Evening star., 1897-02-11
DAVIS SUSTAIN NED
Action Taken by the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee.
FAVORABLE BY A MAJORITY OF One
The Opposition, However, Was
Not a Determined One.
I III E VOT E IN DET ALL

The Senate committee on the judiciary
voted today for the confirmation OF Henry
f. Davis to be district attorney of the
United States for the District of Columbia
The committee on the Judiciary met at
10 o'clock this morning, the nomination Of
Mr.. Davis being one of the special matters
That had caused the meeting to bc called.
The committee spent over an nour i'm dis
ci ssing Mr. Davis nomination. and finally
when vote was recorded the committee
decided to recommend the confirmation Of
MIR. Davis by vote OF TO 6 follows:
Fer confirmation, Hoar. chairman: Platt.
Mitchell of Oregon, Davis, Villas, Lindsay
and Hill.
Against confirmation. Teller, Thurstoa.
Clark, Pugh, George and Daniel.
The discussion OF Davis nomination de-
relored the fact that although six mem
bers OF the committee were =. ddy to vote
against II then opposition was not Of a
determined character. Only Senator's Pugh
and Daniel were outspoken in strong terms
against confirmation. Mr. Pueh argued
that the nomination simply In pay
went of a political obligation and Mr.. ban
lei spoke strongly in opposition.
Mr.. HIN for Davis.
On the other hand a nurnber of vigorous
speeches were made in favor of coniirma-
ton. Mr.. Hill made the chief speech on
this side of the question. He stated that
nothing could Toe said against MIR. Davis
as a lawyer and as a man. He thought
that Mr.. Davis political acts should have
no weight with the committee. He said
that Mr.. Davis position at the head Of
the Bar Association OF the District of Co.
lumhia and his honorable record law
yer could hot be assailed by any one. He
referred to the fact that MIR. Davis had
worked against him and the interests in
which he was concerned st the Chicago
convention, but said that he held no grudge
against MIN on that account. He said there
was but cEe thing for the committee 10 do
and that was 10 promptly recommend Mr..
Davis confirmation.
While the vote fer the confirmation Of
Mr.. Davis was very close. il is asserted
ny those who know the personal feelings
o: each member of the committee on this
subject that had IL been nece sary In or
der TO secure a favorable report. at least
twc senators voting against the coniirma-
tio would have voted in favor OF il. They
preferred to stand among their friends in
opposition to the nomination, but at the
same time did not wish TO antagonizc other
members of the committee. who were deep
ly interested in having favorable re-
port So long as they could vote against
confirma ton and not jeopardiZe Mr.. Davis'
charces for securing the district attorney
ship they were willing to do so, but mad IL
been shown tnat there was danger Of an
adverse report IL is confidently asserted
by those well acquainted with them that
their vote would have been shifred in fa-
yOr of confirmation.
Confirmation Assured
This action on the part of the committee
on the judiciary is viewed as practically
assuring the confirmation of Mr.. Davis
nomination in the Senate. The Senate may
go into executive session this afternoon In
which case IL is believed his nomina lion
Will be disposed OF favorably at that time.