The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-25
OTHERS IN THE SAME FIX.
WHEELER NAMES MANY CONGRESS-
MEN WITH COMMISSIONS.

President often Compelled TO Look
to Congress for Men for Important
Duties-ITawafian and Peace Conn
missiOners Cited-Thc General
Tells Why He Feels He Is Entitled
to His Seat-His Reason for Not Re-
signing.
Washington. Jan. a.-The inquiry order
cd by the House Of Representatives as
to what members were holding outside
Offices, originally intended to determine
the status of Mai. Gen. Joseph Wheeler
and other members of the army. began to-
day by the committee on the Judiciary.
The inquiry was public, and besides the
members OF the committee there were
present Gen. Wheeler, who made a fun
formal presentation OF his views, holding
that he was entitled to slt as a member
OF the House while serving as q volun-
teer. GEN Wheeler's statement was in
part as follows:
Il concur with the committee that the
question before them is one of very grave
Importance. If the extreme view Is taken
that the clause In the constitution is man.
datory and that II applies to oil members
of Congress who accept offices of tenn
porary character which may be termna-
ted at any moment. then the governments
win frequently find itself embarrassed in
selecting men for certain duties. For in
stance, It would have been unfortunate
II the President had been inhibited from
appointing Senator Davis, Frye and Gray
been detrimental for him to have been in
hbited from appointing Senators Morgan,
| Cullum and Representative HIT on tho
Hawaiian commission, and IL would have
been equally unfortunate had he been in
hibited from appointing Mr.. Dlngley and
Senators Fairbanks and Faulkner on the
Canadian commission. II would also have
been unfortunate had he been inhibited
from appointing such a distinguished end
able man as Senator Morgan on the ar
bitration court in Paris.
OFTEN "a Case of Necessity.
'It has frequently been the case
and will often be hereafter that members
of the House and Senate possess knowl-
e6ge with regard to important matters
which eminently lts them for holding Of
| fee or performing duties of vital import
ance SO thoroughly have Congress and
the executive been impressed with this.
that during the 10 years existence of our
! government, many hundred members OF
| the Senate and Of the House have been
| appointed to Offices.
THE committee will readily understand
my embarrassment in a matter Of this
character. There are three other members
| Of this House who have accepted mill
| cry commissions and some twenty eight
| others who have accepted civil positions.
| It would be very unjust to them for me
| 10 have assumed to decide this question
By attempting to resign, as 1t has been
| urged that such action on my part woui
be used az an argument against their right
| 10 retain their seats In Congress.
again, ] have received continued ana
urgent appeals from my constituents not
90 resign, and these have come from men
who have successfully supported me in
| ten primary elections and in ten elections
| as a member OF this body.
Has Taken No Active Part.
"In Difference TO the views of the dis
| tingushed members of Congress who are
insisting upon my seat being vacated,
| have studiously refralned from taking an
active part in the proceedings of Congress,
and since the day of my appointment, on
May T. have refrained from voting.
ut Is true that al first / entered the hail
a few times TO see some of my fellow
members. but since learning that this was
disiasteful to one or two of my old friends.
/ have refrained from even avaing myself
of this privilege. ] have not drawn any
| cor Rressional pay mileage or clerk hire
since May 4. twithstanding that / have
been compelled to employ clerks at my
own expense to perform routine duties"
Gen. Wheeler then gives the names OF
ba