The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-25
SENATORS PLAN
To ANTAGONIZE
APPOINTMENTS
Would Hold Congress in
Session Till After
Convention.
Gen. WadSWOrth Fight
ing Confirmation of
POrter'S Men.

No matter what kind of statement
the President may give out as result
of his conference yesterday with his
Cabinet officers concerning the charge
that he has been using the power on
Federal patronage in behalf OF Score
tary Tafts candidacy, il viii not change
the attitude OF the Senate. The vigil
lance OF that body viii not be relaxed.
Every nomination that is made by the
President will be closely scrutinized at
tie CAPITOL for the rest of the session.
The discovery Of concrete instances,
such as the four Ohio postmasters, the
New Hampshire pension agent, and
Judge Saters' nomination as an addl-
tionaI Judge IN Ohio, in all OF which
cases it is claimed that Taft men were
named because they We're such. has
been enough to put the anti-Adminis-
tration Senators on their guard.
Extraordinary Plan.
An extraordinary plan mas been agreed
upon by these Senators. il is said. 20
make sure that no appointees OF this
character shall draw salaries from the
Offices to which they may be nomi-
mated. al least until after the next Re
been named al Chicago. Il was the
original intention 10 adjourn Congress
the last part of April or early in May.
Now. fl is said, Congress viii be kept
in session right mp To the eve of the
Chicago convention, and perhaps until
after the balIoting for Presidential can
didates has been concluded. That means.
II the plan is carried out, that Congress
will remain in session until after the
middle of June
Presidential appointments which the
Senators have reason to suspect were
made for political purposes viii be held
UP in the meantime. or rejected. In the
case of ''hold-ups" the appointees to
vacancies may enter upon the duties OF
their offices. but they cannot draw their
salaries so long as The Senate remains
n session. and their nominations are un-
confirmed.
In this way the anti-Administration
Senators not only believe that they can
1oTestau the suspected plans of The
President, but at the same time extend
a warning to candidates for Office 10 be
careful about their political activities. .
New York Fight.
An opportunity for additional display
OF Senatorial antagonism 10 the Presi-
dent was afforded III the nomination OF
five postmasters i'm New York State al
the following places: Arcade, AJtica
DansviIIe, LoCKp0rt. and Barker. These
offices are all in the Thirty Con
gressional district, now represented by
Peter A. Porter. the man who defeated
Cen James A Wadsworth by comb
nation OF Democratic and Republican
votes, and who since coming here has
been refused recognition by both The
Democratic and Republican parties in
the House.
General WadswOTth claims that the
terms OF the postmaSteTs at these five
places became vacant prior to his re-
Jirement from Congress. and that hJ
ought 10 have been allowed to name
their successors. But just at that time
he and the President fell out over the
1eef. inspection bill, and when Porter was
elected Lha President turned over Ghis
patronage 10 him. General TVadswortf
proposes TO defeat their. confirmation, il
possible. He has approached both
Senators Plat and Depew on the sub
5ect without getting much satisfaction
Now he is going 10 apply to Foraker
and other auti-Administration Senator:
TO help him in his fight against the Por
ter nominees.