Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-30

Genator Farwell, Of Illinois, when
asked whether It was true that tho
president had asked why he and his col
leagues in the Senate and the House
~ did not submit list Of five or six
names for each Of the Chicago offices, so
that there would be room for the exer-
I else Of executive choice in filling the
4 places" Is reported to have said that
" nothing Of that nature had been inti-
mated to me-" aud to have further said.
The constitution provides that the
president shall make appointments by
and with the consent of the Senate.
Under this provision fhave advised the
4 appointment ofcertain men to the offices
to be filed, and have no reason to
doubt that the president will act ac-
cordingly. 1t Is physically impossible
for him TO select men for the offices he
must ill by appointment, and the duty
has devolved on me naturally and con-
stitutionally."
We have long observed that certain of
the United States senator's consider II to
BE- their prerogative to select the United
States officials of their states and they
cOnsider 1t to be the duty Of the presi-
dentto appoint the men they select. This
= the view that is taken by the Penn
sylvania senators. Under IL the sena-
tOFial place has come to be the aim of the
politician, who considers II as the lever
ago Of political power In the state. But
we have never known the theory to be
20 distinctly formulated as 1t il by Sena-
tor Farwell In the above statement. The
political senator has freely used the
power he has over the confirmation of
the presidents appointments to make the
selection for nomination but II il new
70 NJ to find the constitution quoted as
confirming the senator's right to select
~ well as to confirm, as 1t now is by
Senator Farwell, who considers that the
duty has devolved in him constitu-
tionaily as well as naturally, to
select men for the Illinois federal offices
for nomination by the president for
the Senate's confirmation. He re-
CARDS the confirmation Of the
presidents nominations as the constitu-
ti0nal duty of the Senate, collie ctively,
and the selection Of the nominees as the
constitutional duty of the senators in
dividually. The president is thus rele-
gated TO the duty Of recording the sena-
t0rs' selection for the Senate's action. II
this 10 not startling statement of pres
idential dependence upon the Senate
commend US TO one that may be 80 con-
oldered.
The constitution declares that the fed
ersl ofiicers shall be appointed by the
president, by aud with the consent of
the Senate; by their advice and with
their consent and Senator Farwell
c0nstrues II TO he the duty Of the presi-
dent to ask and accept the advice of the
Individual senator, and TO seek its cor.
nrmation from the body of the Senate.
Wherefore the duty of advice is laid
mOre upon one senator than upon the
body Of the Senate, does not appear in
The letter Of the constitution but Sena-
1or Farwell seems To find 1t in the ra-
9onaie Of the matter, for he goes on to
~: have lived here all my life, and
= oeetainly must he conceded that am
. better position TO select proper can
{ 1.1Ato Tor the Chicago places than one
Whelly unscgusinted with the available
elnn1SsiSl."
We hardly think that there IL sufii.
8 eiont ground for his position, as the same
esgament would apply equally to fit any