Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-04-12
AFRAID TO FACE IT
Democrat Senators Fear the
Roach investigation.
LIKEWISE THE MARTIN CASE
They Force an Executive ss~stoa upoa
R~p~bIts~n~ and They R~rssr so
Costirsn Eckels' Appoinsnseat.

NV
crat majority in the senate decided
early in toiay's session that whatever
business Was To be discussed or acted
on. IL should not he done In public. but
behind closed doors. and - at the very
first moment that "a motion could be
made Mr.. Gorman. as the parliamentary
leader ~ the majority. moved In pro
cecd In the consideration of executive
business. Senators Hoar and Chand
ler with a solid array ~ republican sen
ators behind them resisted the motioU.
but in vain. for il was carried 10y vote
of n democrats tincluding the populist
senator, Mr.. Peffer.l to Ii repnbicans
the from! today in the executive session
and was the cause for some rather plain
talk from both sides of the chamber.
AS soon as the doors were closed the
republicans propoundcd an inquiry a.
to what the other side meant 10y refus
ing to permit the committee on priv
ileges and elections Ia report the reaolu
ton relative to the contest II Mr. Mar
tins seat by Mr.. Ady. a resolution that
had been agreed upon in the committee
at the meeting Saturday: and further
why they had exhibited what appeared
TO he bad f:ith in the Roach resolution.
a resolution which republicans con
tended had been agreed 10 10y democrats
on the floor Of the senate.
Democrats Afraid.
This at once precipitated discussion
in which il was developed that the demo
Gratis were opposed to taking up the
Roach case at this time and wanted 10
postpone any fusther action until the
next session of congress-. IL Was de-
clared by democrat leaders. as had been
stated by them before. that IL the Roach
case was to he gone into. there were
others that should bc taken up as we'll.
The republicans reported that they were
afraid of no investigation concerning
any of their members. but they insisted
that some positive action should he
taken in this particular. The democrats
said they were willing the resolution
should he modified 10 as 10 instruct the
committee 10 report whether the senate
had the authority to make an investi-
cation concerning the previous acts OF
senator: but the republicans urged that
this did not go far enough and insisted
that the committee should he still
further authorized to go ahead and
make the investigation IL they found
they had such authority. II was this
counter proposition that the democrats
opposed and after long discussion of
the two views. 20 vehemently adhered to
by the respective sides. the question vas
laid aside without any definite action
being taken.
EckIes Not Confirmed.
TIE Martin case was given its ahare
Of the debate the republicans contend
ing that the committee on privileges
and elections should report the reeolu-
tion AZ adopted at it's meeting. and that
the work contemplated under the rcsolu-
ton should he prosecuted during the
recces of the senate. From the debate
that ensucd il was inferred that the
democrats will not do anything in this
case. and will. il possible. refuse TO look
into the question of the legality of the
seat now occupied by Mr.. Martin.
The nomination Of Mr.. Ecke.s To he
comptroller of the currency was re-
ported favorably. but confirmation did
not follow. il going over for day under
the rules there being an objection Ia its
present consideration. This objection
found expression in some very caustic
remarks toy republican senator's in re-
gard Ia what they called lack of wisdom
manifested in the selection for 40 impor-
tant an office 81 a man. who by his own
admission knew absolutely nothing of
the business II banking
4 communication was received from
the president concerning the Bering sea
case. which set out In narrow form the
proceedings that have been taken up TO
date before the court 81 arbitration.
The senate remained in executive ses-
sion until 3:l5 and then adjourned until
Tomorrow