Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-20
Saving Offices
 For Democrats
POLITICAL MANoEUVRINe IN THE
 U. S. SENATE.
BLOCK CONFIRMATION
Taft's Appointments Held Up on Tech nicalities-senator smoet Draws the Fire of Senator Heke Smith.

Washington, Dec 19.-Congress ad- journed for the Christmas holidays to- day after some lively manoeuVreing to get President Taft's message into the record, secure action on the presi- dents recent appointments and bring proceedings in the Archibald impeach- ment trial to a point where they may be disposed of early in January. The house was unable to get quorum and adjourned after a 1T minute session without even having received the presidents message.
 The message waited for four hours to secure entrance into the senate. When that body convened at noon the republican senators asked for immed- late consideration again of their de- mand for an executive session to take up appointments.
 Four Hours Fight Over Offices.
 The democrats consented to the plan and until the impeachment trial au- tomatically took the floor at 130 o'clock the senate fought over the ill., ing of presidential offices, with the de- bate carried on behind tightly closed doors It was not until the impeach- ment court adjourned about four o'clock that the presidents message was received and read.
 Both houses of congress adjourned to meet on Thursday, January 2. The senate sitting as a court of impeach- ment. will reconvene Friday, January 8. The house money trust committee winding up it's session with J. P. Nor gan at 3.30 adjourned until o'clock Monday, January 6. Practically all business of congress will stand in abeyance throughout the holiday re- cess and a majority of the members | of both houses will leave Washington l for the vacation.
 One Appointment Confirmed. The senate confirmed but one ap- pointment, that of John H. Brown as postmaster at Concord, N. H., in the hour and 8 half of executive debate No action was taken on the reappoint- ment of Edgar B. Clark, whose tern as interstate commerce commissions expires December 31 Senator Hokt Smith acting for many democrats, of l fered resolution for the confirmation i of army and navy appointments, bu | the republican senators insisted or starting at the head of the list fol the consideration of postmasters.
 A Technical Point Raised.
 Objections by Senator Hitchcock democrat, that the post office appoint ments had not received consideration by the full membership of the pos office committee, drew the declaration I from Senator Lodge that. if this poin was forced, it would be embarrassing throughout the administration o | Woodrow Wilson. Senator Lodge de clared that the senate had always fol lowed the precedent of conhrmint post office appointments on the recon mendation of the sub- committees o individual senators to which they wer referred. Senator Hitchcock finall withdrew his objections, but no ac tion was taken on any of the othe post office appointments.
 Shoot Draws Fire of Hoke Smith.
 Figures presented by Senator Smoo to show in previous changes of admin istration the senate had always con f1rmed the appointments of the retir ing presidents, met sharp reply froI Senator Hoke Smith. He declared tha President Taft had sent over thirtee hundred appointments to the senat during three weeks of this sessior while President Cleveland sent in bu four hundred appointments during tn whole three months of the last con gress of the first Cleveland term.