The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-05
ACTION on NOMINATIONS.
William II. Merriam Confirmed as Di-
rector of the Census.

"hham IT. Merriam Confirmed as Di-
rector of the Census.
WASHINGTON, March 4-The President
to-day nominated William r Merriam. of
Minnesota. TO be director Of the census. and
Walter Evans. OF Kentucky, TO be Judge Of
The United States District Court for the
district OF Kentucky. Both these nomina-
tions were promptly confirmed The Senate
spent an hour In executive session to-day
and cleared up large number OF nomina-
tions. Senator Pritchard, of North Carolina
made an attempt 10 get vote on the nomi-
nation OF Hamilton G. Ewart to be district
judge for the Eastern district Of North Caro-
lima, but Senator Butler talked out the time
until the doors were again opened
The nomination of Mr.. Merriam was con-
firmed without opposition. notwithstanding
1t reached the Senate as the doors were be-
ing closed for the executive session. 1t had
been thought possible that Senator Davis
would object to confirmation. but il is un-
derstood that he informed the President be-
fore the nomination was sent in that he
would place no obstacles in the way of the
Presidents desire TO secure Mr.. Merriams
services for this post of duty. The nomina-
ton went through all the forms in the ex-
ecutive session. being referred to the com
mittee on census, acted on and reported
there. Action was taken as soon as the re-
port was made. There was also prompt ac-
ton upon the nomination OF Hon. Walter
Evans to be district Judge in Kentucky
Senator Deboe had been a champion of Con-
gresham Pugh for this place. but when he
retired from the race, Mr.. Deboe took no
further part in the contest. He made no OBJ
lection to Mr.. Evans's confirmation and it
went through after the most informal action
on the part of the committee on judiciary.
William r. Merriam was formerly Gov
ernor OF Minnesota. He was first elected
in 1888 and again in 1890. Previous to this
he had been speaker of the Minnesota
House of Representatives. He was for
many years president of the Merchants
National Bank Of st. Paul. He was a dele
gate to the national convention in 1896 and
as a member of the committee or resolu-
tons was active in having the gold plank
in the platform.
Besides the nominations previously men,
toned the Senate confirmed the following
Harry l.. Rees, Of Oregon, paymaster in
the army. with rank of major; Col. A. Aims
worth, to be chief Of record and pension
office. War Department, with rank of brig
adler general; John Tweedale, of Pennsyl-
vania, to be assistant chief of the record
and pension Office. with rank of major; Will
liam s. Warner. of Deadwood, S. D., to be
receiver of public moneys at Rapid City, s.
D.; Edwin A Jones, of Ottumwa, Ia, to be
a commissioner TO examine and classify
lands within the land-grant limits of the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company in the
Helena (Mont.) district; d. c. Cammack,
postmaster at Muncie. Ind, and A. Gaylor,
postmaster at Wishawaka Ind.
Among the most important nominations
that failed of confirmation are the follow
ing: Senators Morgan and Cullom, Repre-
sentative Hit, Sanford B. Dole and Walter
F. Frear, to be Hawaiian commissioners;
Martin ]. Caster, of Pennsylvania, to be
consul at st. Johns, n. F.; the naval ad-
vancements for conspicuous conduct in bat
tie sent in with the Schley and Sampson
nominations; II. G. Ewart, of North Caro-
lima, 10 be United States district judge,
Western district of North Carolina; Frank
Simmons, TO be marshal Western district OF
Alabama. Indian agents: CT. w. Hayzlett.
of Laporte City. Ia, Navajo agency in New
Mexico; c. d. Keyes. of Wichita Falls, Tex.
for the Apache agency, Arizona; A. A.
Armstrong. of Arizona, Fort Apache agency,
Arizona; c. S. McNicholls, of Momence. Ill,
Colorado River agency, Arizona; f. B.
Spriggs, Of Utica, n. Y, Nevada agency, in
Nevada. Samuel ]. Barrows, of Massachu-
setts, TO be librarian OF Congress; Nj. A.
Daugherty. receiver of public moneys at
Sidney, Neb.; George w. Garrett, Of Ar
kansas TO be commissioners to examine and
classify lands within the land grant and
indemnity land grant limits of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, Aiissoula land district, in
Montana; John Webre naval officer of GUS
toms, New Orleans, La. All of the army
brevet nominations sent to the Senate were
not confirmed These include men nomi-
mated for gallant action IN the Spanish war
The greater part of the last executive ses-
sion was spent in considering the nominal
ton OF Hon. Samuel ]. Barrows. of Massa-
chusetts, as librarian of Congress. Senators
Chandler and Tillman made brief speeches
In defense of Mr.. Barrows, arguing that he
was worthy man and that failure to con-
firm his nomination would be an unjust re-
Election upon him. Senators Hoar and Lodge,
OF MIR. Barrows's own State, and Senator
Hansbrough. acting chairman of the COM
mittee on library opposed affirmative ac-
tion by the Senate. They contended that in
taking this position they meant no personal
reflection on Mr.. Barrows. Nor would fall
ure on the part of the Senate to act be a re-
fiection. 1t was generally understood. they
said, that Mr.. Barrows was not a trained
librarian. and the congressional library was
an institution of such Importance and of
such possibilities as to demand the services
of the most expert man possible TO secure.
Mr.. Hoar indicated a possibility that, in
case OF failure TO confirm the Barrows NOM
ination. the place might go to Mr.. Herbert
Putnam, of Boston. OF whom he spoke as a
thoroughly experienced librarian Reference
was also made 10 the fact that the office
was one rather for congressional than for
executive action, as the library was at
tached TO Congress. Hence IL was urged that
political consideration should not enter into
the selection of a librarian.
The matter was still under consideration
when the Senate returned 10 legislative ses-
sion. and thus the nomination was not voted
upon.
STATUS OF LEGISLATION.