Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-06
55th CONGRESS.
The Senate Has Field of Legis-
Iation All to Itself.
All the Cabinet Nominations Confirmed
Without Formally.
This important Step Taken Senate Adiourrs
Till Monday.

| Washington. March 1.-The opening
proceedings of the first session of the 55tll
/ Congress were witnessed. today. by a
4 very large asscmblagc of spectators In
! The galleries of tile Senate chamber. the
/ Senate being, today. without the iegisla-
/ tive partnership OF the House of Repre-
sentatives. which body will remain in a
state of suspended animation until called
| into renewed existence on the first day OF
! the extraordinary session. soon to be con
vened by President Mckinley.
1 The Republican side of the chamber
| looked as though the contents OF Il con
| Scrvatory had been deposited IN 1t. Mag
niticent floral offerings had been placed
| on the desk OF numerous senators who
1 AS well Us On that of Vice President Ho-
! bart. Among the senators so distin-
] gu.shed We're Foraker of Ohio. Spooner
/ Of Wisconsin. Cenrose of Pennsylvania.
I Platt of New York, and Fairbanks of In
/ diana. The Democratic side OF the cham
| Dor was, free from such offerings.
As soon as the journal of Yesterday s
| formal meeting was read. To the call for
| tl,e senator from Ohio Mr.. Foraker rose
and presented the credentials of Mr..
tanna as successor 10 Mr.. sherman. re-
signed. The credentials were read and
| the oath was administered to Mr.. Hanna.
\ resolution was adopted. offered by
Frye. directing that until otherwise or
dercd, Davis Rep. of Minnesota, be act
relations. the Craftsmanship having been
vacated through the retirement of Sher-
man.
Then, recess was taken until u. As.
when the Senate received from the Presi-
dent ''sundry messages in writing. and
proceeded to the. consideration of execu-
tive business.
President Mckinley sent to the Senate
the following nominations: John Sher-
man of Ohio. 10 be secretary of state,
Lyman j. Gage of Illinois. to be secretary
of the treasury: Russell A. Alger of
Michigan to be secretary of war: Joseph
McKenna of California. to be attorney
general: James A. Gary of Maryland. to
be postmaster general; John ID. Long of
Massachusetts,. to be secretary of the
navy. Cornelius n. Bliss of New York. to
be secretary of the interior; James Will
son of Iowa, to be secretary of agricul-
ture
Immediately upon the receipt of the
cabinet nominations. ut 12.4o, the Senate
went into executive session.
The nomination of ex-senator Sherman
to be secretary of state. was confirmed
off hand. without the formality of a ref
erence to any committee. This was done
as an act of courtesy to an ex-senator
and in conformity with the customs of
the Senate in other similar conditions;
were referred to the proper committees
which went into session at once for their
consideration: The entire. cabinet was
confirmed. There was no objection raised
to any of the nominees. AT 2.37. the Sem
ate adjourned till Monday.
All other nominations were referred to
the various committees winch 1nmeuate-
~ met in the cloak rooms adjoining the
chamber and after an informal discus
sion of the nominations. made favorable
reports in each case.
Teller briefly addressed the Senate. He
said he did not propose to oppose any
selection Mr. Mckinley had made. He
recognized the fact that the cabinet was
the official family of the Executive. and
the President ought not to be hampered
by the Senate in the choice of the men
whom he desired for his advisers. He de-
sired to say that he believed In Some
cases Mr. Mckinley had made mistakes
in the men he had chosen. Whoever else
Teller may have had in mind is unknown,
for he mentioned only Mr. Bliss, ncmi-
mated for secretary of the interior.
Teller emphasized the fact that he did
not crticise this nomination on personal
grounds He knew Mr. Bliss TO be
man of affairs. who had been successful
and was held high in the esteem of his
fellowmen. He did not doubt that Mr..
Bliss would bring to the Office all his
business and executive ability, but there
was more required, Teller said. than mere
business ability The interior depart
ment was one of the most important in
the government, affecting the interests OF
many states, particularly those of the
great West. and the secretary annually
made more important decisions involv-
ing property than did the supreme court
OF the United States. The head of this
CONTINUED on page 81