Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-30
THE BARNES NOMINATION.
It Is Expected to Be Considered in the
Senate TODAY

1t is expected that before the Senate ad-
Journs today an executive session will be
held, at which the nomination of Mr. Ben
jamn F. Barnes, to be postmaster of this
city, will be called up and discussed. The
feeling in the Senate is so great In relation
to this nomination, and the fact that the
committee on post offices and post roads
refused to investigate charges preferred
against Mr.. Barnes, that 1t Is not at all
likely any conclusion can be reached today
The one-sided testimony in support of Mr.
Barnes which has been sent to the commit
tee from the White House, and in turn
printed by the committee as an executive
document for the use of the Senate, has
been the cause of a great deal Of surprise
on the part of senators, and when it is re-
ferred to in the Senate this afternoon in
executive session 1t is expected there will
be many criticisms of a severe nature on
account of this unusual proceeding An ap-
peal will be made to the Senate to stick by
the traditions of that body, which have al
ways favored an investigation Of charges
when made by senator against any per-
son nominated for an Office and to be con-
firmed by the Senate.
The committee on post offices and post
roads, in Its report, has taken the ground
that Mr.. Barnes cannot be held RESPONSE
bic for anything that happened in relation
to Mrs. Morris outside OF the door of the
executive office. That, In fact, wil be the
Keynote or the defense TO be attempted in
the Senate in order to secure confirmation
OF this nomination. The committee will
urge that 1t has had no interest in any
brutality that may have occurred outside
of the Presidents office, because they
claim, that their only interest in this par
ticular matter relates to the fitness of Mr.
Barnes to be postmaster of the city Of
Washington. 1t is stated that even If Mrs.
Morris was brutally handled that that is
not matter OF interest in relation to Mr.
Barnes, because he should not be held re-
sponsble for it.
This technical defense of Mr.. Barnes
conduct has had very little weight with
the great body of the Senate, but the
party discipline in that body is so strong
that Mr.. Barnes will get a degree of de-
fense entirely out of proportion to the real
feeling of senators. Whether or not the
majority of the Senate stand together In
defense of Mr.. Barnes and in favor OF
the confirmation of his nomination will
prove successful depends upon how far it
is possible to go in a matter of this kind
without causing a revolt on the republican
side
There Is no doubt that a very large num-
Der of republicans in the Senate are very
much disgusted with the developments in
the Barnes case. They would like to get
rid of 1t by the shortest method possible
They regret that Mr.. Barnes has been nomi-
mated to be postmaster of this city or for
any other Office which could give rise to a
discussion of this kind.
When the Senate goes into executive ses-
sion today Senator Carter will make re-
port on Mr.. Barnes nomination. He will
state the case to the Senate and will be re-
piled to by Senator Culberson, who has
submitted a minority report on the Barnes
case. 1t Is well understood this afternoon
that large number of senators will speak
on this matter. 1t is not expected that de-