Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-16
THE VOTE ON PECKHAM.
Laid Over Until Today to Allow
 More Speechmaking.
HIS OPPONENTS ARE CONFIDENT.
During a Three Hours Executive Session Senator Fugh Vigorously Condemned the Nomination, and Senators Lindsay, Harris and McPherson Sustained It.


 Senator Fugh Vigorously Condemned
 the Nomination, and Senators Lindsay,
 Harris and McPherson Sustained It.
 WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-There was some surprise when the senate, after being in executive session for three hours, adjourn ed without taking any action upon the Peckham nomination. It had been sup posed that one sitting would suffice for the thorough consideration of the subject, and it was not considered probable that either side would ask for an adjournment, or that, if it should, the other would grant it without vigorous protest. The adjourn ment appears, however, to have been the result of general agreement, and so little importance was attached to it that not one of half a dozen questioned upon the subject could remember who moved the adjournment.
 Representatives of both sides of the con troversy assert that the adjournment is without any significance whatever. It be came apparent to all that it would be inn possible to conclude the consideration of the question before late in the night, as there were several speeches still to be made, and many senators had engage mcnts, some for the theater and others for dinner parties.
 Anti-Peckham Men Confident.
 The anti-Peckham men Ere somewhat more confident of the result today than are his friends. They display estimates of the vote, q: .Ag 43 votes against confirmation, suttir .nt to insure rejection, and II doubt ful, 5f which they claim they will secure five or six. The friends of Mir. Peckham, while displaying no estimates and not making such explicit claims, are still hope ful and say they are making gains.
 When Senator Pugh arose to move an executive session, there was a much fuller attendance of senators than usual, and there was an air of eXpectant and anxious interest the faces of the majority of those present. When the doors were closed, the business of the session-action upon the nomination of w. II. Peckham to be associate justice of the supreme court of the United States-was inaugurated with little delay, and Senator Pugh, as chairman of the judiciary committee, took the floor in opposition to confirmation.
 Mir. Pugh spoke with great feeling warming up as he progressed with the sub ject until he gradually developed into quite a strong denunciation of the appoint ment. He took the general ground that the nomination was an unworthy one, say ing in effect that Mir. Peckham was not by OI tltAll4IlS IO SNN t satisfaction as a member of the highest judicial tribunal in the world.
 He also thought Mir. Peckham was in consistent as a Democrat, and his course was against him on this ground. He thought that Democrats should take this phase of the question into consideration. Mir Pugh also read large number of let ters from attorneys residing in New York in support of his position
 Lindsay Defends the Nomination.
 Senator Lindsay made the principal speech in reply to Senator Pugh in advo- cacy of confirmation of the nomination of Mir. Peckh He spoke about the same length of time that Senator Pugh did | Senator Lindsay made general defense of the selection as one calculated to in every way meet the requirements of the high office. and he said that no one could have |. higher appreciation than himself of the qualities necessary to render man accept able for seat on the supreme bench. He believed, too, that the president had due regard for all the proprieties ill making the appointment, and he thought he should be | sustained when the man chosen met the re- Qurements as did Mir Peckham
 He admitted that letters had been re- l ceived by the judiciary committee criti- cising Mir. Peckham for some peculiarities of disposition, but said that in no instance 1 had any one charged a lack of integrity or of high sense of honor. While such let | ters had been received, it must also be borne ill mind that letters just as strong l ill indorsement as the others were in con | demnatiSn had also been sent to the com mittee, and they came from men of just as l high standing at the bar and capable of 1 passing intelligent judgment. He attrib- | uted many of the cundemnatOry letters to i the peculiarities of New York politics, dwelling at considerable length upon this ] phase of the opposition and treating the i politics of the Empire State as one of the complicated questions of the day-an en- l tangled mystery beyond the comprehension | of the ordinary, uninitiated mortal. | Senators Harris and Mcpherson made l short speeches during the session, both in support of 4r. 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 1 for the office.
 Senator Harris remarks were devoted to the general question of the presidents right to appoint and of the senate's privi- | lege of advising, saying that in a case like the present, when the appointee was worthy, it was the duty of the senate tC | confirm.
 It was late when Senator Villas began tC I-speak in the interest of continuation and as it was evident that he was prepared tc make a long speech a suggestion was made | that perhaps it would be more satisfactory | to postpone further consideration of the nomination. Several senators stated that they had engagements for the evening, and all assented to the proposition.