Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-01-22
SENATE MAY NOT
CONF IRM WILSON
APPOINTEES NOW
Democrats Would Like to
See Prompt Action, But
Republicans Seem In
Clined to Delay Matter.

washington, Jan. 2l.-Whether
q temporary hole should be bored
in the wall of republican opposi-
ton holding up confirmation of
about 10000 nominations made by
President Wilson so that action
could be had in some emergency
cases was discussed today at a
secret conference of republican
senators.
Officially it was announced that
no action was taken, bur some sem
ators said it had been agreed tao
lily TO decide whether the situation
was sufficiently urgent to require
confirmation before President
elect Harding is inaugurated and
can make his own appointments.
Many senators predicted that the
general party policy of refusing to
to confirm many nominations, such
as postmasters. members of the
shipping board and general army
officers would be adhered to.
Many Recess Appointments.
Many government officers, in
GLIDING all members of the new
shipping board. would go out OF
office automatically on March
unless their nominations are con-
f!rmed by the senate before that
time, it was said by legal and other
officials of .he government. Those
officers are holding recess appoint
mcnts.
Dipping their brushes into the
probability that the republican ma
jority in the senate would refuse
to confirm most of the 10000 nom
nations made by President Will
son, some administration officials
painted today a picture of a creak-
ing government machine. founder
ing along for time after March 4
with lot of important cOgs miss
ing.
Failure of the republican sena-
tors at secret conference today
to reach any decision as to the
nominations, set the canvas. Re
publican leaders weren't inclined
to take the picture seriously, how
ever.
May Study Each Case.
The question of the nominations
occupied much of the time of the
republican conference. The Off
cial announcement said no decision
was reached. but some of those
attending the meeting said private
~ that there had been tact
agreement for the republican mem
bers of committees to take the
nominations coming upder thelf
jurisdiction, study conditions in the
executive departments, and then
determine whether failure to keep
the democratic appointees in Of
flee after March a. would result in
any embarrassment of those de-
partments.
A young regiment of officials
now in Washington are holding Of
flee by virtue of recess appoint
ments. Should the senate fail toI
act on their nominations before
this congress quits on March 3, IL
is explained, they will autom atlc-
ally be out of jobs under the law
These officials include all seven
members of the shipping board,
two members Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. three chief
officials in the patent Office ana
five assistant secretaries of the
treasury.
Lodge issues Cltimatum.
Then, too. there are a lot of post
masters, federal judges. marshals,
federal attorneys, registrars of
land offices and the like over the
country who are in the same posi-
lion. Some, of these are classed as
emergency cases and the repubIi-
can leaders have indicated that
where there is found to be an
action will be taken.
Confirmation of President Will
sons appointments by the senate
would carry some OF these officials
ever into the republican admins
tratiOn for terms ranging from
one year to years in excess of the
four for which Mr.. Harding has