The morning news., 1889-02-20
SAVING UP PARTY PLUMS
THE sENATES FAILURE TO CON
FIRM NOMINATIONS.

Mr.. Harris OF Tennessee WIN Bring
the Matter Before the Body Every
Dav TIL Adiournment-A Test Vote
Shows Each side Sticking to Party
Lines.
WASHINGTON Feb. 19.-The Senate to-
day proceeded to conside alton Of the sun
dry civil appr opriation bill Among the
amendments reported by the committee on
appropriate and agreed to by the Senate
were the following: For protecting the site
of the postotfice building at Key West,
$1,000; making appropriations for light
house service, steam tender for the first
light house district, $s5, 200; tender for sec
depot, Virginia, $3.50; Portsmouth depot,
Virginia, additional land) 10000; Bush's
Bluff near Norfolk, $4,000; Diamond
Shoal off Cape Hatteras, N. c., $500, 900;
North River Bar, N. c., $4,000; steamer for
light house service in North Carolina, $685.
900; Hilton Head, S. c., s., 900; Fernandina
ranges, Missi slppi, 81 900; fixing the total
cost Of the library building at Washington
at s., 500, 900 exclusive of the appropriations
heretofore made; inserting an item OF $751;
945 for a sewerage system at Fort Monroe,
Va,
HARRIS INTERRUPTS.
Mr. Harris interrupted the reading of the
BILL and said: I'm support of the motion
which desire to make, | will state that |
find in the record that ass nominations have
been sent to the Senate.
The presiding officer tMr. Ingallsl asked
Mr.. Allison, who was in charge OF tue
sundry civil bill, whether he yielded to the
senator from Tennessee.
Mr. Harris-Have l a right to make
statementl
The Presiding Oficer-The chair thinks
that the senator cannot submit motion
without unanimous consent
Mr Harris--Doas thu chair think that no
motion is in orderl do not think that the
yielding Of the senator from Iowa is at all
neces ary to my purpose, although | am
satisfied that the senator from Iowa will
not object to yielding, il it is desired. But
/ do not ask the senator from Iowa to yield.
ALLISON FAILS TO YIELD.
Mr.. Alsou-Then if the senator does not
| will not do so.
The Presiding Officer-The reading of the
bill will proceed.
Mr.. Harris-Does the chair decide that
have not the right to be heard in relation
to any matter about which | may wish TO
"The CHAIR does so hold"
THAT this bill i not debatable"
"This bill is debatabe"
rs there auy rule for relevancyp
tThere is"
~ would be glad TO have the chair call
my attention to it.h
1.-THE chair will hear the senator from
Tennessee ~
NOMINATIONS UNACTED ON.
Mr.. Harris thereupon proceeded to make
his statement He had found, he said, that
| 45S nominations had been sent TO the Senate
by the President. OF these 1873 were regu-
rine hospital service, and were all confirmed
| but g But of 325 other nominations Ia
| great majority of which had been made to
| fill official vacancies) there were only 48
| combinations and no reflections, leaving 277
not acted upon. Out of 261 presidential
postmasters nominated, only % rad been
| confirmed, leaving 23S not vet confirmed or
rejected He held it to be as much the duty
| of the President to make nominations to
| fill official vacancies as to perform any other
official duty, and as much the duty of the
| Senate to consider and confirm or reject
sucn nominations as to perform any other
senatorial duty.
PRECEDENTs CITED.
He recalled the fact that President Ar
thur had, after the presidential election Of
| 1884, sent to the Senate 6l2 nominations, all
| of which were confirmed except 90, and
that President Hayes had, after the prss-
Dental election of 1880, sent to the Senate
| $50 nominations, nearly all Of which were
confirmed. In view of these facts, he
moved that the Senate do now proceed TO
the consideration OF executive business.
The motion was rejected by party vote of
"a yeas to 20 nays.
TO BRING IT UP DAILY.
Mr.. Harris-I shall give the Senate an
opportunity to vote on this motion every
day to the end of the session.
Mr.. Elmunds dronically)-That is right.
The reading of the bill was then resu med.
The amendment to pay Mrs. Waite, widow
OF the chief justice, the balance of his
years salary excited some opposition, but it
was agreed to by % cas- to 10 nays.
The amendment appropriating SAC, 900
each for the statue Of Gen. Philip II. Sher-
dan and Gen. John A. Logan in Washing
ton, was agrsed to, and Mr.. Daniel gave
notice that after all the committee amend
ments were disposed Of, he would offer a
similar amendment for statue to Gen.
Winfield Scott Hancock.
Without completing the bill the Senate
adjourned