The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-22
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF 1T.
Was Harlan Appointed to Influence
Porto Rican Decision:

washington, D. c., Jan. 21-(SpeciaD.-
After another protracted and exciting ex-
ecutive session, the Senate to-day confirm
ed James G. Harlan to be attorney gen
eral for Porto Rico.
1t will be remembered that when this
question was under consideration, last
week. Senators Pettigrew and Foraker
became involved in a heated discussion
over the intimation that the President
of the United States had appointed the
son of an Associate Justice of the Su-
preme Court of the United States with
the intention of influencing the decision
of the court in the Porto Rican cases
now pending. To-day the proceedings in
executive session were enlivened by a
brief exchange of personal epithets be-
tween Senators Hawley, the venerable
chairman of the committee on military a.
fairs and the wasp-like Chandler, who
has Just drunk from the cup of bitter de-
feat at the hands of the New Hampshire
Legislature.
The debate against Mr. Harlan was be-
ing conducted by Senator Pettigrew, and
he had repeated many of his unsustained
accusations against the President and
certain members of the Supreme Court
made on previous occasions. Senator
Hawley, in replying to Mr.. Pettigrew,
charged the latter with gross misstate-
meut of facts both as regards to the
President and members of the Supreme
Court He also charged that the Senator
from South Dakota had, during the re-
cent debate on the army bill, abused and
maligned innocent persons in relentless
and unwarranted manner. He went on to
defend in a general way the Presidents
of the United States from the charge that
they were given to making such impor-
tant appointments with the intention OF
influencing the decisions of judicial or
legislative bodies
At this point Senator Chandler, who ap-
peared in the Senate for the first time
to-day since his defeat for reelection
sought to be facetious at the expense OF
the Senator from Connecticut. After
few playful remarks on the subject of
presidential appointments generally, Sen
ator Chandler recalled the fact that dur
ing the late President Hayes admins
tration, the Senator from Connecticut
was appointed commissioner general OF
the Paris Exposition. In that connection
It was at that time alleged that the Sc
lection was made for the political effect
it might have on the political situation in
Connecticut. Senator Chandler went so
far as to say that he understood that
there now exists a letter In the hands
OF a reliable person which would verify
that impression then sought to be made.
This personal sting from Senator
Chandler so enraged Senator Hawley
that he feebly tottered towards Sena-
tor Chandler, shaking his finger threat
eningly at him and branded his statement
as false, and added that If 1t were not
I'm the Senate Chamber he would denounce
them as a lie.
Senator Chandler, realizing that he
was playing a part In very exciting
senatorial scene preserved his character
istic coolness and Indifference, and re-
pHed good naturedly that he would not
take the excited utterances Of the Sena-
tor from Connections seriously because
of his old age, and because Of his ire
sponslbiity.
Further controversy between the two
Senators was interrupted by friends, and
few moments later vote on the con-
armation Of Mr.. Harlan was taken. The
result was confirmation OF the appoint
nlent by a strict party vote, with the
exception Of Senators Morgan Of Ala
bama McIaurin, of South Carolina, and
sullivan. OF Mississippi. who voted with
the Republicans. as they had been doing
recently on all purely administration
questions