The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-12
Republicans Block Con-
firmation of Wilson
Appointments.
SEND THEM BACK
TO COMMITTEE
Disclaim Any Purpose of Con
Quoting General Opposition to
Names Sent In by President.
Committee Assignments
Will Be Reported to
Senate on Thursday.

Washington. March IA hint OF
opposition to President Wilson's APP
pointments came in an executive ses-
sion OF the Senate to-day. when Re-
publican Senator'S insisted that ap-
pointments be acted upon by the SEN
ate committee before being taken us
for confirmation AS a result no APP
pointments were confirmed although
those Of Daniel G. Roper. Alexander
NJ. Dockery and James l. Blakesiec,
appointed respectively as first. third
and fourth assistant postmaster gen
general. were ready for action
The appointments made By President
wilson had been referred TO committees
YESTERDAY When the Senate went into
executive session to-day Senator Bank
head offered the Dockery appointment
for confirmation. senator Pcnrose. the
Blakesiee appointment, And Senator
Smith. OF South Carolina. the Roper
appointment
Senator Townsend. OF Michigan.
asked whether the full Committee Of
Post-Onces had acted on the appoint
ments Democratic leaders answered
that the usual custom was being fol-
lowed OF reporting the appointments
after the lapse OF one dag, but with
out the formaity OF a committee meet
ing. rs the result Of Senator Town
sends objection. the names were at
once Withdrawn. and arrangements
made for "a committee meeting.
No General Opposition.
Republican Senators said tonight
that there was no purpose on their
p:trt to conduct any general opposition
10 Wilson appointments such as the
Democrats did to the Taft appoint
menrs in the last session To- days
development, however has given con
Germ 10 the Democrats.
senator Kern. the Democratic leader
announced to-day that the Steering
committee expected to complete it's
work on the new Senate committees
so that they might be presented in
full Thursday. The Senate was In ses-
sion. but half hour and adjourned
until Thursday a; o'clock II is eN-
pectcd that officers will be elected
that the Senate viii be prepared TO
bring the special session to an end
The Democratic committee OF nine
worked throughout the day trying to
comp plctc the committee assignments,
but many obstacles have been en-
courtercd, particularly in the oreani-
Zation Of the new Committee on Bank
ing and Currency. which is TO take
from the Finance Committee the prob
LENS of currency reform. The hard
fight that is being made by Senator
Tiiman for the chairmanship OF the
appropriations Committee has also
been an important factor In delaying
the completion OF the Steering" com
mittee's work. Persistent efforts have
been made to induce Senator Tillman
to give up his claim to this post. 1t
was declared tonight that no definite
conclusion had been reached as To
whether or not he shall have the
chairmanship.
NeiII Is Opposed.
Opposition TO the confirmation OF
DR.. g. +. Neil. reappointed by Pres
ident Wilson as Commissioner OF
Labor Statistics, has developed
among Southern Democratic Senator's
Senators Tillman. OF South Carolina
and Overman, of North Carolina, op-
pose DR.. Neilrs reappointment he
cause ot report he made in 1911 upon
conditions of labor and the character
OF women and child laborers in the
southern cotton manufacturing States.
\ meeting of the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor to consider the APP
pointment of DR.. Neill has been called
for Thursday. Several Democratic
Senator's have asked that no action
be taken ON the Neill appointment
until the Senate has been reorganized
and the new committees named. Sen
ator Borah said to-day that lie would
not take tho responsibility for such
action, but would submit Dr. Nciirs
appointment to the committee as il
now exists.