The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-05
QUESTION OF QUORUM.
Senate Nay Not Be Able to Vote
on Appointee&
aeFoam IN DEPARTMENTS.
USeshsa ssa Smith Wnl Disnlss In
ssupetsus ssA espsrnaeus Clsrks-
Clsvslsad Opposed - RseiDresity.

oOnpetaut a04 01per0uouo CiofBe-
Clsvsla.d Opposed - Reciprocity.
WAsu,rerou CRY, April 4-lSpecial.lE
Some anxiety il expressed here today over
the indications that the senate will fail 70
secure vote on the seating Of the senator's
from Washington, Wyoming and Mon
tana. voting quorum 10 melting away
rapidly. officials Of the senate seen BY
tie Pos--IsrELIIoEScER correspondent
today were OF the opinion that II vote
Was reached even - early ~ Saturday, or
before that. il would be discovered that
there Was not . voting quorum present
and that one could not be mustered TO
vote on this important matter. The dis
cussion, while it may not last ~ long -
vas expected when il began. 10 becoming
wearisome TO the majority OF the senators.
and in view of { fact that they are
anxious to get out Of town. are not dis
posed 10 welt until vote on this question
II reached. OF the Republicans, there are
absen. already Pettigrew of South Da-
kota, WoIcott aud Teller of COLORADO ,.
Quay Of Pennsylvania, and many others.
There are good many absentees on the
Democratic side. OF course. all are
paired, but IL q question OF no quorum 10
raised. and it is discovered there -
not. an actual voting quorum pres
sent, the action OF the senate
IN the matter OF seating or
refusing to seat these senators will prob
ably have TO go over until the next session
OF congress. In the event that this hap
pens, Of course, these states will be repre-
eented by one senator only during the
summer months. This will not be very
injurious TO either of these states. but it
will be unfortunate for these men who are
knocking for admission as the appointees
Of three governors Then II Is question
whether at the ext session the senate will
vote to seat them. The belief now is,
however, that If vote can be reached at
this special session that the senator's will
b seated. Senator Alien is still pursuing
the dignifed course in relation to the mat
ter, and he IL not attempting TO dictate
either to the senate or to any individual
member what his action should be in the
case. The senator was in the senate cham
Der for few moments and listened to Sem
stor Vests speech. He is probably the
only man in the trio who is not lying
awake nights because of anxiety over the
senate's decision in the cases.
The assistant secretary Of state has been
directed by Secretary Gresham to examine
more thoroughly than has been customary
into tho personnel Of the state depart
mcEt, with view, IL 10 understood, OF de-
termining the fitness Of employees for posi-
tions held by them. 1t is reported on
good authority that tradition and prece-
dent will not obtain in the state depart
ment during the incumbency of Secretary
Gresham. and that there will be less red
tape and greater dispatch of business
hereafter. Secretary Hoke Smith has al-
ready begun to carry into effect his policy
OF dispensing with the services of oil in
competent clerks In his department or
those appointed purely for political rea-
sons. Under the directions Of Chief Clerk
Marble, the individual record Of the cleri-
cal force Of the census Office II being thor
oughly examined. and oil clerks found to
be deficient will b dismissed. Twenty
,ine clerks were dropped from the rolls to-
lay and others are likely to follow.
Il II Secretary smiths belief that the
work of the census should DO completed by
the end Of the calendar year without ask
ng an additional appropriation from con-
fress, but to do this he ID convinced there
must be not only economy in expenditures.
sus each employe must do efficient work.
II 10 understood also that the clerical
force OF the general land Office will soon
undergo 8 process Of renovation, after
which some attention will be given the
pension and other bureaus with view to
putting them on strictly business basis.
The president and secretary Of state had
several conferences regarding the state Of
commerce with South American countries
resulting from the reciprocity policy of
the last administration, and practically
concluded TO discontinue the discrimi-
mating duties imposed on coffee and
eugar products in Fcnexuela,
Hay,i and the United States OF
Colombia. the only three countries in
South America which refused to enter in q
satisfactory reciprocity arrangement under
the Mckinley law. 1t is said that the presi-
dent il opposed to the continuance of dis
elimination against the three countries
named ard will revoke the proclama alton
isened by President Harrison. Action in
this matter. however. may be deferred sew
erai weeks.
There Is good reason TO believe that the
senate will come to an agreement upon the
question Of organization. and as soon as
that Is done the matter OF final adjourn
mcnt will be speedily disposed OF. 1, in
understood that the Republicans sug-
gesticn the Democrats will go ahead and
organize with tho understanding that the
new officials are not 20 take hold until
later. is meeting with favor among those
Democrats whose position on that course
was indicative OF a prolonged struggle.
The ne. gold balance in the treasury IN Is
morning. deducting a shipment of 81 500
O0o made yesterday. was $s.0n,0oo No
opinion Is vcnturei as 10 when the gold
output will stop. but the treasury officials
do not hesitate 20 express the orInion that
the government will be able 10 meet ali or
binary gold demands.
The president seat 10 the senate TODAY
the following nominations:
james q Brosdaesa. Of Missouri. rniulsts. 20
Switzerland
Bartlett, Trirp o: South Dakota. minister TO
Austria Ransssy.
EhsE Alexander. of North Carolina, m mister
" Greece. RoumAaix aad sssvls.
Coasuls--Jamss T. Neal. of Ohio. at Iivernool:
James ~. pebes. OF Georgia. al Valparaiso
The Pnss tomorrow will say: Ii 10 un.
derstood that the nomin alton OF Gen. T.
6. Bragg. of Wisconsin. TO ne minister TO
Brasil, viii be sent TO the senate this week.
The senate confirmed the following nom.