts or information
sometimes involved very intricate ana deli
cate matters OF foreign affairs, as well as
sometimes history aud the conduct of officers
connected with the administration Of affairs.
THE DEDUCTIONS.
After citing long array Of precedents
bearing upon the question at issue the
report proceeds:
But it would seem to be needless TO array
further precedents out OF the vast mass that
exists in the journals of both houses, covering,
probably, every year of the existence of the
government. Practical construction of the
constitution in these Respects by all branches
OF the government for so long period would
seem, upon acknowledged principles, to
settle what are the rights and powers of the
two houses of Congress in the exercise of their
respective duties covering every branch OF the
operations of the government, and 1t Is
submitted with confluence that such rights
aud powers are indispensable to the dis
charge or their duties, and do not infringe
any right OF the Executive, and that IL does
not belong to either the heads of the DEPART
ments or to the President himself to take into
consideration any supposed motives or pur-
poses that either house may have in calling
Tor such papers, or whether their possession
or knowledge of their contents could be ap-
Piled by either house to useful purposes.
MONTHS NOMINATIONS.
1t appears from the table herewith submit
ted that out OF l.4s5 nominations sent to the
Senate during the first thirty days of this ses-
slon-that ls from the first Monday in Decem-
bers 1885 TO Jan. j, lSS6-6A5 were nominations
Of persons proposed to be appointed in place
of officers suspended and proposed to be re-
moved land OF whom II 10 known that some
are soldiersl and IN re peot Of whom the ac-
tion OF the Senate in advising and consentlng
to the proposed appointment would AFFECT a
removal, and in respect of whom failure or
the Senate TO advise and consent to such re-
their offices at the end of the session, except
in cases in which the terms OF some OF them
should have previously expired. Is 10 not de-
sirable and necessary to the proper perform
ance of its duties and in every respect OF
public interest that the simple facts in regard
to what the conduct of these officials, as well
as in regard to what the conduct of the per
sons designated to perform their duties has
been, should be made known to the Senator
SEEKING THE CAUSE.
Have these suspended officials or anv con-
siderable number of them been guilty Of mis-
conduct in Office or of any personal conduct
making them unworthy to be longer trusted
with the performance OF the duties imposed
upon them by the law2 II they have it would
seem to be clear that every consideration OF
public interest and OF public duty would re-
quire that the facts should be made known In
order that the Senate may understandingly
and promptly advise their removal, and that
most careful scrutiny should be had
in respect of selecting their successors
as well as in respect OF providing better
means and safeguards by legislation for ad
ministerng the laws Of the United States.
such information, it would seem. the EXecu-
tive is determined the Senate shall not pos
sess, for the alleged reason that IT might en-
able the Senate to understand what circum-
stances connected with the faithful execution
of the laws induced the President to exercise
the discretion the statute confers upon him,
to suspend them, and ask to unite with hin
in their removal from office.
IN IT'S SIMPLEST FORM.
Reduced to its simplest form, the PROPOSE
ton would be that neither the President nor
head OF department is bound to communi-
cate any official paper to either house OF
Congress which might Graw into question in
the minds of It's members or Of the people the
wisdom or fairness Of his acts. But the COM
mittee is of the opinion that in matters OF this
nature the Senate has little concern with the
reasons or motives either of the heads of de-
partments or Of the Executive, but It has large
concern that its owns reasons and grounds
of action should rest upon and be drawn
1t does its duty and preserves the
independence that belongs to 1t must act
upon it's own reasons and Judgment, and not
upon those of the President, however valuable
they may be. If the truth regarding the con-
duct of these officials and designated persons
were known the question Of the Senate would
be not what were the reasons or motives of the
Executive, but whether the facts themselves,
as they took place. would furnish it with suf-
fcient reasons for giving or Withholding its
advice and consent to the proposed changes.
CLEvELAND'S CIVIL SERVICE PLANK.
The report quotes from President Cleve-
lands message that portion devoted to
the civil service, and proceeds to say:
This highly important and valuable official
communication in the presence of 643 sus-
10.
conclusion that this number of civil officers
of the United states selected 70 be suspended
and removed had been so derelict in the per-
fOrmance of their functions or guilty Of such
personal misconduct AS TO put them In the
category of unfaithfUl public servants, de-
serving dismissal by the President and Senate
and the condemnation Of their countrymen.
FAIR PLAY PRETEEsEs.
In such state of things we think that the
common sense of Justice and fair play that IS
so mnch priced as we believe by the people of
the United States, would require that in some
way this large body OF men should have an
opportunity 10 know the substance of iheiral-
legged mlsdOings in order that they NAV either
admit their guilt or denying II, explain their
conduct or show that the accusations against
them were selfish and wicked pretexts set up
for the mere purpose OF obtaining their sus-
pension and ultimate dismissal from office, in
order that others less capable and worthy
might at once receive the hOnors and emOlu-
ments Of their places. 1t is known
to senator bos mat so 50 Sotb far aS
removals and appointments, it has for great
number OF years been its practice when any
officer or person was before II for removal or
appointment. against whom any serious ac-
cusRtion has been made which would II true
influence the action OF the Senate In the case,
10 cause the person concerned to be informed
OF the substance of the complaint against
him, and give him an opportunity 10 defend
himself and it is also known that at this very
session a very considerable number OF in-
stances of that kind have occurred and are
daily occurring.
II the senate is proceeding upon false
priBeiple ia such Instances IL Is nigh time that
It's course in these respects should be reversed,
and that hereafter Il should act upon such
accusations without any knowledge other
than that derived from the accusers, and
leave the victims OF such injustice 10 console
themselves with the reelection that all parties
are now engaged In an effort TO reform the
government.
WHY THE SUPPRESSION?
why should the facts - they may appear
from the papers on Ale be suppressed? is it
because that, by being brought TO II ight, 10 would
appear that malice and misrepresentation and
perjury are somewhat abundant, ormerely
that faithful and competent and honorable
officers have been suspended and are proposed
10 bo removed, under the advice and consent
OF the Senate, in order that places may be
found for party men because they are party
men, or are special objects Of party favorf
How does it happen that, ia this
time OF suggested reform and purer
methods in government for the first time it's
thought important that historic and admins
trativc facts relating TO the Oihcial and per-
snv.f gouduef ~ o0Iaara of the Ifuftod 9faLna