Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1886 — CLEVELAND’S POSITION. [ARTICLE]

CLEVELAND’S POSITION.

The President Decides Not so .Makc Any Explanations Concerning Removals. Eepublican Senator? to Retaliate by Rejecting Nominees to Succeed 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 in a manner indicating that it was looked for simply as a matter of accommodation. But 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 future Presidents feeling themselves-bound to give it. The President looks on tire power of absolute removal as a part of the Presidential 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 certain Senators that they have a right to pass judgment on the 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 be dispensed with in considering appointments, and in eitjfer case he will not, even in an indirect way, recognize the right'of. the Senate to participate with the President in making removals. ate committees have not yet applied to the President himself for the desired information.

A Democratic Senator,who has-been consulted by an immediate friend of the President as to the situation with respect to confirmations, says that the Pr-sylent decided to instinct the Cabinet officers not to furnish any information as to suspensions, and that, he does not believe the President will change his mind. The same Senator is from statements which the Republican Senators have 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, subpoena the Cabinet officers with a summons duces tecum, and that it is possible even that the confestTjnay 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 province the papers. They may not go as far as 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 a 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 in 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 the resolution Mr. O’Neill sought an audience with the President, whicly was granted, and lasted for over an horn-, On the matter of the eighthour law thc’-President said: I believe that the law is a sound one and a good one, and that it should be enforced to the letter. I have no information regarding instances of its violation or evasion, but if such instances are presented to me I will see that the abuse is remedied, and the full spirit of the law is enforced, which I understand to be to pay workmen in the Government employ for eight hours’work daily what id.,paid outside of the Government employ for a fulbday’s -work. The, Government cannot afford to set the example of non-enfpreement and non-observance of its own enactments The President further said: I appreciated the effect upon the mechanics of the country of the constantly increasing use of labor-saving machinery, and I can think of no more practical relief for the employed surplus labor than the occupation by it of "the public lands. I do not hesitate to say that I am heartily jn favor of any feasible plan for the encouragement and assistance of prospective American si’ltlers iijion the public doinirm 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 make to elevate the working-class and improve the social condition of the bread-winners.