Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-03-22
limited STATES SENATE FINALLY
CONFIRMS WALTER |. COHEN FOR
COMPTROLLER At NEW ORLEANS
AFTER HAVING BEEN REJECTED TWICE, COLORED
PORT COMPTROLLER IS ACCEPTED BY THE
SENATE ON A 1913 VOTE.
Senator Ransde left the Post Ranhng Something About
Making Negro Customs Controller is Outrageous.

WASHINGTON, March 17.-Walter
L. Cohen, who has been a storm centre
of Republican politics in louisiana and
has been prominent in controlling Ne
gro delegates to Republican conven'
tions, was confirmed today by the Sen
ate in executive session as Controller
of Customs of the Port of New Orleans
The vote was 80 to SO.
C0aen, who is an educated Negro, but
is declared to be offensive to some OF
the people doing business at the port,
had been twice rejected. Extraordinary
efforts were made by friends of the Ad
ministration to obtain the vote neces
sary to effect his confirmation.
Senator Shipstead, Farmer-Labor OF
Minnesota, who had previously opposed
confirmation, offered the motion to re
consider after a debate of two hours,
and Senator McNary of Oregon also
switched.
Opposition to Cohen's confirmation
has been strong among leading Republi
can Senators and there has been a cam
paign against him by the Ku Klux Klan
Senators Ransdell and Broussard OF
Louisiana, and all the Southern Sena'
tors, opposed him on account of his
color and his reputation politically.
In opposing confirmation Senator
Ransdell said insistence on the part OF
the Administration was IAN outrage
Gus proceeding" While Cohen, the Sen
ator declared, could not be elected To
office in his own State, he was to be
put over hundreds OF voters and tax
payers not only in Louisiana but in
several adjoining States.
Cohen has been a frequent caller at
the White House. He called there today
before the Senate voted on his nomlna'
tion. With other Negro leaders of the
South, he has been frequent visitor
to the office of C. 3ascom Slemp, Secre
tary to the President.
Reports of deals" were current in
the Senate before and after CohenS
last rejection and these were said to
have influenced finally the repeated
but unsuccessful attempt Of Senator
Moses of New Hampshire and Jones oi
Washington. Republicans, to make the
secret vote public On every such occas
ion there was prompt objection from
the Democratic side. Members of that
party from border States exhibited
keen desire to block and motion to lift
the rules.
The record of the Cohen case is SAID
to be almost unprecedented in Ser
ate annals. A recess appointment was
given to him on November 4, 1922 and
his name was first sent to the Senate
by President Harding at the special ses
sion which began that month. The ses-
sion expired without action on the nom
ination, however, and another recess mp
pontment was given to him.
His name was sent in the secono
time. on December 6, 1922. and rejected
on March 1, 1928 Another recess ap-
pointment again put him in office ard
President Coolidge sent the nomination
in for the rejected on February Is by a
scant two votes. Cohen then offered 20
serve without pay, and President Cool-
idge gave his approval. AS a result of
today's action, however, he will draw
back pay from May II, 1923, the date
of his last recess appointment.