Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-12
THE SENATE EXECUTIVE CLERK.
Ais Office 10 Declared Vacant without Al
lowing Any Investigation.

lowing Any Investigation.
After three and a half hours spent in execu-
tive session behind closed doors and after a
stormy debate the Senate yesterdy yielded to the
powerfulpressure brought to bear by the COM
mittee on foreign relations and vacated tho Office
OF executive clerk, filled for so many years by
Mr.. Jas. r. Young.
When the doors were closed definite propo-
sition was taken up. 1t was to order an inves.
tigation of the conduct OF Mr.. Young. who had
been excluded from the executive sessions ever
since the Boring treaty WAS laid before the
Senate. This was defeated after a spirited
contest. in which Mr.. Henderson freely COM
mented i'll terms of bitter sarcasm upon the
course OF Senators who were willing to cast an
lmputation upon an honorable employe with
out aiiordinS him an opportunity to vindicate
himself from suspicion.
MIR. Cameron presented a letter from Mr.
Young, i'll which the latter, while signifying his
Willingness to surrender mis- Office at the will of
the Senate. In plain. manly way requested a
thorough Investigation, stating that If he had
betrayed executive secrets, as had been alleged
he was liable to punishment under the law. and
that he was perfectly willing 10 abide by the
result.
There was some difficulty in getting a quo
rum, but finally this was secured and the 10
ton looking to an investigation was defeated
py narrow majority SO small. indeed was the
majority that the members OF the foreign rela-
lions committee became alarmed and under the
leadership OF Mr.. Sherman aided BY Mr.. Hale
they redoubled their efforts to secure the fruits
OF their victory through the adoption of the
resolution declaring the office OF executive
clerk vacant 1t was stated to the Sena tors
who betrayed reluctance to join in the move
ment to convict the clerk without investiga-
tion that the committee on foreign relations
had absolutely satisfied itself of the Justice of
the proposition. 1t was said that if the Senate
desired to main tain the secrecy OF executive
sessions the number of employees in whom
confluence was repOsed must be decreased be-
low the present number and that secrecy had
been maintained since the employees hau been
exclude Finally, however, the committee
made the matter personal issue and I'M
piled that the Senate must choose between
its members and Mr.. Young, intimating
that they would refuse to par ticipate in execu-
tive business if the clerk were not dismissed.
Under this Kind of statement, despite the eff
forts OF MIR. Henderson and other advocates of
a fair investigation, the junior Senators who
sympathized with the clerk gradually weakened.
and. fearful OF mourning the ill will of the pow
erful committee on foreign relations. voted re-
luctantly for the resolution vacating the Office
which was carried by about ten majority.
LETTER FROM NIB. YOUNG
The following is the letter written by Ex-
ecutive Clerk James R. Young of the Senate to
Senator Cameron. in response to an official sug-
gestion of the Senate conveyed through the
Pennsylvanlan that Mr. Young resign.
WARRINGTON, March ~, 1892.
Hon. J. d. Cameron:
Dear Sir-I have carefully considered the
suggestion you maze in our conversation this
morning to the effect that / should resign the
position I have held for fifteen years as
principal executive clerk of the Senate
Under ordinary circumstances should accept
it with promptituda. 1t is however. asso-
ciated with an impression which underst nd
to exist in the minds of some Senators that
l am cognizant of the invasion of the rights
and dignity OF the Senate involved in
recent publications Of debate in executive ses-
SION 1 am deeply concerned i'll this. The
secrecy OF the Senate rests upon the members
Is an obligation incumbent upon gentlemen
1t thus rests upon me, and likewise upon the
oath have taken to respect and protect it.
l am not alone responsible to the Senate whose
trust has been abused. but to the courts of JUS
tice for a violation of law. 1t is, therefore,
my immediate duty to demand from
should. permitted, take part not
in self-defense, for as the executive clerk of
the Senate l have done nothing requiring either
explanation or defense. but TO the end that the
truth be known and the sovereignty of the
Senate over its deliberations be maintained
This is my right as an officer of the body and
as a citizen before the lava right which the
That over and done and there will be no diff
Guilty rs to the cheerful acceptance of your sug-
gestion regarding my tenure of ot6oe.
Yours sincerely.
JAMES r. YOUNG.
Up to 3:15 this afternoon Mr.. Young had not
received the official notification of dismissal
which the Senate yesterday decided upon.