The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-12-08

Washington, December BY the
manner of adjourning the House to-
day, the extra session of the 5Sth
Congress will expire by constitution
al limitation Monday, when the reg
ular session will begin. This elimi-
mates the possibility of a recess be-
tween the two sessions and oppor-
tunity for the President to renew his
civil and military recess appoint
ments. Such appointments as have
not been confirmed by the Senate
during the extra session must be re-
newed simply in the form of nom1-
nations, which in effect are but
recommendations and do not become
effective N any case until confirmed
by the Senate.
In effect, this action will denote
General Wood from his present rank
of major general, to which the Sen
ate has not confirmed him, to the
rank of brigadier general, which he
held prior to August Sth last. 1t
also will denote, in like manner, 167
army officers who were promoted re-
spectively to fill vacancies caused by
the promotion of General Wood. The
important civil appointments include
William D. Crum, as collector of
customs at Charleston, S. c.; Charles
P. Mcclellan as a member Of the
board of general appraisers of mer-
| chandise at New York and V. Nc
Allister, of Vicksburg, Miss. las re-
/ ceiver of public moneys, all of whom
are serving under recess appoint
| ments. the effect being to vacate
| their present positions.
AS Collector Crum'S recess ap-
pointment has thus been terminated
! and the situation in the Senate has
| been such that his confirmation is
| dispaired of, the collectorship of the
| port of Charleston will remain va
| cant until the expiration of the next
| session of Congress, unless the Pres
/ ident selects some one else for this
| place and the nomination is confirm.
ed by the Senate.
| While no official representation
was made by the Senate to the
House. several informal conferences
| have been held between the leading
| Republican Senators and Speaker
Cannon. In these conferences, the
speaker has stated that the HOUSE
had no constitutional authority Owe
| executive appointments or confirma
tons, and that if the creation of ;
recess was necessary to take care o
L
taken official action looking to ad
journment of the special session b,
! concurrent resolution. In the alb
sence of such a movement, tn
speaker said he should not interfer
in any way in the expiration of tn
extra session by the constitutions
limitation.
All of the nominations, includin
army, navy and civil appointment
made by President Roosevelt durin
the extra session and which have nc
been confirmed by the Senate wi
have to be renewed at the regula
: session. It is expected that thes
: nominations will be retransmitted b
, the President Monday next.
At the war department, the o1
ficials are not quite SO clear in the
minds as to the exact status Of tn
: military officers whose nomination
have failed of confirmation. Thel
:, is a disposition to take the point
I view that between expiration of tf
: present session and the beginning
: | the regular session there will nece
/ sarily be an appreciable but pra
J. tically infiinitesimal period of tim
:. ! when there is no session and col
: sequently Congress is technically
n recess, and it would be within Il
: power of the President to make r
: cess appointments to continue du
|, ing the next session, unless otherwi
J. disposed of.