New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-03
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
DIFFICULTY IN FILLING THE PLACE MADE
VACANT BY Mr.. WINDOWS DEATH.

place OF the Hcau OF DepdItbicHb muuc NdCd'u
by death is one Of the results of the legislation
PASSED by Congress in the conflict with Andrew
Johnson 1t was law made for the special pur-
pose OF controlling his freedom Of action. To-day,
if Cabinet officer dies, at least four or five days
are consumed with the preparations for his funeral
and for the ceremonies necessary for the occasion
II is a short time for the friends of the dead
official to show their respect and affection. Dur
ing that time the President, if he Is a man OF
heart and kindly sympathies, as is Mr. Harrison,
cannot discuss with any one the question OF a
successor Those who could advise him or who
might wish to make suggestion would not think
Of going to the White House until the funeral
was over. So this subject cannot properly come
before the President before Tuesday. The time
for which the Acting Secretary will continue in
his place expires on Friday. After that time the
President has no authority except through con-
current action of the Senate to authorize any one
to fulfill the duties of Secretary of the Treasury.
{ nder existing law, he will have less than hVe
DAYS for this purpose If the law is not changed,
he must report some name to the Senate before
Friday, and the Senate must confirm before that
date. Otherwise the Treasury would be wlthoue
a head.
When Secretary Folger died President Arthur
was not in such an embarrassing situation as is
President Harrison. He permitted Mr.. Coon, the
Assistant Secretary Of the Treasury, who had been
DESIGNATED by the Secretary of the Treasury HIM
self to act during his absence, to fill out a
term of ten days, and then he designated MN LOT
another period of ten days. Mr.. Brewster, Wheh
Attorney General, justified this proceeding Ii
Attorney General Miller had held that this con-
struction Of the law was correct, then the frcSi-
dent would have had longer time Ec!oic MI
Window went away he designated Asss'aht SecIe'
tary Ncttleton to act in his place. Under the
Brewster construction of the law the President
could have rcdcsgna,cd him next Friday Tor an
other ten days The President has consulted sen
ator Sherman and Representative Cannon on the
subject, and hopes that unanimous consent VIII
be given TO change the law
1t is most important that such change should
be made The conditions of the case clreuili>c'loc
| TO a great degree the Presidents choice. Inc
mere limit of time makes it Impossible Tor MN 20
| soek any man living at a distance. II ne should
| wish to appoint any one from the racine 'o'''
there would be no time for consultation or even
for a response TO invitation. 1t Is important
that thc man selected for the Treasury shall be
fully in accord with the policy Of the Admins
trotion. This can he determined only by per-
| soraI interview between the President and the
nerson he may wish 10 select If the fTe'l c1'
sboud want 10 20 info the House or the senate
70 make q selection, he is also SHUT OH thcIe pS
the circumstances of the case. The actual re
publican majority in the Senate must not DC III
haired by such a selection. In the House theTe are
other difficulties. So. for all practical purposes
the President in his choice must look about MN
outside of Congress. and i'll some section near
home. More than this. he may, late on IhnrS-
day. find some one whom he wishes, but Only 10
meet with a refusal. In that case, FRIDAY Wouiu
| find the Treasury without head 'hrough ho
| fault of the President There never has been
| time when there were so many dlnlcuItics OF 'nS
kind surrounding the choice of member of the
| Cabinet. Arthur had another ADVANTAGE III HI
| ing the post made vacant by the death OF folger
! Uo had in his Cabinet Judge Gresham, who was
ready 70 20 out to take the post of United States
| Jndpc This appointment had been given MN
| bcfore Folper died. II was, therefore, convenient
| for the President to have Judge Gresham Teauy
and willing TO step into the Treasury 20 III a gap
| Of time which would enable the PRECEDENT TO give
the necessary consideration for an appointment OIL
| a successor. judge Gresham remained In the lie
partment for two or three weeks Judge "iesh"n
| did not have to be confirmed by The Senate as
Congress was not in session. This was another
advantage Of that period.
The financial situation is such that II WON"
| not do 10 make any mistakes. Then there Is an
uncertain element in the situation viii n pc ma
| the President himself has never considered ana
| that is this: Might not the silver Senators lc'
| fuse to confirm a Secretary OF Inc treasury WIN
was not committed 10 their view OF unllmt q Tree
! COINAGE? These cent cmcn, 90 cooperating WIN "i''
| German and his solid support OF Democrats are
| 90 do, tho masters Of tie Scratc. If they wish
70 throw confusion into the affairs OF the suiN
hv refusing TO confirm any nomination sent III by
| tl,o ha,o in
20 Under their peculiar line of tactics they
,,ould placc the responsibility for any confusion
or trouble i'm financial circles growing out Of such
| action on the wicked conduct Of the Adin!hisu1-
| ,io, who had not sent them a Secretary oil tie
Tree surv wholly committed to the doctrine OF the
! FREQ coinage of silver. The silver men nave ny
| no means ended their fight in Congress whether
| they would presume TO make fight on the APP
| pointment remains TO he seen.
II they do intend 10 make such fight. they
will undoubtedly oppose any change IN the cAlS'-
| inc law. a change which has been asked by the
| President recital of the facts of the SITUATION
shows clc9rly the necessity for such chah3e'
| The President should have the right to-day 10
| DESIGNATE General Nettleton TO act mp TO the
| odiourument of Congress if need be. 50 That he
could have ample opportunity TO make carelui
selection The ideal Secretary would he senator
Tobn Sherman. Mr. Sherman might not pe ul-
willing to 90 back 10 the head of the treasury,
nc he is not particularly enchanted wIth 'he
rolitical situation in the Senate. But he cannot
rnire without leaving a Democratic Legislature
TO select his successor.
Senator Teller, who denied in the Senate That
he had ever approved the Election DILL IS
contradictcd by his Republican associates upon
the Committee Of Privileges and Elections 1t
* truc that he made certain objections to the Dill
| I, is also true that some Of the objections made
| nv him were formulated in the shape oil amend
| ments These amendments were accepted ny inc
| committee. Not Of them was refused MI
| VOHiNN'' ,Iot tlpsn