The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-01
A LONG SECRET SESSION.
JOHN b. HARTR1DGEs CASE GIVES
RISE TO DEBATE.

Action on 1t Further Postponed-The
Nominations of Assistant Secretary
Thompson and Assistant Postmaster
General Stevenson Not Considered
Several Postmasters Confirmed and
Treaties Considered.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-After spending
about ten minutes on bills authorizing the
construction of railroad and other b Adges,
during which four were passed, the Senate
this morning proceeded to consideration Of
executive business on motion Of Mr.. Sher-
man, who said tn { only a few minutes
would be required to dispose Of the matter
which he wished and which was impo tant
TO have attended to at once The executive
session was devoted to the reception of
messages from the President and their
reference to the appropriate committees.
In about ten minutes the doors were re-
opened, and consideration of the bridge
bills continued.
The following were passed:
The Senate bill appropriating $25, 900 for
the construction of an iron bridge from the
military reservatio at Fortress Monroe to
El lizabeth county, Virginia.
The House bill authorizing the construc'
tion of bridge over the st. Johns river,
Florida.
The Senate bill for bridge across the
Tallapoosa river near Judkins Ferry, Ala
bama.
The Senate bill granting a right of way
and other privileges to the Hampton and
Old Point Railway Company.
Later in the day the Senate, on motion of
Mr.. Riddleberger, again proceeded to the
consideration of executive business. The
Senate continued in secret SO sion till 6
O'Clock, when the doors were opened and
legislative business was resumed. 1t was
ordered that re ess be taken from $3.50 to
$3.50 o'clock this evening.
DOORS LONG CLOSED.
The Senate was in executive session
more than three and a half hours, during
which time large amount of business was
transacted. Early in the session, the docu-
Inents referred in the first executive session
of the day, mostly postal treaties and inter
national copy ight arran ,ements with
South American countries, we're under
discussion. There was also a treaty of ex-
tradition with Russia, referred to the COM
mittee on foreign relations, but this was not
acted upon. The others were ratified. DIS
cussion of some length was had upon Lhe
questi N ''Shall the senators be authorized
TO publish their speeches on the British
extradition treaty~ but no decision was
reached.
THE FATE OF NOMINATIONS.
The nomination Of Commissioner Webb
of the District OF Columbia to succeed
himself, was the subject of an animated
debate Mr.. Riddleberger having moved to
discharge the district committee from fur
ther consideration of the case. This was
voted down and the nomination is still in
| allegiance. The nominations of Assistant
Secretary Thompson to be civil service COM
missioner, and of Assistant Postmaster
General Stevenson to be judge of tue
supreme court of the District of Columbia,
were not considered.
JOHN E. HARTRIDGE'S CASE.
The most exciting epis de was over the
nomination of John E. Hartridge of Jack
sonville, Fla, to be United States district
judge for the Northern district of Florida,
vice Thomas Settle, dscea ed. This nomi-
nation has been pending before the judiciary
committee since December last, and to-iay
the committee was discharged from further
consideration of the case, and au effort
made to confirm the nomination, but an
objection intervened and action was post
poned until the next executive session.
PosTMAsTERs CONFIRMED.
The following nominations were con-
drmed:
Postmasters - Andrew J. Sturgis, at
john II. Davis at Tallapoosa, Ga Margaret
g. Davis, at Biloxi, Miss; Stephen c.
Weaver, att Daytona, Volusia county,
Florida; John S. Yearwood at Sweetwater,
Monroe county, Tennessee; jeremiah G.
Fowler at Milledgeville, Ga. John B. Rob
erts at SandersviIle, Washington county,
Georgia; John c. Hunter at Union, s. C.:
Dayton Hale at Columbus, Miss. Samuel
b. Thompson at Lake City Fla; Leroy L.
Brinkley at Edeaton, N. c.
William IS. Rosecrans, to be brigadier
general, to be retired.
W. f. Smith to be major Of the en-
gineer corps, to be retired. and long list Of
promotions in the army and navy.