Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-01-19
Democratic
Office Jobs
AreHeldUp
Efforts of Administration to
Pack Departments With Men
OF Own Selection Checked
By the Senate.
Republicans in Control
Chicago Tribune-omaha BE. Leased wire

Chicago Tribune-Omala Bee Leased Wire.
Washington. Jan. lS.--Thc senate
abruptly checked efforts OF President
Wilson, Secretary of War Baker and
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels to
pack the army and navy at the close
Of their administration with appoin-
tees OF their own selection and thus
70 fasten upon i new administration,
their own policies of conducting
these important departments OF gov
crnment.
With the opening OF the senate
session at noon democrats launched
an unexpected drive to force the re-
publicans to abandon their avowcd
determination 70 hold up every ap-
pointment by President Wilson for
the remainder OF his term.
After two hours of spirited debate
md sharp parliamentary fencing, the
republicans were still in control OF
the situation and it had been. vir-
<eually settled that no more Wilson
: nominations would be confirmed with
the. exception of about 5000 minor
officers. commissioned last summer
under the army reorganization act
These were regarded as mere formal
appointments.
Fletcher Starts Debate.
Discussion OF the more vital issue
Of major appointments began when
Senator Fletcher of Florida, demo-
crat, called up his resolution asking
The post master general to furnish to
the senate, list OF the names of the
war veterans er widows OF men
killed in the war, who have been
nominated as postmasters or post
mistresses. Senator Townsend Of
Michigan, republican, promptly
moved to pigeon-hole the measure by
referring it to the postothce COM
mttee. The motion was carried by
strict partisan vote.
Senator Robinson OF Arkansas,
democrat, made several Intellectual
attempts to force the senate into ex-
ccutive session to consider the noi,l-
nations sent to the senate by Presi-
dent Wilson at this session. The
success of hi motion would have
given the democrats slight tactical
advantage, so the republicans quickly
voted it down.
Senator Underwood. the demo-
cratic leader, then proposed unan..
imous consent agreement to deal
with army and navy appointments,
FTc said he had no fault to find with
the republicans for taking advantage
81 their control to hold up all civil
\ nominations. but he declared It
would be nothing short OF "a crime"
to permit politics to intefferc with
the confirmation of military appoint
mcnts. A large number OF the mil
itary appointments, hc pointed out,
were made by President Wilson in-
der his recess authority and unless
the senate confirmed them now they
would expire on March 4. Officers
ii such positions, he said, would be
forced into the street. and CONF
pellcd to "tear the epaulets from
their shoulders" notwithstanding
their achievements in the world war.
Senator Lodge, the republican
leader. said he had no disposition
10 hold up such appointments, bur
he emphaticaliy declared that under
no circumstances would he permit
the confirmation OF appointments OF
bureau chiefs and other high oftl-
cials in the army and navy.
Lodge Looking Ahead.
"some Of these appointments will
have to be considered very care
fully." he said, Especially those OF
chief Importance. II | can prevent:
viii not permit the bureaus OF
the War and Navy departments TO
he packed with appointees OF the
present administration to hamper the
next administration for the next
four years"
It was finally agreed to refer
"original appointments consisting
largely of lieutenants and CAPTAINS
of the army, to the military affairs
committee to be sifted, and assur-
ancs were later given that these
/ would be confirmed. The appoint
mcnt OF II major generals and sew
cral thousand other higher officials
Of the War department will have to-
wait. along with practically all other
nominations in all other depart
ments.
Senator Norris of Nebraska. re-
publican, told the senate a dis
astrous" situation would result in
the patent Office unless the senate
confirmed the commissioner of pat
ents. There would be no one one to
Fl. 4. ID