The New York herald., 1921-01-19
SENATORS AGREE
T0CONFRM $500
ARMY PROMOTIONS
Routine Appointments Only
InvOlved-Others Will
Be Held Up.
DEBATE GROWS CAUSTIC
Seniority Promotions and
Transfers Will Hold Over
Until Next Congress.
POSTMASTERS INCLUDED
Nearly 1000 Partisan Nomi-
nations Await Scrutiny Of
Republicans.
DEBATE GROWS CAUSTIC
POSTMASTERS INCLUDED
Special Despatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
washington. ID. C.. Jan. IS.

Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. G., Jan. IT, }
A definite agreement was reached
in open debate to-day by leaders in
both parties that the nominations of
1884 officers in the army made dur
ing the recess of Congress by Presi-
dent Wilson and sent to the Senate
early in the session will be confirmed
without meeting in executive session.
The agreement applies merely to
original appointments made under the
reorganization act About twenty orig
inal appointments in the navy also
are expected to be confirmed.
It does not apply to promotions by
seniority or to transfers between vari-
Gus branches of the military service.
Those will be held up for action by
the Senate until after March 4, when
the Republican Administration comes
into power There are 3,2S5 promo
tions by seniority. in which are in
cluded eleven Major Generals and
twenty-five Brigadier Generals. There
are also 964 transfers which will be
held up.
Senator Lodge served notice that Re-
publican leaders do not intend to confirm
the rest of the nominations sent 10 the
Senate in this session. These VIII De
held I'D. as we're similar nominations by
the Democrats in 1913. OF these APP
pointnents there are nearly 1000 post
masters. 2s2 in New York. and large
number of other civil appointments In
various branches of the Federal service.
Three Roll Calls Taken.
The decision to confirm the army and
navy original appointments was reached
by unanimous consent required by SEN
ator Underwood (Ala.) and agreed to by
Senator Lodge after the Democrats had
tried to force an executive session nd
been defeated on three roll calls The
first vote came on resolution oiferea
by Senator Fletcher (Fla.) seeking 10
have nominations of world war veterans
named as postmasters referred 10 ths
Committee on Post Offices with view
to confirmation.
Debate was partisan and caustic.
Democrats trying to make 1t appear that
che Republicans were refusing aid TO Tor
sner service men.
Senator Townsend (Mich.), chairman
s,f the Post Office Committee, challenged
the right of the Democrats to criticize
their colleagues in the treatment of SOL
diers and moved that the Fletcher reso-
luton be referred to his committee. Be-
\. N,.c cntap or ~ H..
inson (Ark.) forced the issue by moving
an executive session--defeated. 36 to 80.
Senator Norris (Neb.) was the only Re-
publican to vote for the motion.
A vote was then had on the Townsend
motion. for which Senator Norris voted
with the Republicans, and 1t was carried
by a vote of 81 to "a.
Senator Robinson said that the Sen
ate would have opportunity to vote fre-
ouently on a motion for an executive
session" and soon after that again tried
10 force a closed meeting. Again he
was unsuccessful, the vote being S6
TO "a.
Recognized Republican Rights.
Senator Underwood then appealed for
n unanimous consent agreement to have
the routine appointments In the army
and navy disposed Of, while frankly ad-
mitting that 'he recognized the right of
the Republicans not TO confirm civil or
partisan appointments"
Senator Lodge said he was willing to
have original army and navy appoint
snants confirmed, but added:
for one do not propose to have all
ruese appointments to bureaus and to
Aigher appointments In the army con-
firmed until they have been carefully
considered. / will not permit, IL l can
help it, having all these appointments
filled less than sixty days ahead OF the
time when another Administration VIII
come in and thus for four years have
offices run by men who may not be in
sympathy with chiefs above them, still