The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-17
And That Gen. Black VIII Be Nominated as
Judge Advocate-General of the Army. with
aFiew to Giving Him Salary for Life.
If Such Action Is Taken 1t Will Result
in Stubborn Fight in the Senate.
Action by the Supervising Architect That
Will Bear Careful Watching-A Deserved
Compliment to Congressman Houk.
BLACK AND SWAIN.

The Latter Likely to Be Pxrdoned and the
Former Nominated to an Important Once.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-President Cleve-
land having called retiring board of the
army to convene tomorrow morning 10 ex-
anime Judge Acknowledgement Swain. it is
believed at the Capitol and the War De-
partment that General Swain will be par
doned and placed on the retired list. IT is
stated that physicians who made an exam
ination. some time ago, communicated TO
the President that the Judge Advocate
general was suffering disabilities which
would warrant his retirement. The retire
ment of General Swain means the appoint
ment of General Black, Commissioner of
Pensions, to the vacancy. General Black
was around the corridors of the Senate to-
day, ascertaining the feeling there in refer
ence to his confirmation in event OF
his nomination. He refused to talk for
publication, but his friends volunteered
the information that he counted on the sup
port of three Republicans and all the DEM
ocratic Senators. The three Republican
Senators upon whose votes General Black
depends are Cameron, Manderson and Far
well. Manderson and Cameron are men,
bers of the committee on military affairs,
to which the nomination would be referred,
and, with the Democrats on that commit
tee, would make majority and secure a fa-
vorable report. 1t is also claimed that Sem
ator Stewart, of Nevada, who voted for
Lamars confirmation, and who is also a
member of the committee on military
affairs, will favor Blacks confirmation,
although no one pretends that he has given
a positive pledge. Provided Manderson,
Cameron and Stewart voted for confirma-
and Davis, of Minnesota, on the
military committee opposed to Black.
But if Gen. Black is resting upon the ex-
pectation that the Senators named will
vote for his confirmation, he is victim OF
misplaced confidence; and if the President
lis to make the nomination with that ex-
pectation, he will find that he has made a
mistake. / could not see Mr.. Cameron,
Mr.. IT, Farweii V tod d. me e that he had given no
pledges to any one on this subject. He had
been approached and his support had been
solicited In persuasive manner, and rather
than than Eye Se woaS Ssnse vote he for had sad
Blacks continuation provided 1t
was not made party question; but when
he discovered that there was so much bit
ter feeling against Black on the Republic
Der was certain to be divided upon party
lines, he had relieved himself of al sus-
piclon by serving notice upon General
Blacks friends that he could not be de-
pended upon, and should vote against him.
Mr.. Manderson said that his support for
General Blacks confirmation was solicited
in similar way. He had given about the
same assurances as Mr.. Farwell, that If the
of Blacks confirmation, he would
vote to confirm him. but General
MandersOn says he does not see how It can
be prevented, nor does he think that Black
can be confirmed or even be reported favor
ably from the military committee.
Senator Stewart laughed when asked IL
he intended to vote for Blacks confrma-
ton, and remarked that it was piece OF
executive business, and he never told what
he was going to do. When the fact was re-
called to his mind that he had published a
card announcing his intention IN the Lamar
case, he smiled again and said: They are
expecting me to vote for Black because
voted for Lamar, but the two cases are en-
tirely different There was no political
question involved in Lamar's nomination,
and in the present case as understand IL,
President Cleveland is trying TO provide
for friend at the expense of the Republic
an party and the welfare of the army"
This leaves no doubt of Senator Stewards
position. If Black is nominated and any
effort is made to secure his confirmation, as
wOuld naturally follow, there will be one
OF the hottest anu ultleTest uSntS ever knoWt IL
in the Senate, and there is no possibility of
his confirmation. A number of Democratic
Senators can be depended on TO vote
against him, for during his admin
| istration of the Pension Office he
| has offended large number of
| them, and they would be glad to get a lit
| tie revenge. He would be unanimously OPP
| posed by the army, which represents pow
| erful social and political influence, as much
| on the Democratic as on the Republican
| side He would have the bitter antag0nism
| of Commissioner Morrison, and his official
| position gives him more influence than he
| had in Congress- He woulG also be OPP
| posed by every pension agent In Washing
| ton and throughout the country, by the
Grand Army of the Republic and many OF
| the soldier organizations, and if these
were not sufficient, the Senate. would
4 reject him on legal grounds, be-
+ cause they would never advise or
consent to the retirement of an
able-bodied officer and the appointment
| to the active list of a man who, under oath,
has testified that he is incapable OF per.
forming any mental or physical labors. III
Black was nominated and confirmed AZ
Judge Acknowledgement, he would be sub
| ject to retirement the next day, which
would be equivalent TO giving him pen
sion of 1850 year for the rest OF his life