Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
RICHARD BERLIN IS REJECTED
Senate Fails to Confirm His Nomination as
Census Supervisor.
THURSToN AccoMPlSH;s HIS DEFEAT
Secretary Root Opposed 60 the Prnc-
ticc of Officers Trying TO ENnde
FOREIGN service when
Ordered to Go.

braska. This was the result of a short
speech by Senator Thurston, who, in exeCu-
tive session, said that the nomination OF
Berlin had been made without his knowl-
edge, although he had arranged with Con-
gresham Mercer, whom he recognized as
having a right TO appoint the supervisor for
the second district, to select a man who
would be acceptable to Mercer and himself.
Thurston said he still recognized MERGERS
right to appoint, but desired to be consulted
as to the appointee, as he had such an I'M
derstanding with MIR. Mercer before the lat.
ter went to Europe. He said that he had
written a letter to Mercer in November re-
calling the agreement, but the selection had
been made without a consultation between
himself and the congressman from the Sec
ond district. The rejection came as a matter
OF course, there being no one to champion
Berlin's cause. In speaking of the matter,
Thurston said:
"The absolute justice of my position was
recognized by the senate. All / ask is that
Mr.. Mercer appoint some one who is not my
enemy and who is personally and politically
friendly to both of us. There are fifty men
in Douglas county he could appoint who
would be perfectly satisfactory to us and |
hope some such appointment will be made.
Root Sets His Foot Down.
Secretary Root is decidedly opposed to
officers who have been ordered to foreign
stations bringing influence TO bear to Sc
cure revocation of such orders. His oppo-
sition was particularly called forth in the
case of Major Hammer, paymaster Of the
Department of the Missouri, stationed at
Omaha. Major Hammer is under orders to
proceed to Manila, where paymasters are
greatly needed. Senator Thurston presented
reasons why Major Hammers order should
be revoked to the secretary, but he was
met with am absolute refusal. Thurston
showed that the major was 60 years OF
age, within two years of retiring age; that
he had served for nearly forty years in
the army and that his health was such that
If forced to undergo the rlgOr of foreign
service at his age he would be useless for
active service. Secretary Root was obdu-
rate, replying that paymasters were needed
in the Philippines and that he would not
interfere with the order. even though the
entire senate sought to have the order
revoked.
"He can resign" said Secretary Root,
'for his long service warrants such resig-
nation, but it would be creating a .prece-
dent that l do not propose to allow should
l make an exception in Major Hammers
case"
Now that the republican state central COM
mittee of Nebraska has been called by
Chairman Tefft to meet next month for the
purpose of naming the time when conven-
lions are to be held to nominate delegates
to the national convention and to select del
egates for state officers and choose a new
state central committee politics has taken a
new hold on the republican delegation iu
congress. Senator Thurston, in discussing
the condition of affairs in the state, today
said:
Under ordinary conditions I would not
favor the departure from the old practice
of holding a convention for the selection
of delegates and the holding of a conven-
tiCn for the nomination of state officers
and for the selection Of a state central COM
mittee, but at this time much is to be said
in favor Of putting a state ticket in the field
at the earliest possible moment, thereby
selecting a state central committee and
chairman, who can begin the work of organ
ization at once"
Congressman Mercer, when asked as to
who would be candidates for delegates to
the national convention from the Second
district, said he had given the matter little
thought and would not even hazard a pre-
diction. When asked if he expected to be
a candidate he said the convention was too
remote.
Alien Introduces Bills.
Senator Allen today introduced a bill to
establish postal savings deposits, to en-
courage earnings among people to furnish
them with safe and reliable places to de-
post their funds and to put into actual use
the money of the country. This is the same
bill which Congressman Lewis of Washing
ton introduced during the Fifty-ffth con-
gress. He also introduced bills to remove
the charge of desertion from Fred w. JOS
Ia, 20 thn nr,,rIpNp,ptt nj A t,,nri-
can merchant marine, granting an increase
of pension to Isaac Hogoborne of South
Sioux City, Neb,, and Stephen D.. Avery of
Petersburg, Boone county.
Wednesday has been selected by the Ne
braska delegation in the lower house to
offer eulogies upon the life and character
of the late Congressman w. L. Greene of
the Sixth district. 1t is the intention of
Senators Thurston and Allen to ask shortly
for a day in the senate when appropriate
eulogies will be made on the character of
the late Senator-elect NJ. L. Hayward.
Congressman Burkett has obtained from
his district a part of the official pie which
falls to the majority congressman for dis
tribution and has placed at work under the
charge of Sergeant-at-Arms Casson of the
house Rufus Clark of Lincoln, who will
have charge hereafter Of the telephone
in the lobby.
For n Permanent Post.
Congressman Mondell of Wyoming stated
today that he expected a favorable report
from the War department upon his bill to
create a permanent military post at Fort
Mckenzie, near Sheridan, Wyo. He said
the military authorities were greatly i'm
pressed with its location, from a military
standpoint, and hoped to have the summer
cantonment made a permanent garrison. He
introduced a bill authorizing the state of
Wyoming to recede to the government of the
United States and to make a part of the
public domain 10000 acres of land in the
Star valley, Unitah county, Wyo., and in
lieu of this to be permitted to select other
lands in the state rom the public domain.
These lands are a part of the insane asy-
lum and university holdings which are fit
for irrigation, but as the state law does
not permit of this, settlers are demanding
that they be given the right to enter upon
and irrigate them, not only for their ben
eft. but for the benefit OF
the state as well. Mondell, together
with Shaforth of Colorado and Wilson of
Idaho, had a conference with Chairman
Wadsworth OF the committee on agricul-
ture today with reference to receiving 500
900 to be used by Prof. Mead of Cheyenne