The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-06-12


1t may be sufficient to remark here in pass
ing that as fact in history it is recorded
that the Edmunds resolution fell by the way
side, while the President pursued the even
tenor of his way and 'to turn the rascals
out"
Now, Mr.. President, in the light of Mar
bury VS.. Madison, which doctrine we may
say has since been reaiiirmed by this same
court, there can be no good reason for this
most unwarranted ntermeddlng on the part
of the Senate with duties belonging exclus-
lively to the Executive. On what grounds,
pray tell me, is this most extraordinary con-
duct defended1 Is it to go out before the
people in this Commonwealth that Republ-
cans in this body are so blind to reason and
deaf to entreaty that they will persist in a
course in defiance Of the law? / submit to
the sober judgment of all present has not the
Senate exhausted its powers in regard to the
nominations. The sole power delegated to
them by the Constitution was that Of advice
and consent. That consent they have ex-
| picSScu ny ullaniinous Notc.
What more, in the name of reason, can
they do or hope to accomplish? All else
lies with the Governor. For his acts he
alone is responsible, and yet in the very face
and teeth Of such doctrines as this, we have
the Senator from Tioga getting up here and
proclaiming that until commissions are is.
sued to the Factory Inspector, the State Ii.
brarian and the Superintendent of Public In
structon that Senatorial approval to all
other nominations will be withheld. Why,
Mr.. President, the iniquity contained in
threat of that sort is past conception. Think
of it, Senators of Pennsylvania, inspired by
the divinity of party hate, STOPPING to inter.
meddle with the Executive business; using
the higher privilege delegated to them by
the Constitution as whip to lash the Gov
ernor into the performance of an act ex-
clusively within his own discretion. And at
the same time we have the Senator from
Tioga speaking Of these nominations as Gov.
ernor Beavers appointments l deny this
assertion. Governor Beaver simply nomi-
mated these men to the Senate. They are
no more Governor Beavers appointments
than they sre appointments of this Senate.
Governor Beaver took the first step, namely,
nominating. The Senate took the second
step, namely, consenting. 1t remains to be
seen whether Governor Pattison will take
the third step, namely commission. And
for the special information of the Senator
from Toga let me say that until this last
and final step he taken, these nominations
can be regarded as appointments of no man.
Upon this same subject of Senatorial inter-
meddling with Executive functions let me il
lustrate my position in this way Suppose
the Governor should so far forget himself as
to send into this body message declining to
approve any further bills until he should
have the assurance that this body would pass
ballot reform bill, or a bill looking to a
Constitutional Convention, or bill to equal
ize taxation, the three key notes to the late
Democratic campaign.
What a cry of indignation would go up
from Republican throats all over this body
resenting this executive presumption to inter.
fere with duties pertaining exclusively to the
| legislative branch of the Government The
Governor under such circumstances would be
fortunate in escaping impeachment proceed
ings, and yet, Mr.. President, but mo-
ments reflection will serve to convince all
that the message power and the veto power
IL. L., & !, Nf
legislator than the mere advisory power of
the Senate makes Of that body an executive.
1t must be plain therefore that the Senate
can no longer afford to be placed in the false
position OF attempting to interfere with ex-
ecutive functions. This is not the time or
place to discuss the action or probable ac-
ton of the Governor. That action is for dis.
cussion at the hustings and at the elections.
There it belongs and there let it stay.
If, then, we come to the conclusion that
there is no authority in law for the action Of
the majority in this matter we are compelled
to seek for motive to their conduct in some
jorty terms the breach Of certain contract
made between Senators. We have heard
much of this agreement or contract. 1t has
been magnihed until it stands now apparently
an insurmountable barrier between the Sen.
ate and Governor-a block and hindrance to
all future combinations.
But when we come to analyze this agree
ment we find first that the Governor was no
party to it whatever. That in substance it
was a mere trade of combinations between
Senators on either side of this chamber
that no promise to commission was exacted
by the majority, and none volunteered by the
minority. That in the very nature of such
things such promise would have been i'm
possible of performance, the Governor not
being taken into the question that all this
talk about commission is an afterthought of
the majority, sought to be injected into this