Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-01
What He MIght Have Done.

what He Might Have Done.
Tho question has been asked How
could President Roosevelt have avoided
appointing Henry c. Conrad postmaster
Of Wilmington when be was the choice of
Senator Alice, and the latter, by the rule
Of senatorial courtesy, could have pre-
vented the confirmation Of any appoint
ment not made in accordance with his de-
sires
During President Clevelands second
administration a vacancy occurred on the
bench Of the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and the President desired to honor
the State of New York by bestowing the
high Office upon one Of her citizens.
David B. Hill was then the senior Sena-
tor from New York, and he insisted that
he, and not the President should make the
appointment, just as Senator Alice in
sisted that he, and not the President,
should appoint the postmaster at VIII
mington.
But President Cleveland refused TO sur
render his prerogative TO Senator Hill and
appoint to the Supreme Court any petit
Jogging political lawyer whom the latter
might designate So he selected Mr. Will
liam R. Hornblower, an eminent member
Of the New York bar and a lawyer Of ac-
knowledgcd ability. Senator Hill OBJ
iected TO the selection, and by virtue Of
the rule Of senatorial courtesy his objec-
tion was sufficient to prevent confrma-
tion.
Next President Cleveland sent TO the
Senate the name Of Mr.. Wheeler H. Peck
ham, another eminent lawyer Of New
York, and again Hills objection and sena-
torial courtesy negatived the President s
excellent selection.
Then President Cleveland made another
move. He rendered the appointment to
Senator Edward d. White Of Louisiana.
who accepted il. Again senatorial cour-
tesy figured, but not in the manner that
Senator Hill desired. For senatorial
courtesy provides that when a member Of
the Senate Is appointed to a position
which requires confirmation by the Senate
favorable action shall be taken immedi-
ately, without even the formality Of refer
ring the nomination TO committee. Thus,
President Cleveland succeeded in making
a suitable appointment TO the Supreme
Court vacancy without surrendering the
prerogatives Of his Office 10 Senator Hill.
As for Hill, he was compelled 10 face the
disagreeable situation Of having, by his
senseless insistenoe upon the right 10
make the appointment, deprived the State
Of New York Of the high honor OF represen-
tation in the Supreme Court Of tho United
States, the greatest judicial tribunal in the
world. How the people of New York
dealt with him for his recusance is a matter
Of political history.
Now, the situations are not exactly
parallel as President Roosevelt, had he
objected to Senator Allee's choice for
postmaster Of Wilmington, could not have
overcome It by appointing a member Of
the United States Senate to the position
But he could have insisted upon reappoint.
ing Postmaster Heald, in accordance with
the principles of the Civil Service and the
recently announced policy Of his admins.
tration, and, in the event that Senator
Alice prevented confirmation Of the ap.
pointment, could have held further ap-
pointments In allegiance until tho end Of
Senator Allee's term. Postmaster Heald
would have continued in the Office and
the President would have been relieved OF
the odium Of having made a purely poll.
tical appointment to an important Fed
eral Office, merely TO oblige a petty poll
tioian who happens to hold the office OF
United States Senator.
We are of the opinion that President
Cleveland would have taken such a course
as this had he been confronted with the
proposition to pervert tho powers of his
high Office for the purpose Of advancing
the political and personal interests Of a
member Of the Senate. The country
would have applauded him for hisc ourage
as il did wehn he firmly stood out against
the assumption by Senator Hill Of the
right TO appoint a Justice Of the Supreme
Court. But we arc suro that the public
the people Of Delaware at least, will not
applaud President Roosevelt for per.
mitting Senator Alice to name the post.
master Of Wilmington.