Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-20
MINISTER PHELPS.
THE PRESIDENTS DESIRE TO APP0IHr
him cHIEFJUsTICE.
Reasons Urged Against the Appointment
Southern and Western
Democrats.
From Our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, d. c., April 19.-lt
seemed very probable yesterday that
Minister Phelps would be the next Chief
Justice. The President had expressed
his desire TO appoint him, and nothing
but the vigorous protests Of Democratic
senators prevented the nomination from
being sent in to the Senate. Mr. Phelps
is undoubtedly lawyer Of fine ability,
but when that is said the argument in
his favor is ended Democrats of both
houses, almost without an exception,
dcprecate his selection. They say that
in the first place there is no political
propriety or policy in selecting the
Chief Justice from Vermont, State
which il, and probably will continue
to be. solidly Republican. New Eng
land has one representative in the
person of Justice Gray on the Supreme
bench, and that is her full share. Be-
sides, Senator Edmunds is looked upon
as the sponsor for Mr.. Phelps, and when
he was appointed Minister to England it
was said that Mr.. Edmunds had discov-
cred him and recommended him 10 the
President. 1t is known now that MIR.
Edmunds is warmly urging him for
Chief Justice, and Democrats generally
think that what Mir. Edmuuds wants the
President to do is the very thing he
ought not TO do.
For another reason Mr.. Phelpss name
is objected to- The southern and west
ern Democrats, who constitute the great
bulk of the Democratic party, feel that the
North. East, and Central States are suf-
ficiently represented on the bench, and
that the new appointee ought to come
either from the South or the Northwest.
All these reasons have been urged very
frankly and emphaticslly upon the Presi-
dent. and 1t Is reported that one senator
told him yesterday that while he himself
would feel constrained to vote for Mr..
Phelps if nominated he knew that a large
number Of his Democratic colleagues
would vote against his confirmation.
These representations have had their
effect upon Mr.. Cleveland, and he has
consented to review his decision, with
out. however, committing himself to
change it. Meanwhile efforts are being
made to diminish the opposition mani
tested against him by bringing him into
social contact with the Democratic sena-
tors. Tomorrow night Mr.. Bayard Will
give a dinner to the Minister to which
many of the leading Democratic sena-
tors have been invited.
The committee Of the House Com
mittee on Labor and Education, having
in charge the Blair bill, has de-
termined to report a substitute for that
bill as passed by the Senate. The sub
stitute provides for the use OF the money
realized from the sales of public lands
not exceeding SS,O00,000 in any one
year for educational purposes, the money
10 be distributed among the States ac-
cording to the number OF persons Of
school age.
The House Judiciary Committee agreed
to-day to report fayorably the interna-
tional copyright bill of Mr. Breckln-
ridge. Some of the members, however,
reserved the right to oppose the bill IN
the House If upon consideration they
should desire to do go.
The friends of the river and harbor
bill Will make another effort to pass 1t
before long. They fear that 1t may be
delayed too long to give the Senate and
the President full time for its considera-
tion unless it is passed before the tariff
discussion gets under full Roadway.
Mr.. Palmer, in the Senate this morn
ing reported favorably the bill appropr-
ating $4,000 for a lighthouse at Middle
Ground, Newport News, Va. also, the
billappropriating s35, coo fora lighthouse
at Hollands island bar on the Chesa-
peate bay, Md also bill making an
additional appropriation of $40. 600 for
frst-class lightship at Boush's Bluff
Elizabeth river, Virginia.