The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-25
THE Dangerous POWER
Possessed by the President and
How he has Used It.
STEWARDS TIMELY MEASURE
In the United States senate--some
Important sussestIons---The In
efficiency of the Present
Postal Service Discussed.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 24.-In the
Senate to-day Mr.. Stewart called up the
joint resolution offered by him on the
18th inst. for a constitutional amend
ment reducing to a simple majority the
vote necessary to override a presidential
veto, and addressed the Senate on the
suject. He referred to the large number
of veto messages sent in by President
Cleveland, and said that they rested
solely upon the assumption that it was
the duty of the President 10 nullify
every law for which he would not have
voted as member OF Congress-an as
sumption, not only OF superior wisdom
and patriotism on his part, but OF better
opportunity TO ascertain facts than the
members OF the two Houses had. The
form OF government, he said, had
changed from Democratic simply to
one-man power, responsive only to the
necessities OF party, and the influence
of money. The people did not realize
the growing power Of the executive.
The President has more than 10000
offices at his disposal, and member OF
Congress was not even allowed TO give |
evidence as to the qualifications of an |
applicant for office. The President alone 4
DETERMINED ALL QUESTIONS
relating to the appointments to Office,
either by himself or by board, called
the Civil Service Commission, appointed
by him and removable at his pleasure
The vast revenues OF the Government /
were practically used by the Admins
tration as private fund to augment the
power OF the executive. The result was
reached, partly by legislation and partly
by forced construction OF the laws. The
legislation OF Congress mo matter how
secured or BY whom DEVISED, permitted
the Administration to loan the accumu-
lated funds in the Treasury to such Ma
tional banks rs might be in favor with
the excess without interest or reward to
the Government, and the power had
been literally exercised by the present
Administration in loaning over $50, ,0OO,-
600 to such National banks as found ia
vor in the eyes OF the Secretary OF the
Treasury.
No one denied Mr.. Cleveland's abso-
lutte ownership Of the Democratic party.
Before reaching Washington he had sent
word to the Democratic members Of the
House to discard one OF the precious
metals, and in all things to do the bid
ding OF Wall street. The refusal OF
patriotic Democrats to abandon their
constituents and join the golden bond
holding ring, challenged the admiration
OF the country. The House OF Repre-
sentatives had seemed to be an impreg-
nable fortress against any assault from
Wall street. But it had fallen. With
a wave OF the hand OF Grover Cleveland
the body was paralyzed, so that it could |
not even utter the word silver" when
the Senate sent it the Beck amendment
on the bond purchasing bill. At this
rate the growing power OF
THIS MAS OF DESTINY"
had but to continue unresisted for
anotherterm of four years to so entrench
Grover Cleveland in the White House
that nothing but revolution could Ie-
move him. Never before in the hands
OF any man had such vast powers and
resources been entrusted by confding
people. 1t remained to be seen whether
the President would be able TO fulfill
the expectations Of the Washington Post
by initiating Napoleon and crown
himself, because he regarded all otehrs |
unworthy to perform that service.
The presiding officer announced the !
appointment Of the select committee to
examine into all questions touching the
meat product of the United States, as
follows: Senator'S Vest, Plumb, Mander-
son, Cullom and Coke.
The conference report on the pension
appropriation bill was presented and
agreed to.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.