Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-16
DISCUSSING Mr.. PECkHAM
Wha. Senators Said in the Executive
Session Yesterday.
Mr.. Lindsay Makes a speech In Favor
of the Nominee-Thc Tangle
of New York Politics.

The Peckham nomination was discussed
In an executive session of the Senate yes-
terday afternoon from nearly 3 until g
O'Clock. and then, several speeches being
Yet on the board for and against confirma-
ton, an adjournment was agreed upon be-
tween the opponents and the struggle was
postponed until today. when the speech
making will be continued. and a vote will,
1t Is hoped. be reached. Senator Pugh took
lhe moor Immediately upon the closing OF
khe doors and spoke for an hour and a
half against confirmation, as representing
the judiciary committee of which he is
chairman. His speech was addressed main
~ 10 the legal qualifications of Mr.. Peck
nam, which, he said, with much positive
ness, were entirely inconsistent with the
ouues OF Jurist. The nominee ne said.
was more the biased and prejueiced special
p,eader than the impartial judge. capable
OF looking on both sides of a legal oues-
lon He also opposed MIN fer his ART
tude in certain elections. when Mr. Pngh
said Mr.. Peckham had proved by his ac-
ions that he was not a good democrat
AR; Pusn spoke for an hour and a half
his language was temperate. but, as Sem
ators pronounce it, direct and to the point.
Mr.. Lindsay Defends Peckham.
Mr.. Lindsay followed. He is a member
Of the judiciary committee, and his re-
|.
to that Senator's arguments why Mr.. Pe.k-
ham should not be confirmed
He spoke for about the same length q,
time that Senator Pugh did, and CONCLUDED
after . O'Clock. Senator Lindsay made q
general defense of the selection as one CAL
culated to in every way meet the require
ments OF the high Office. and he said that
10 one could have a higher apprecia tI,n
.nsn himself of the qualities necessary To
render a man acceptable for a seat on the
supreme bench. He believed. too. that the
PRESIDENT had due regard for all the pro-
prieties in making the APPOINTMENT ana
thought he should be sustained when the
man CHOSEN met the requirements as ga
Mr. Pechham. He admitted that letters had
oeen received by the judiciary comraittee
crllcisinS Mr.. PECK ham for some pecuIiar-
ties OF disposition, but said that in no in
stance mac any one charged lack of in
tegrity or of a high sense OF honor
ana while such letters had been received
II must also be borne in mind that letters
| jest as strong I'm Endorsement as the 9TH
ers were IN condemnation had also been
sent TO the committee, and from men Of
Just as high standing at the bar and an
CAPABLE OF passing intelligent Judgment
he attributed many of the condemnatory
! letters to the peculiarities of New York
| politics, and dwelt AT considerable length
| upon this phase Of the opposition, treating
ane poiltcs OF the empire state as one
OF tie complicated questions of the day
| an entangled mystery beyond the COM
/ prehension of the ordinary uninitia tes3
mortal lie dwelt humorously upon the
! New York situation. but said seriously
| that he thought IL was having by far too
| great an influence in deciding an import
| ant national question. lie therefore ap-
pealed to the Senate to disregard this
| influence and dispose of the nomination
| upon the merits of the nominee and thus
| permit the Supreme Court TO continue its
| work as IL should and not as at present
| crippled for want of the constitutional
| number of judges. He referred in this
| connection TO the political charge that
| Mr.. Peckham had opposed the election OF
Senator Hin as governor and said that
under such circumstances exist in New
| York il was hardly fair TO punish a man
| for one or two Instances of political de-
reliction- He believed that even If this
| charge were true that Mr.. Peckham was
| by nature and inclination a democrat
| and worthy the confidence and indorse-
| ment of his party. He made no reference
! in his remarks to the Instructions passed
| by the Kentucky Legislature for their
Senators to vote against confirmation :
Messrs. Harris and Mcpherson for
Peckham.
Senator Harris and Mr. Mcpherson made
short speeches during the session in sup
port OF Mr.. Peckham. Mr.. Mcpherson
| spoke Of him from the standpoint Of per-
sonal acquaintance and said that knowing
| him as he did he was satisfied of his
| fitness for the Office. Senator Harris re-
marks were devoted TO the general ques-
ton of the Presidents right TO appoint
| and of the Ssnate's privilege OF advising.
| saying that in a case like the present,
| when the appointee was worthy. IL was
| the duty of the Senate to confirm.
| Ii was late when Senator Villas began
| TO speak in the interest of confirma ton.
and as il was evident that he was pre-
pared to make a long speech a suggestion
| was made that perhaps il would be more
satisfactory to postpone further consider
| alton CT the Nomination until today. Sew
eral Senators stated that they had en-
gagemerts for the evening and all assent
ed to the proposition.
] 1t was agreed that the Senate should at
the close OF the morning business today
again 20 into executive session.