The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-17
CHARLESTON WILL
HAVE TO TAKE CRUM
Roosevelt Will Not Be Deferred by the Non.Con.
currence of the Senate

date of his appointment as p0stmas.
ter, the records of the pension of
flee, according to Senator Tillmaf1,
show that Mr.. Harris had his residence
in Washington and was drawing a per
diem allowance for his living expenses
while on pension duty in Charleston.
When Mr. Harris nomination came
to the Senate during the latter part
of the first session of the F1fty.seVsntb
Congress, Senator Tillman made
vigorous opposition to the cohhrn1as
ton of Harris on the ground that he
was not a citizen of the state of South
Carolina. The session ended. leaving
Postmaster Harris unconfirmed. He
was Immediately given recess APP
pointment by the President and CONF
missioned to take charge OF the Char.
laston postoffice.
This he promptly did and he Is now
drawing the salary 5000, and admin
istering the office on the strength OF
his recess appointment.
When the second session Of the Fiji
ty-seventh Congress convened, the
nomination of Harris was a second
time sent to the Senate and again the
session expired without any action be-
ing taken upon his nomination, beyond
a favorable report from the Committee
on PoStoftices and PoStroads. The dav
the present special session of the Sem
ate sembled, the nomination Of Har-
ris for a third time was presented to
the Senate. and for a third time re-
ported favorably from committee. The
same objection and the same opposi-
ton to the confirmation was urged
successfully by Senator Tillman, but
in the meantime Mr.. Harris is serene-
ly holding down his Job in the Charles
ton postoffce and drawing his salary
with great regularity.
The same condition of affairs will
probably be presented next week when
the special session of the Senate terri-
| mates. Crum will be given a recess
appointment He will be promptly
commissioned to take charge of the
Custom House at Charleston. Thus,
without the advice and the consent OF
the Senate and in spite of the earnest
and vigorous protests of the white cit
liens of Charleston, Crurn will be-
come collector of the port and hold
his commission until his successor Is
appointed. 1t will then be a matter
of total indifference to Crum and his
friends how often the minority of the
Senate prevent a vote upon his con-
frmation for, like Postmaster Harris,
he will continue to administer the Of
flee and draw the salary with the
same cheerful regularity so long as a
Republican administration will stand
for his appointment.
1t appears that the only consolation
the white people of Charleston can
draw from this peculiar condition OF
affairs which is practically case OF
the executive branch of the govern
ment overriding the Senate, will be the
general effect the Presidents action
will have in national politics. Repub-
lican senators do not hesitate to say
that they are forced by executive
strenuousness to support the adminis-
traton If a vote is taken. On the 9TH
er hand, the Democrats contend that
it is good politics to place the Presi-
dent in the attitude of appointing a
man to a purely commercial Office who
is confessedly without experience In
business matters.