Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26
Appointment of Senators on
Commissions.
PRACTICE CRITICISED
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL PASSED BY
THE SENATE.
Provision Made for Office Building for
the House and for Site for
New York Post Office.

tion bill and gave notice that he Woulo
call It up tomorrow.
A House bill was passed providing for
the conveyance OF Widows Island, Me-, to
the state of Maine.
A bill was passed authorizing the Com
mercial Club of Topeka, Kan, to construct
a dam across the Kansas river within the
counties of Shawnee and Wabaunsee, Kan
Mr.. Burrows. chairman Of the committee
on privileges and elections, filed an addi-
tioral protest against the admission of
Reed Smoot as a senator from Utah.
Office Building for the House.
Consideration of the sundry civil bill
then was resumed. The Senate reconsider
ed its vote on the amendment providing
for the construction of an Office building
for the House of Representatives and
agreed to the same. An amendment also
was agreed to directing the superintendent
of the Capitol to prepare estimates of cost
for separate Office building for the
Senate.
An amendment by Mr.. Fairbanks appro-
priating s2,O0OO0O for the purchase Of
site for the post office in New York city
was agreed to.
The amendment Of the committee on ap-
preparations striking out the provision for
the extension of the Capitol building was
agreed to. pa
An amendment was agreed to appropriate
Ing $4,000 to be used by the President in
opening negotiations with Great Britain
looking to a review of the regulations
adopted by the Paris tribunal of arbitra-
ton to govern pelagic seal hunting.
An amendment also was agreed to in
creasing the appropriation for the expenses
of the Alaskan boundary commission to
100000.
Senators on Commissions.
Mr.. Hale Meo referred to the amendment
providing for an international commission
to fix the parity of gold and silver and
called attention to the practice, which he
said the Senate deprecates, of appointing
on these commissions members of the Sen
ate. The Senate In the case of a Hawaiian
commission he said, had declined to con-
firm two senators. and he did not want this
proposition to become law in the encour-
agement of that practice. There was no
objection to the senator's. he declared. but
he hoped some attention would be paid in
the future to the attitude which the Senate
has taken in matters of this kind. He
did not want senators to appear in the
Senate advocating treaties which they had
negotiated representing, as they did, the
administration.
The criticism of the Senate was directed
to the appointment of Senators Lodge Of
Massachusetts and Turner of Washington
mission.
Mr.. Tillman maintained that the Presi-
dent, perhaps, could not be convinced that
appointments of this kind were improper.
Paris of 1898, and said that senators who
were members of that commission no doubt
were influenced in their vote on the treaty.
"a Mr.. Foraker's View. -
Mr.. Foraker thought that while the Sem
ate should have the benefit of the services
OF senators, the doors should not be shut to
them where in the discretion Of the Presi-
dent he thought it advisable to appoint
them on commissions
Mr.. Aldrich felt assured that the Presi-
dent would, not appoint any senator or
representative in Congress as a member of
the international commission to fix the
parity of gold and silver.
Mr.. Bacon argued that 1t Is distinctly and
positively improper to appoint members Of
either house on commissions, and the only
escape from the prohibition is the technical
position that the commission Is not an Of
flee.
Mr. Plat Comm expressed the opinion
that 1t was not only proper, but often nee
essary, to appoint member Of the Senate
on commissions.
MI. Tillman's Amendment.
Mr.. Tillman offered an amendment provid-
ing that no senator or member shall be ap-
pointed to any such commission.
Mr.. Allison. in charge Of the bill, ex-
planned that it is not possible that anything
can be done by means Of International
agreement Whatever is done. he thought
will be done largely by diplomatic methods
and not by methods Of the commission. The
committee on finance. he contended. how
ever, felt that commission might be need
ed to secure a concert among the nations.
He did not think that any senator or repre-
sentative in Congress should be appointed
Q member Of the commission.
Mr.. Teller said there are times when the
Dr. IL, IL
though as a rule the practice Is reprehen-
sible. but frequently these appointments
rose to the dignity of office, which is ex-
pressly prohibited. He thought there should
bs no haste in this matter and that the
question should be handled first through
diplomatic channels.
A Dangerous Practice.
Mr.. Hoar reviewed the services of SEN
stors on commissions and while admitting
the value of their work said 1t Is viola
ton of the sound principles Of the Consti-
tuition. If the President Is to come into the
Senate. he said. and pick out q half dozen
of. its members and send them to Europe
and let them spend a summer there in q
most honorable position. meeting the So
cisty Of foreign capitals. the matter resolves
iself into question Of the relation of the
legislative power and the executive power.
There was hardly a more dangerous prac-
tics that could be imagined.
At l o'clock the statehood biii-the I'M
finished business-was laid before the Sem
ate and Mr.. Quay asked that a vote be
taken on 1t either today or tomorrow. Mr..
Beyeridge objected.
Consideration OF the sundry civil bill then
was resumed. Mr.. Tfilman speaking to his
amendment said he had no purpose to pre-
vent any scheme OF appointment which
might be agreeable to some senators. He
dtsciaimed that the amendment applied to
such senators or members who retire from
Office March L.
Tie amendment was declared out Of order
On an objection by Mr.. McComas.
Mr.. Hansbrough tN.D.) offered an amend
ment prohibiting the sale of Intoxicating
liquors In the Capitol. 1t went out on
point OF order by Mr.. Allison.
Mr.. Clay (Ga.) offered an amen dment ap-
propriating $4,000 for the improvement OF
the road from Crawfish Springs Ca,
through the Widow Davis cross roads to
stephens Gap. Chickamauga Park.
MIR. Allison made point of order against
the amendment because it contemplated i'm
proyements outside the park and opened
the way for the building OF roads generally.
Messrs. Foraker and Clay called attention
10 the fact that Georgia had ceded the land
70 the United States and that Gen. H. v.
Boynton and the Secretary Of War had rec
0mmended IL. The point of order was sus-
Gained.