The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-04
MAY ESCAPE CRUM
LOOPHOLE is SAID TO EXIST FOR
CHARLESTON.
COMMITTEE MAY NOT REPORT.
THEN THE NOMINATION WOULD
DIE IN THIS CONGRESS.

Commerce Committee Now stands
Eight to Eight Upon the Crum
Mattcr-ROOseveIt Wants n Favor
able Report, hut Some of His own
Party Leaders Think Him Wrong
in Trying to- FOist IA Negro Upon
the People of south Carolina.
How the Members stand.
Washington, Feb. 3.-There seems
one very good chance by which the
citizens of Charleston may escape hav-
ing Crum, the negro, made collector
of the port.
This is through having the Commit
tee on Commerce fail TO take a vote
In that event the Crum nomination
would die, so far as this Congress is
concerned and the President will have
to face the alternative of making al
new appointment. He could either APP
point Crum over again or select some
white man who would be acceptable to
the business community. In this way
the Senate would avoid appearing TO
antagonize the President, and the Pres
ident would not have the humiliation
of seeing his selection for the place re-
jected.
Should this come to pass. it is be-
lieved to be doubtful whether the
President would re-appoint Crum. He
would have an opportunity Of naming
some one else, and yet not be in the po-
sition of having been forced to do so by
a Senate composed largely of his own
party.
Roosevelt sticks 1t Out.
1t was definitely announced to-day
that the President would under no
circumstances withdraw the nominal
ton of Crum, under pressure. This
statement was made by Senator De-
pew of New York, a member of the
Commerce Committee. The President
would be gratified to have Crum con-
firmed. At the same time he is con-
scious of the criticism the appointment
has provoked. but insists that he has
not been at all radical in showing
favors to the negroes of South Caro-
lima. Crum is the only man whom he
has appointed. This is a more con-
sentative record than any previous Re-
publican President has made.
How Ii is in the Committee.
The Commerce Committee at the
present, stands eight to eight. The
committee IS composed or ten Repub-
| licans and six Democrats. The Repub.
hcans are: Frye Of Maine, Elkins OF
West Virginia, Nelson of Minnesota
Gallinger of New Hampshire. Penrose
of Pennsylvania. Hanna of Ohio, Ma
son OF Illinois. Depew of New York
Jones of Nevada and Perkins of Cal
ifornia. The Democrats are Vest OF
Missouri, Berry OF Arkansas, Turner
of Washington, Martin of Virginia
Clay of Georgia and Mallory of Flor
ida. Senators Jones and Perkins are
siding with the Democrats and are IN
favor of rejecting the nomination. This
makes the tie.
Nelson and El<ins would be in ia
vor of the committee taking no ac-
ton until the death of the present
Congress, in the hope that the Pres
ident would then make the selection
of white Republican. Senators Pen
rose and Callinger believe that the APP
pointment is an injudicious one, but
will not make any move to break with
the President.
Thus it is seen that, unless the po.
sition in the committee changes, there
is not likely to be q report on the
Crum case this session. If there is q
change, it is quite as likely to be ir
favor of the rejection of Dr. Crum
as ii is to be in favor of his con.
firmation.