The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-07
CHARLESTON CAN'T
ESCAPE FROM CRUM
ROOSEVELT PRESENTS HIM
70 THE CITY By THE SEA AS COL
LECTOR OF THE PORT.

Negro Is Again Appointed, and Now
the south Carolina Senators Have
10 Give Up the Fight Against His
ConfirmatiOn-Tillm Yields, but,
Yielding. Protests - Roosevelt
Harming Both Whites and Blacks
by His Course.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, Dec. 6.-President
roosevelt has again presented the
Crum nomination to the Senate, and
the present indications are that he will
eventually be confirmed by a strict
party vote.
Senators Tillman and Latimer have
about concluded that it is futile to
further obstruct final action by the
Senate on the Crum nomination. 1t
is evident the President is determined
that the Senate shall vote for the
confirmation or rejection of Crum, and
that he intends to keep the nominal
ton before the Senate until a decision
is reached.
In view of the political complexion
Of the Committee on Commerce, which
will pass upon the nomination, it is
safe to assume that a favorable re-
mort will be made. At the last ses-
sion of Congress the same committee
reported the nomination favorably, by
a strict party vote. Senator Tillman
STAYED off action by the Senate, ow-
ing to the lateness of the session.
Up Against n stone Wall.
After the nomination was reported
to the Senate to-day, Senator Till
man was asked what course he intends
to pursue in dealing with the Crum
case.
Il do not see the use of butting my
head against a stone WALL" he re-
Piled. 1T is evident the. Republican
party intends that Crum shall be forced
on the people of Charleston, and it
seems useless for me to obstruct ac-
ton by the Senate further.
Il propose, when the case comes up,
to make a statement to the Senate,
setting forth the injustice the Presi-
dent is doing by forcing a negro col
lector upon the citizens of Charleston.
He is not only diregarding the wishes
of the best interests of the white peo-
pie, but he is also doing a great harm
to the negroes. The President cannot
force social or political equality be-
tween the white people and the ne
groes in South Carolina, and he is not
helping the negro race by the per-
sistence with which he is pressing the
Crum case"
TiIIman's Resolution.
Senator Tillman also proposes to call
4bo ,4N ION, .f To -, 1,o
olution he introduced at the last ses-
sion, calling upon the Judiciary Com
mittee to report upon the legal au-
thority of the President to continue DR..
Crum in Office in spite of the fact that
the law requires that his nomination
shall be confirmed by the Senate be-
fore he is legally qualified to admins
ter the business of the collectors Of
fee. The Judiciary Committee failed
to make a report on Senator Tillman's
resolution, which was as follows: Re
solved that the Secretary of Treasu-
ury be. and he is hereby, instructed
to send to the Senate information in
regard to the appointment of William
D. Crum as collector of the port of
Charleston, S. c., and that he answer
specifically the following questions:
First. Is William D. Crum now
holding a commission as collector? If
so, give date and send to the Senate
verbatim copy thereof.
Second. Was second appointment
made in accordance with law: and if
so, what law?
Third. Is there any law or prece-
dent for the holding of an office of
this kind, by de facto official?
Fourth. Is it the contention or in
tention to claim and exercise the au-
thority to make such appointments
during a constructive recess, as this
appears to be?"