The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-08
A PROTEST..
Appointing OF
Senators
ON COMMISSIONS.
Senator Hoar Does Not Be
lieve in the Practice.

Washington, Dec. mo business
was transacted by the senate today in
open session. A few minutes after the
senate convened, it went into executive
session. At 215 business in opening be
ing resumed, the death Of Representa-
tives Northwsy of Ohio and Love of
Mississippi was announced, and the
Senate adjourned as a mark of respect
to their memories
The debate in executive session was
upon the subject of the confirmation Of
the Hawaiian commissioners.
The debate was started by Senator
Hoar, who made a vigorous protest
against the practice Of appointing SEN
ators upon such a commission. He
said these senators were when appoint
ed acting under the direction of and
became tho authorized agents Of the
president to carry out his ideas and
wishes. What became Of their func-
tons as senators, he asked, when the
report they made as IN case of Ha-
waiian commission, came before the
Senate.a coordinate branch Of the gov
eminent?
In the case Of the joint high commits
sion now negotiating a treaty with
Great Britain, and the peace commits
sion now in Paris there were the same
objections, but applied with greater
force. Senators should hold aloof from
such POSITIONS, because their acts as
commissioners were to be passed upon
by themselves as senators, a very rep
Febensible practice in the opinion of
Mr.. Hoar He intimated that senators
acting for the president as a commits
sion, which, when dealing with a for
eign country had to act as a body,
night be placed in the position of sup
porting cause which they as senators
would reject.
Other speakers in the controversy
were senators Chandler and Bacon in
opposition to the too free exercise by
the president Of the power of appoint
ing senators to other positions. They
pointed out that there was q law on
the statue books inhibiting citizens
. from holding two offices with pay at
the same time, and insisted that such
appointments were contrary to the
spirit of the American institutions.
Senator Aldrich was among those
who contended for the right of the
president to call into the service of
the country the talents of senators and
members of congress in other lines
than those in which their offices indl-
NflE
TO the effect that the practice was an
Old one, and they cited a supreme court
decision to show that two offices might
be occupied by the same person in
eases where the services did not con-
nict.
Senator Aldrich made The point that
the position Of the commissioner in
such duties as those of the Hawaiian
/ commission and the Paris peace com
mission was not inconsistent with the
performance of senatorial duties. Those
y posltion were, he said, rot offices in
the usual Interpretation of the word
and to prevent the presidents calling
Tor their services for such work was
10 often deprive Of the best assistance
o ,dya1lable in special cases like that IN
Whlch Senators Morgan. Cullom, Davis
and Frye and others We're engaged.
senator Vest was among those who
attacked the president on appointing
senators to be commissioners. He said
~ was especially reprehensible. because
ptthe fact that senators accepting such
places were often called upon as SEN
2ttors to pass upon their own acts, thus
- pltsclng themselves in the double posi-
ton of member of the court and a par
" to the suit on trial.
~ All senators making speeches esDe-
clally disolaimed any intention of per-
Sonally attacking any senator occupy
ing the position of commissioner. Az
ter two and a half hours of discussion
Inc question was referred to the judic-
larry committee with instructions to in
Nestigate and report upon the uomina-
ton of the commissioners.
At the opening of the session Mr.
Hawley of Connecticut, chairman of thf
milttary affairs committee, introduced a
bill for the reorganization of the reeu.
&. lar army. 1t is provided that the mill.
.taTy establishment Of the United States
shall hereafter consist of Is regiments
Of cavalry. IA regiments of seacoast
artillery, 2 regiments of field artil-
lefy, regiments of engineers and n
regiments of infantry.
Cavalry regiments are to be organized
as now provided by law, but important
= Changes are contemplated In the ar.
ullery, which is to consist of seacoast
and field artillery The seacoast ar.
-tiliery Is to consist of IA regiments oil
y batteries each, and the field artillery
Of 2 regiments of II batteries each
Each regiment Of seacoast ARTILLERY
shall consist Of 700 enlisted men, anC
each regiment Of field artillery of 103.
enlisted men, with the necessary com.
pIement of officers.
Section 4 Of the bill provides cha
lllN illLdlAtIy dIIll OIL the service snail
consist of so regiments of battalions
or companies each, each company tx
be organized as shall be provided il
this act, provided that the regiment Of
infantry shall consist of 1900 enlisted
men, and provided further, that the in.
fantry arm Of the service be organized
on the basis of army corps of 3 divi.
ssfons of hrigades of 3 regiments
each"
Each regiment of cavalry is to con.
sist Of l colonel, ] lieutenant colonel,
majors or squadron commanders. /.
captains, IA first lieutenants, y SECOND
lieutenants, ] veterinary surgeon,
sergeant major, quartermastei
seargent chief farrier, chief must.
clan and l chief trumpeter. The off.
GERS are to be practically the same il
all regiments
Section provides that there shall
be ! general Of the army, lieutenant
generals, 6 major generals of infantry,
major general Of cavalry, ! major gen.
eral Of artillery, is brigadier generals
of infantry, brigadier generals OF
cavalry and 2 brigadier generals of ar
tillery, who shall be entitled to the
personal eide-de-camp and the military
secretary now provided by law"
Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts secure,
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