Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1886 — CLEVELAND’S POSITION. [ARTICLE]

CLEVELAND’S POSITION.

The President Decides Not to Make Any Explanations Concerning Removals. Bepublicfvn Senators to Betaliate by Selecting Nominees to Suooeed the Deposed Officers. The President and the Senate. [Washington special to the Chicago Times.] The President has definitely decided not to supply the Senate with information regarding removals. A few days ago he was disposed to send this information, with an explanation that he did so as a matter of courtesy, and not a matter of duty, provided the Senate asked for it iu a manner indicating that it was looked for simply as a matter of accommodation. Blit he has since reached the conclusion that the repetition of courtesies of that kind would create a precedent that would result in future Senates demanding such information and ffiture Presidents feeling themselves bound to give it. The President looks on the gower of absolute removal as a part of tho residential prerogative, and he will not do anything that will impair that prerogative. He will not, even as a matter of accommodation, re-enforce the theory of certaiu Senators that they havo a right to pass judgment on tho President’s removals. Whether appointments be considered in secret or open sessions will make no difference. The President does not look with favor on the suggestion that executive sessions bo dispensed with in considering appointments, and in either case he will not, even in an indirect way, recognize the right of the Senate to participate with the President in making removals. The Senate committees have not yet applied to the President himself for the desired information. A Democratic Senator,who has been consulted by nn immediate friend of the President as to the situation with respect to confirmations, sayH that the President decided to instruct the Cabinet officers not to furnish any information as to suspensions, and thut he does not believe the President will change his mind. The same Senator is confident, from statements which the ltepublionn Senators hnve made to him personally, that the Republicans will not recede from their position; that they will insist upon the production of the papers; that they will certainly, in cases of refusal, subpeeua the Cabinet officers with a summons <luces tecum, and that it is possible even that the contest may go so far that the Republicans may choose to attempt to place the Cabinet officers in contempt in the event that they shall refuse to produce the papers. They may not go as far us that, but they are not likely to confirm any of the appointments made in cases of suspension. The President and the Eight-Hour Law. [Washington special.] At n recent meeting of the Committee on Labor of the House of Representatives statements were made that the spirit of the eight-hour law was being openly violated, ignored, or evaded iu certain of the Government departments, and Chairman O’Neill was empowered to present to the House a resolution of inquiry directed to the various Secretaries asking in direct terms whether the law was being enforced by them. Pending the introduction of tho resolution Mr. O’Neill sought an audience with the President, which was granted, and lasted for over an hour. On the matter of the eighthour law the President said: I believe that tho law is a sound one and a good one, and that it should bo enforced to the letter. I have no information regarding instances of its violation or evasion, hut if such instances are presented to mo I will see that tho abuse is remedied, and the full spirit of the law is enforced, which I understand to be to pay workmon in the Government employ for eight hours’ work daily what Is paid outside of the Government employ for a full day’s work. The Government cannot afford to set the example of non-enforcement and non-observance of its own enactments The President further said: I appreciated the effect upon the meohanios of the country of the constantly Increasing use of labor-saving machinery, and I can think of no more practical relief for tho employed surplus labor than the occupation by it of the publio lands. I do not hesitate to say that I am heartily In favor of any feasible plan for the encouragement and assistance of prospective American settlers upon the public domain by the General Government. In this connection the President expressed some very radical views upon the subject of the occupation of vast tracts of public land by foreign capitalists. The President seemed desirous of impressing upon Mr. O’Neill his willingness to heartily co-oper-ate with Congress in any efforts it may moke to elevate the working-class and improve the social condition of the bread-winners.