Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-24
NO CHANGE IN POSITION
Naming of Rudolph and Oyster May
Not Be Confirmed by Senate.
THREE EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE
Army, Navy and Diplomatic Corps
Only to Be Considered After
Caucus Today.


democratic senators today that the demo-
Gratis in the upper house of Congress will
yield in their opposition to the confirma-
ton of President Tafts nominations for
District Commissioners. Cuno III. Ru-
dolph and James F. Oyster.
Although the commissionersllip nomina-
tions were not specifically mentioned dur
ing the caucus. so far as information has
leaked out the democrats decided to
stand pat in their opposition to the con-
firmatiOn of the Taft nominations other
than army, navy and diplomatic appoint
mentS. And those cOmmissiOnerShlp
nominations are within the class of the
prohibited.
No suggestion was made at today's
caucus that the wishes of President-elect
Wilson as to selection of the District
Commissioners will be consulted as a
guide to the attitude the Senate demo-
Gratis are to take to the nominations made
by President Taft. 1t has been limited
by some democratic senators that the
ban against combinations might be raised
as to the District Commissioners if Gov.
Wilson indicated he did not want the
privilege of naming them.
1t is stated today, however, on excel
lent authority. that the senators Will not
put the proposition up to him. There
fore. unless he takes an afflrmat1ve stano
in the way of announcing that he does
not want the privilege of selecting the
Commissioners reserved for him, the
Senate democrats generally will stand op-
posed to confirmation.
Ban Extends to Committees.
A poll of the Senate District commit
tee. to which the nominations have been
referred for its recommendations as to
confirmation. shows that the democratic
han against combinations extends to COM
mittees before which nominations are
pending. Democratic members Of the
District committee are not giving thelr
approval to the nominations ana tnus are
doing what they can to prevent the re-
porting Of the nominations to the SEN
ate with the committees Recommendation
for their confirmation.
Individual democrats on the committee
who discuss their refusal, explain they
are not opposed to the particular selec-
tions of President Taft, but are standing
on the principle, back of the democratic
filibuster against all conhrmatlons. tnat
officers to serve under the coming ad-
ministration should be selected by that
administration.
Special pleas are being made to demo-
cratic senator's. especially to those on the
Senate District committee, to allow the
confirmation Of Messrs. Rudolph and Oys-
ter Three separate delegations have been
working at the Capitol during the last
couple Of days, in an endeaVor 10 per-
suade democrats to make an exception IN
the case Of the commissiOnerships So TAR
as can be learned the delegations have
been cordially received, warmly greeted
and vet have taken their leave without
definite promises that give hope.
Politics Not in Appointments.
In behalf Of the confirmation Of the
Commissioner selections. it is being urged
upon democrats that these District offices
are non-political and that politics does
not enter into the selection Of the ap-
pointees. Messrs Rudolph and Oyster, it
is argued. were selected by Presi-
dent Taft without regard to their
political affiliations and with sole re-
gard for their fitness to head the
municipal government of the National
Capital The offices being non-political
and politics not having been considered
in making the selections, it is added. the
Commissioner nominations should not be
included in the class of nominations which
the democrats are fighting. but, on the
other hand, should be classed with army,
navy and diplomatic nominations which
the democrats are willing to confirm.
To some the democrats have replied that
the COmmissiOnerships have been consid-
cred political appointments in the past.
and that they are not now to be suddenly
taken out of that class.
The caucus was called at the instance
of Senator Newlands to see if ii were not
possible to confirm Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Clark's reappointment. Sen
ator Smoot. for the republicans, when he
heard of the caucus said the republicans
would meet next Tuesday to determine
upon their attitude.