Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1884 — THE OFFICES. [ARTICLE]

THE OFFICES.

Cleveland Will Be Allowed to Appoint Men of His Own Choosing. No Probability that the President Elect Will Be Antagonized by the Senate. [Washington telegram to,Chicago Tribune.] SerAtor Sherman is reported to have said that he thinks Senator Cameron has been misunderstood in the matter of the suggestion that Republican Senators should organize to resist the confirmation of Cleve and’s appointments, and to have expressed the opinion that Cleveland’s nominees, unless some very objectionable ones were made, would undoubtedly be confirmed. In this opinion. Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, concurs. The views attributed to Don Cameron have attracted much attention here, and have caused examination to be made of the law and the powers of the Senate. The plan imputed to Don Cameron is impracticable. President Arthur says he will make no appointments before the close of his term, except where vacancies occur. It he could be induced to carry out tl>e supposed Cameron programme the attempt would be ineffectual, as it would be possible for the Senate Democrats to filibuster against executive sessions, or, if such session should be» held, the Democrats could postpone action until March 4, when under the law nominations would fall. The point would then be raised and doubtless maintained by the Democratic administration that all old officers who had been renominated and who had failed of confirmation would be out of office. The chief point in the Cameron scheme has been to seek to bring the tenure-of-office act to the ajd of the civil-service act to continue Republican officials in power. The theory is that this might be accomplished should the Republican Senators decline to refuse to confirm Cleveland’s nominations. They might do this on the ground that by declining to consent to the removal of efficient officers they would be carrying out the spirit of the civil-service law. The Republicans m the Senate, however, could not avail themselves of the tenure-of-office act unless they should, be able to keep the Senate in Contln|Uous session, for that act allows the President during the recess of the Senate to supersede officers for cause, -and to appoint temporarily to the places, requiring him, however, to present causes ‘ for the removal a? soon as the Senate convenes, when, if the new nominees are not confirmed: the officers would be restored to their places. It was under this law that the Senate prevented Andrew Johnson from removing Secretary Stanton. The Republicans/could not keep the Senate In continuous session if the Senators were disposed to enter into such a contest with the Executive. There is little doubt that the majority of the Republican Senators will agree with Senator Sherman that Mr. Cleveland will be permitted to appoint men of his own choice to the leading places, unless in special cases there shall be marked grounds for objection.