Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-06
The Senate District Committee Votes
Against His Confirmation.
A HEARING HELD THIS MORNING
A Strong Expression Against Ap-
pointments of Non-Residents.
HOW THE COMMITTEE STANDS

If 1t depends on the action Of the Senate
District committee Mr. Charles H. ]. Tay-
lor Of Kansas will never draw the salary
OF the office Of recorder Of deeds of the
District Of Columbia. The Senate commit
tee on the District Of Columbia this morn
Ing, after discussing the nomination for up
ward Of an hour and half, took a pre-
liminary vote, which resulted in two votes
being cast in favor of the nomination and
four against AS there were only six SEN
ators present, just a quorum of the COM
mittee it was decided to leave the ques-
ton open for the present, SO that the re-
naming members of the committee might
record their votes informally without a
further meeting being called for the pur-
pose The affirmative votes this morning
were cast by Senators Harris and Martin,
while Senators Hunton, Gibson, Gallinger
and Proctor put themselves on record as
unalterably opposed to the appointment to
District office of any one from outside Of
this vicinity.
Protesting Against Confirmation.
When the meeting hour arrived this morn
ing there were present only Senators Harris
and Hunton. Mr.. NJ. I.Weller, accompanied
by Mr.. William Holmead. chairman of the
democratic central committee was present
to urge the rejection of Mr.. Taylor on the
IL.
Slddons was also present for the same pur-
pose. as representing the real estate and le-
gal interests of Washington.
BY IL O'Clock Senators Gallinger, Martin
ana Proctor had arrived and II was agreed
! to start the hearing with five Senators pres
ent Mr.. Weller made a brief statement,
based upon the resolutions of the Senate
adopted February Z, 1887, in relation to the
Matthews case. He asserted that the sense
OF the District people was that a local man
should be named for a local place. He
pointed TO the democratic platform adopted
| at the last national convention, which, he
said, more definitely pledged the party to
| home rule than did the platform even of
lSS5. II the President, he continued in
sisted upon breaking these pledges the Sem
ate should see to it that the people of the
District should not suffer in consequence
He thought the precedent established in the
ent instance.
Mr.. Holmead pointed out the fact, which,
he said, could not be controverted, that
| nine-tenths at least of the District property
| owners ana genuine residents of the city are
opposed to these importations of outside
people TO fill such a particularly local office
| as this.
| business Interests Involved.
Mr.. Siddons declared that the system OF
| appointing outsiders to the office of re-
| corder of deeds has resulted very badly for
local interest for it requires he declared.
certain knowledge of local real estate
matters to keep the affairs Of this office
| in an Ineligible condition, and it requires
also, he thought, a local man with local
| pride to maintain the proper amount OF
decent regularity in the conduct OF the
establishment. He appeared as lawyer
he said, and not as democrat. He gave
evidence that the continued practice of
bringing in outside people to fill this office
has almost demoralized the system, and
| has made very unsatisfactory state of
affairs.
Senator Martin called attention to the
fact that the nomination was supported
| by the only democratic daily newspaper
| published in this city. Mr.. Weller asked
| the name of the paper. and Mr.. Martin an
swered by producing a copy of the Morning
| Herald, containing an editorial announce
ment of Mr.. Taylor's fitness for the posi-
| tion. This demonstration produced no
effect upon the delegation, and the COM
mittee beyond general smile. and Mr..
| Weller went on to say, after subduing his
| risibilities, that he thought his committee
had far more influence with the democrats
| of Washington than this publication. He
said that he and Mr.. Holmead represented
| the organized democracy of the District
which annually. biannually and quadren-
nially raised money and subscribed to the
democratic campaign fund.
A COiCred District Democrat.
Senator Martin asked Mr. Weller if the
| democrats of the District, in case of Mr..
| Taylors defeat, could name a suitable col
ored man, resident in Washington, for the
position Mr. Weller answered emphatically
| in the affirmative. He asserted that not
| only was there good material for the place
| here but there was good democratic colored
| material. He claimed that the office should
| not be kept sequestered for colored men,
| but that the attitude of the District DEM
| ocrats in this matter was based mainly on
| the principle of home rule, and on that
| question they now opposed this nomina-
| ton. But if it should come to the question
| of selecting a colored democrat from the
! District no Gil Lad
| After 11:35 Senator Gibson arrived and
| completed the quorum of the committee
| Soon after his arrival the three delegates
| left the committee room, and, when the
doors had been closed again, Mr.. Martin
made an earnest appeal to the committee
in behalf of his candidate, pointing out his
fitness for the position and arguing that the
office of recorder of deeds had by custom
| been given to colored people from outside of
| Washington. No formal reply was made to
Mr.. Martin, and soon afterward the commit
| tee voted, with the result told above.
The Remaining Votes.
1t is regarded as almost certain that
when the votes of the committee have all
been cast the majority will be found re-
corded against Mr.. Taylor. Mr.. Martin
must secure four more in order to secure a
| favorable report. The remaining votes will
be cast by Senators Smith and Faulkner
| democrats, and Hansbrough, Mcmillan and
| Wclcott, republicans. The negative side are
obliged to obtain only two more votes of
these five, and 1t is understood that at
| least three of these Senators have an
nounced themselves opposed to the prin-
| ciple involved in Mr.. Taylor's nomination.
| Candidate Taylor was at the Capitol to-
| day. He formed conspicuous figure in
| the statuary hall, where he established
sort of headquarters He expressed him
self confident that he would pull
through all right.
| 1t is thought that the attitude of the
Senators from Maryland and Virginia on
| the District committee will have much to
do with the disposition of the case in the
| Senate. Both Senators Hunton and Gibson
are firmly opposed to the nomination on
the ground of home rule. Mr.. Gibson es-
pecally is acquainted with the temper of
| the people here on this subject and is thor
| oughly conversant with the feelings of the
| District democrats. Having associated
| with local people for many years he is re-
garded as almost as Senator from the Dis
| trict and this fact, 1t is thought, will have
| considerable weight in the fight before the
full Senate.
Lawyers Objections.
Senator Stewart has received from Mr..
F. l.. Siddons a member of the Washing
ton bar, a letter protesting against the con-
frmation of Taylor. Mr.. Siddons says:
LAS resident of the city Of Washington,