The morning call., 1893-04-11
HELD AS A CLUB.
Mr. Cleveland Will Have
His Way.
CONGRESS TO BE WHIPPED IN.
If Administration Policies Do Not
Rule Then Will There Be No
Spoils Given Out.
Special TO THE MORNING CALL

WASHINGTON. April 10-SenatGr Squire
OF Washington said tonight that lie thought
the extraordinary session of the Senate
would last at least until the end of this
week and perhaps a few days longer. The
Senate adopted resolution to-day appoint
ing two Senators to wait upon the Presi-
dent and ascertain IL there was auy reason
why they should remain in extra session.
Upon Hoar's motion the vote by which the
resolution was adopted may be reconsidered.
however
The ofice-seekers were all disappointed
to-day when no nominations were made.
John Ii. Wise was half expecting that his
name would go in for Collector of Customs
at San Francisco, as President Cleveland's
examination of the papers of candidates for
this place on Saturday had led to the belief
that he was getting ready TO nominate
Phelps successor. The Senators are grow
ing very impatient. 1t hurts their dignity
TO be kept here merely to confirm few ap-
polntments each day, and most of them
minor ones at that.
After the adjournment Of the Senate ap-
pointments may be made more rapidly than
heretofore. In most cases recess appointees
may serve without confirmation until the
next meeting of the Senate.
Some OF the Congressman are beginning
to believe that the President will withhold
some OF the most important nominations
until the extra session of the Fifty-third
Congress, which. it is believed will be con-
yened not later than September 1. He
wants to hold club over the heads of Con-
gressmen, it is said. in the hope of nfluen-
cling them in favor of some of his finan-
cial schemes. The President will, or
has, adopted the shrewd policy of
deferripg nominations of postmasters, and
other Offices for big cities like New York,
Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago, until
after the adjournment of the Senate. when
he can make them recess appointment"
as the President is absolute autocrat as to
the appointing power during recess. There
is great struggle In each of the great
cities for the big plums. such as postmasters
and collectors of customs, and he fears
that il he makes nominations this time
there may be sharp fights in the Senate
against confirmation and that some of them
may be held up, if not defeated.
California does not seem to lie getting her
fair share Of fourth-class postoflice appoint
ments. States like Indiana get from fifty
to seyentv-fve appointments, while Cali
sometimes none, but this may be because
her Representatives in Congress cannot
make up their minds whom they will recon-
mend for Postmasters or whether they Will
make any recommendations whatever,
Every little town in California las
its one, two or three candidates for
Postmaster. and in view of certain
misstatements that have reached the Coast
concerning Representative Caminetti's in
tervlew with Postmaster General Bissell. in
which the latter was reported to have said
that the recommendations of Congressman
would not always be needed. they will
read with interest the following stenO-
graphic report of the recent conferences
between the Postmaster General aud
members Of the South Carolina delegation,
In which Postmaster General Bissell defined
very plainly the attitude of the admins
tration on the question of whether members
of Congress shall control Federal patronage
in their respective districts.
Postmaster-Geueral Bissel said: "The
recommendation of members OF Congress
or the Senate as the case may be, Is not
conclusive. 1t is presumttiye merely in
favor of the gentleman or applicant in
whose favor il is given. Tie recommends
tion of a member of Congress from Tennes-
see was overruled this week, and an appl-
cant indorsed by other members Of Congress
was appon ted to Office. 1t is not conclusive
in any district in the United States, and, so
far AS the Postof1ice Department is con-
cerned. it will not be so long as l am here.
II it were it would amount to the legislative
branch of the Government absorbing the
executive branch. Now, do not know any
theory whereby the legislative branch has a
right to absorb the executive. II it has, then
we do not need any officers here with dis
cTetion. The country would get along
well enough, so far as this branch Of the
Government is concerned, with clerical
offices outside to record the will of the legls-
lative de partment of the Government 1t
would not need anybody TO exercise discre-
ton. The recommendation of Democratic
members Is presumptive, however. but
back of all this is the desire Of the admin
istratlOE to get the will of the people in
every alty. That is the first thing, and
that Is where the thing will start in every
instance. This administration does not
claim that it has the right to dispose of this
patronage as a personal perguisite. nut it
holds 1t in trust for the benefit of Demo-
cratic nation, and the Democratic masses
are TO be recognized. In order to ascertain
what is their will the best evidence obtain
able from all quarters will be had, and all
light possible thrown on the subject.
That as nearly and rs clearly as can
state il, is the position of this department,
and think generally of the administration
on this patronage question"
Then Mr.. Bissell branched off into the
political side of the question and referred
TO the fact that certain men who are now
seeking TO control the patronage are charged
with having opposed the nomination of Mr..
Cleveland, although afterward they sup
ported him at the polls. On this point MIR.
Bssell stated his views as follows: 81
think it Is rather q waste of
time on the part OF the other
side now to hold ANYBODY here
upon expressions made in the heat OF can
vass prior to the nomination of President.
| think 1t is rather waste of time. | am
not going to hold any man accountable for
anything he said at that time. So far as |
am concerned l don't think that it is quite
fair. There are great many men not in
your State nor in your section of the coun-
try, but in other sections of the country.
who were just as much opposed to Cleveland
and his nomination as anybody in South
Carolina could possibly have been. yet who
xia nd IN Of bn