Trump's ex-lawyer Todd Blanche narrowly confirmed as US attorney general

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.—Just before adjournment tonight the Senate confirmed the nomination of Hon. Philander C. Knox to be attorney general of the United States. The nomination of Mr. Knox was taken up when the Senate first went into executive session a few minutes after 4 o'clock, but the point was made that there first should be action upon the Hay-Pauncefote treaty under the agreement reached last Thursday. The virtue of this plea was conceded and a tentative agreement was made that further consideration of the nomination should be postponed until tomorrow. When, however, the Senate had disposed of the treaty, the attorney general's nomination was again called up. The discussion of it turned on a motion made by Senator Jones of Arkansas, to recommit the nomination to the committee on judiciary, in the meantime publishing the testimony bearing upon the case. Speeches in favor of this proposition were made by Senators Jones and Turner and in opposition by Senators Hoar and Pettus. It was contended by the two senators last named that the only evidence presented against confirmation had been filed by members of the Antitrust League and was very vague and indefinite. The senators favoring the motion said that if this were true there could be no objection on the part of the friends of the attorney general to placing all the facts within reach of the public, and the more