New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-03
SENATORIAL PREROGATIVE AGAIN.

In some recent contentious before the SEN
ate Committee on Commerce Mr.. George L.
Wellington raises question Of Senatorial pre-
rogative which public opinion had fondly imag-
lned settled, and settled decisively, some egh-
teen years ago. Mr. Wellington. it seems, ap-
peared before the committee on Thursday to
urge the rejection of a nominee chosen by the
President few days ago to fill consulship
at Leipsic, Germany. The candidate, Brainard
II. Warner, jr., who is citizen Of Maryland
and a resident of Mr. Wellington's former Con-
gress district, had originally applied, with the
Senator's Endorsement, for appointment to the
more important post Of Consul 10 Southampton,
England, but President Mckinley finally de-
cided to give him the minor place on the Con-
tnent This Encouragement apparently dis
turbed Mr. Wengton's plans for the bestowal
of consular patronage, and after lodging an
unavailing protest at the White House he has
now decided to make war openly on the War
ner nomination, on the ground that he, the Sen
ator, is primarily responsible for the Federal
appointments made in his own State, and Is
therefore entitled to q controlling influence even
against the President in the distribution Of
Maryland patronage. His appeal to the Com
merce Committee to reject the nomination was
based solely on the Presidents failure to recog-
nize his Senatorial prerogative, and he Is re-
ported in ''The Washington POST as frankly
declaring to his colleagues at the committee
hearing: Il want to know whether l am to
shave control Of the Maryland appointments or
"not" and again as asserting: II do not pro-
"pose that the President shall unload upon
Maryland and upon me such men as these
"who have no political relations at all to the
Estate" In q personal explanation made yes
teriay afternoon on the floor Of the Senate Mr.
Wellington denied the accuracy of "1he Posts
quotations, and declared that his fight against
Mr. Warmers confirmation involved no personal
hostility to the President. Yet he continued:
intend to be upon this floor as l came here
"a Republican, standing by Republican prin-
cipies and voting for Republican Tariff bill.
standing by the Administration Of President
Mckinley from first 10 last. But If my Sena-
torial prerogatives are 10 be interfered with,
then 7 will make so far that is con-
cerned. / have a right to the advantage OF Sem
atorial prerogative. and If that is not given
me. then vii! know the reason why. I will
remain upon the floor Of the Senate there will
be no driving out. No struck
me blow but returned 1t with interest.
And they viii find me on deck II the struggle
IS 10 be begun.
Expressions like these are not entirely new
In the checkered and turbulent record OF the
Senate's relations with the Chief Executive
Nr. WellDgtOns speech Oh the cuban Dell1ger-
e1cy resolutions which passed the Senate six
weeks ago showed him an interested student
OF many phases of American political history.
But certain chapters, which cover the early
months of the Garfield Administration, seem to
be still sealed book. The Maryland Senator
fatally nisreads the drift of American poll
lies since 1881 IL he imaglnes that the Sena-
lorial prerogatve which Roscoe Conkng vain
L. 81 ia
Apd establish can be successfully asserted now