The morning news., 1889-03-02
A STAB AT THEIR PARTY.
QUAY HOT OVER TEE REFUSAL
TO CONFIRM NOMINATIONS.

he Describes the Course Persisted in
by the Republican Majority In the
Senate as political Assassination
Cameron Made Furious By the Lash
of Edmunds.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-"Political As
sassinationl" is the striking phrase which
Senator Quay employed in the executive
session of the Senate to describe the conduct
of the republican majority in the Senate in
smothering 300 cr 400 nominations just be-
cause they were sent to the Senate by
democratic President. 1t was part of Sena-
tor Quays declaration of independence
against the caucus decision by which the
republicans undertook to bind all their
men to vote against the consideration of
any Of the pending nominations. Mr.. Rid
dleberger, who is never bound by caucus
decision, has been trying to break through
it so as to confirm William B. Webb to be
commissioner of the District of Columbia,
Adlar e. Stevenson to be judge of
the supreme court of the District Of
Columbia, Hugh s. Thompson to be
civil service commissioner d john E.
hartridge to be Uuited States district jodge
for florida, with some Others less impur-
tant. Mr. Webb would probably rot BE-
confirmed, if his nomination should bs
reached, on acc Junt OF the local feeling
against him; but the others named proba-
bly, would be confirmed on account of their
fitness and personal popularity. Slr. Ste
yenSon, for example, would probably get
five republican votes; but Mr.. Elnunds,
as chairman Of the committee on the judi
cia!y, has been especially s,lff in his deter
mination that none Of the nominations in
his committee, including Messrs. Stevenson
aud Hartridze, should be acted upon.
AN ATTEMPT TO BULLDOZE.
So when Senators Cameron and Quay both
voted with Senator Riddleberger yesterday
to dlschar &c tie Edmunds committee from
consideration of Mr. Hartridges nomina-
ton and the motion was carried, Mr.. Ed
munds was so carried away with indigna-
tion that he lec:ured s natOrs Cameron
and Quay severely in the very presence of
their political opponents. He even threat
ened them that if they voted for the con-
firmatlon Of any democr whom the re-
| publican caucus did not want confirmed
that the republicans would confirm Penn
sylvania nominations bjectionable to them,
especially the appraisers In the Philadelphia
| custom house.
COMERoN's BLOOD UP.
This was too much for Senator Ca meron's
| cJtch blood. Rising to his feet he
astonished the Senate by defying Senator
| Edmunds, and declaring to hiuI that he
would not permit any mao or any combina-
| ton IF men to dictate TO him or threaten
him as to his public duty. He would vote
as he pleased, and he would like to see the
man or men who would try to stop him. His
| speech was so vigorous that the democrats
| applauded him, while Senator EdmundS sat
| perfectly silent Finding that Senator Ed
munds had nothing to say for himself, SEN
ator Quay, who has had very low opinion
| of senatorial wisdom ever since the repub-
| lican caucus refused to do what he wanted
| done in the Senate last summer to elec
Gen. Harrison, announced that he was go
| ing to act on his own judgment in this mat
ter and would not be bulldozedby anybody.
FAvoRS DISCRIMINATION.
Some nominatiaus GU ght TO be confirmed,
| others ought not to be confirmed. But the
treatment the republican caucus was CIV
ing the Presidents nomination was siuiply
political assassination" Finding that they
could not bulge Senators Ql1y and Cam
eron, the other republicans led by Senator
| Edmunds, consumed time by speaking and
! fibustering until adjournment. Senator
| Edmunds annouGced that he would keep
this up until March 4, if necessary to pre-
vent these combinations. Accordingly
! to-day he resisted all atteml IS to 20 into
executive session. When the motion was
! finally carr led by the vote Of Senator Hoar
! aGd one or two other republicans, who re-
fraiuet from voting to the great surprise Of
their "oll agues, Senator Edmunds re-
sumed his dIlatory tactics in the ex 3cutiye
! session,