New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-16
THE S4NoAN COMMISSIONERS.

The Republican Administration is willing to
divide with the Senate the responsibility for
diplomatic action. The three commissi Oners
who are to represent the United States at the
Samoan Conference are regularly nominated,
and the Senate in confirming the appointments
will express its approval Of this method Of ne
gotiating settlement Of existing complica-
tons. The Democratic Administration did not
adopt similar course in the fisheries negotia-
tons. 1t did not consult the Senate when IL
appointed the three commissioners who were
associated with Mr.. Chamberlain, Sir Charles
Upper and Lord Sackville. The names OF
the American commissioners were not sent to
the Senate because the Administration pre-
ferred to negotiate treaty on it's own account.
The commission met only a few days before
Congress reassembled. 1t would have been
easy to defer the diplomatic consultations until
the Senate had acted upon the nominations
but the Democratic Administration had reason
to apprehend adverse action. The Senate had
previously condemned the policy Of arbitration
and had presented Retaliation as the proper
alternative. In order to negotiate his treaty
Mr.. Bayard was compelled TO have his COM
missioners named while the Senate was not in
session, and TO enlarge the Presidents consti-
tudonal power Of filing vacancies 30 as to in
clude the creation of three new Offices. BY
these disngenuous and unwarr&ntable methods
the Democratic Administration contrived to
dispense with the action of the Senate. The
new Administration follows the older and bet
ter precedent Of consulting the Senate at the
outset and receiving direct approval Of its
diplomatic methods.
When the second Adams was President a
commission was appointed without the consent
Of the Senate to attend South American Con-
gress. The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
lations subsequently condemned this method Of
procedure as unconstitutional. Senator Macon
in his report remarked that it was generally
difficult and sometimes impossible to escape
from the embarrasSments produced by the mere
act Of entering into negotiation. and " that
II is much better to abstain from doing so until
It's objects are distinctly known and approved
than to conide in the power of the Senate in
the last resort to refuse their assent TO the
ratification OF treaty. The Senate in the
present instance has the opportunity of express
Ing an opinion respecting the expediency of
entering into negotiations respecting Samoa.
II it confirms the nominations after the recent
investigation of the Committee on Foreign Re
lations, it will sanction the policy of resnminc
the sessions of the conference after the serious
act which Mr.. Bayard neglected to, resent
when the German feet took possession of the
islands and deposed Malietoa. In that event
1t will decide that while there may have been
an urgent necessity for action two years ago,
the time was allowed TO pass without naval
demonstration that would have yindicated the
honor Of the country and that the reassem-
bling OF the conference is now the best pos
sible expedient for effecting'a pacific settle
n'ent Of the Samoan controversy The con-
armation Of the nominations will involve d.
rect sanction Of the objects TO be secured by
the United States BY diplomatic action at the