The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-16
TERENCE V. POwDERL Y.
He Is the Cause of a Long Debate
in the Senate.

in the Senate.
The nomination of Terence V. Pow
derby to be Commissioner General of
immigration was the occasion for a
debate in the Senate yesterday of an
hours duration that was entirely I'M
expected, and which was. at times,
somewhat animated. When this case
was reached on the executive calendar,
Mr.. Chandler asked that it be per-
mitted to go over, stating that there
were several senators interested who
desired TO be present when Mr.. Pow
derly's nomination was considered.
This request, usually complied with
without comment, precipitated a dis
cussion led off by Mr.. Fairbanks OF
Indiana, who started in with pre-
pared speech and assailed the commit
tee which had reported Mr.. PowderIy
adversely. accusing it of treating Mr..
Powderly unfairly in holding his nomi-
nation up for weeks, and then report
ing it to the Senate adversely by a vote
which, it was minated, did not eX-
press the real sentiments of the MEM
bers of the committee. Mr.. Fairbanks
expatiated somewhat upon the qualifi
cations of MI. Powderly and urged that
he be confirmed without delay.
Mr.. Fairbanks's challenge naturally
drew Mr.. Chandler, who had voted
against him in committee, into the de-
bate, and he replied with one of those
speeches for which the senator from
New Hampshire is noted when he is
u - tod
there had been any unfairness in
the treatment of the nominee,
but contended that on the con-
trary ne had the fairest kind of
treatment, not more and not less than
had been accorded to any other nom
inee before the Senate. The fact that
he had been adversely reported did not
of itself, Mr.. Chandler said, constitute
an element of unfairness. The whole
subject had been carefully considered
in committee several times and the
committee had reached the conclusion
that the best service in connection with
the immigration laws did not justify
the confirmation of Mr.. Powderly-
There was more of politics than any
thing else in his appointment and it
was true he said that the nominee was
antagoniZed by the great majority of
the labor organizations of the country.
Some of the leaders of those organiza-
tons had been won over to the Admin
istration in this matter, but the rank
and file of the organizations were still,
Mr.. Chandler said, opposed to Powder
ly and would continue to oppose his
confirmation. 1t was not the part of
wisdom TO drag politics into the admin
| istration of the laws pertaining to the
landing of immigrants and the official
who was III charge of that important
work ought, Mr.. Chandler thought, to
be free from the manifold criticisms
that had been made against Mr.. Pow
derby.
Mr. German on the Democratic side
of the chamber championed the nom: =
nation, and said there was no reason
to his mind why Mr.. Powderly should
not be confirmed at once. He believed
the office to which he had been APP
| pointed was one where politics should
be considered. 1t mattered little To
him what had induced the President to
nominate Mr.. Powderly; there was no
valid reason why he should not he con-
| frmed by the Senate and permitted to
| proceed with the conduct of the office
| in which he was now installed. The
! influence OF Mr.. German in behalf OF
| Mr.. Powderly is said to be good foI
| several votes, and while he will be OPP
/ HCSEu ny the OE'dli7b7I IllIAC ebi Z II w
if any of the Democrats outside of Mr.
| Chandler who Will go TO the extent OF
| voting against him.
| There was some criticism during the
| discussion yesterday of the alleged con-
| duct of Mr. Faulkner, member of the
| committed Mr.. Faulkner voted for an
adverse report and is said to have
| agreed to vote against confirmation III
| the Senate, and yet it was claimed that
/ Ia
Senate yesterday endeavoring to secure
votes for Powderly's confirmation. AS
| a matter of fact party lines on the
| Democratic side of the chamber have
| been destroyed on this nomination, anc
! the chances are that more of that side
will vote for confirmation than will t
! reject the nomination. No action wa:
| taken yesterday.
The Populists are bitterly agains
PowderIy and charge that he was giver
| this place simply because he changed
his politics and went on the stump FOL
! the Republican party in the last cam
paign. Powderly made sound money
speeches for Mckinley and this place
| is VIGOROUSLY the reward paid him fol
| those services. This was openly as
serted in debate yesterday by Mr.
| Stewart 1t was not denied in debate
by Mr. Hanna but after the Senate
adjourned Mr. Hanna told Mr.. Stewart
that he knew very we'll Powderly wa:
appointed on account Of his fitness fol
| the office and that he did not get the
| place solely as a reward for the Worl
| he had done in the campaign. Mr.
Stewart said in reply that Mr.. Hanna
! knew very well that that Statement
begged the question. Everybody wht
knew ANYTHING whatever of the situa
| ton knew that the place was promised
to Powderly beforehand in order to ge
him to use what influence he Nigh
have among the laboring men and tina
he was given the appointment only a
the result of a bargain made by tn
managers of MIR. McKinley's campaign
There is little doubt. however, tina
with the Democratic support that ha
been brought to Mr.. Powderly's aid h
| will he confirmed