New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-16
AFFRONT TO THE PRESIDENT
TWO OF HIS NOMINATIONS HELD Up BY
POPOCRATS.
THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE INDUCED TO
DELAY ACTION on TIE CASES or MEssRs.
FRANCIS AND FORMAN UNTIL. AFTER
THE HOLIDAY RECESS.


THE HOLIDAY RECESS.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUNE.l
Washington. Dec 1,.-Something of the ran
felt by the Bryan silver Democracy against
the Administration and its Sound Money Demo-
cratic supporters was disclosed to-day in the
Senate Committee on Finance. when. at the
urgent nsistence of Mr.. Vest. a report on the
nomination Of David r. Francis to be Secretary
Of the Interior was held up until after the
Christmas recess. That this extraordinary dis
courtesy inspired by political animosity
cannot be seriously doubted. although Mr.. Vest
alluded vaguely in his appeal to the committee
for delay to certain unformuated charges which
might ultimately be put forward to prejudice
Mr. Francis in the eyes of the Senate.
1t is to the credit Of Mr.. Jones. Of Arkansas
the chairman Of the Popocratlc National COM
mittee and the leader of the silver majority IN
the Senate Committee Finance. that he took
hand in the effort to annoy and emparrass
the Administration by refusing the prompt con-
firmation Of Cabinet officer holding power
under a recess appointment On the contrary
Mr. Jones canddly favored Immediate action
on the nomination and announced that he ne
lieved in allowing the President all possible
scope and freedom in the choice OF his Cabinet
advisers.
As the Finance Committee will not meet next
Tuesday, the day set for the recess adjournment
or on Tuesday. January >. the day on which
Congress is to reassemhle. no vote on Mr.. fran
cis's nomination can be had until January -
and he cannot be confirmed until January l3 at
the earliest thus postponlng the confirmation
Of his title To the Secretaryship he now holds
for a full half Of the present session OF Con-
sress.
..fosc
committee this morning. Mr. Vest at once re-
oucstcd that no report be authorize for the pres
ent. on the ground that complaints against the
NOMINEE, had reached him from constituents in
Missouri. to which some attention should FIRST be
given Mr. Woicott inquired OF the Missouri
Senator whether any formal charges had been
filed agains; Mr. Francis and was informed that
no such charges were on record pu. .h,' ~. , so'..
might possibly be submitted later. Mr.. Wolcou
EXPRESSED himself as wholly out OF sympathy
with any attempt 10 delay confirmation on such
vague grounds. and urged that the work OF the
Interior Department would necessarily be ein-
barrassed II the nomination Of secretary were
hung up" for a month on trivia! pretence OF
opposition.
MIR Jones. 81 Arkansas when asked FOR an
opinion declared that unless definite and FORMAL
charges against the nominee were sure 10 pe put
forward delay seemed to him unjus'itiable. Sen
aiorial courtesy. however, was powerful enough
To- oNerruls all objections to Mr.. Vests proposal
10 let the nomination 60 over. and the Missouri
Senator'S motion was allowed 70 prevail without
a vote Mr.. Vests action will doubtless cause
much resentment among the Administration
following in Missouri. and widen still further the
breach in party lines there. The objections to
Mr. Franciss confirmation are likely to be FOUND
10 he wholly trivial or imaginary; yet they VIII
have served Mr. Vests purpose In harassinR n
political opponent and putting an unusual and
annoying affront on a hostile Democratic Execu-
tive.
Among other nominations laid over until after
the holidays was that OF William 8 F"rman. OF
Illinois to lie Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
There appears To be a lining up Of the silver
forces to postpone action on all nominations OF
Democrats who were consucuous as boilers from
the ticket nominated at Chicago