Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-29

ITS Use by the President Discussed
by the Pensions Com1iittce.
IBy telegraph TO rhs DispatcR.l

fBy Telegraph 10 mo OspatcR.l
WAsBIEGTON, June 2S-Seuator Davis to-
dsy submitted 10 the Senate the report OF
the COMMITTEE on Pensions upon eight We
toed pension bills. the merits OF which the
report discusses IN detail and the passage OF
which Il recommends. the objections Sf tho
President notwithstanding. The more tnte-
resting aud important features OF the report
are tnbodied IN the discussion OF the veto
/ power aud the dangers with which, in the
/ opinion Of the conmittee, its too frequent
exercise il irsu.ht. II SAYS:
/ Since the Sth OF May, 1885. 1876 special scls
granting pensions to individuals have been
/ disapproyed by TIE President. These disap-
pr0Vxis we're based, in great majority or
/ cases, upon the expressed opinion OF the
| President that Congress has erred in its
( judgment upon the mere questions OF TACT.
| II IS, OF course, impossible for the Presi-
! deaf 10 exsmine the mass al documentary
! evidence upon which etcb case depends, and
/ which is invariably examined by the COM
| mitiee, aud IL follows that when he diSagrees
/ with Congress upon questions OF fact IN these
/ cases his judgment must be bgscd, not upon
| tbe report, of the committee, in which facts
| arr ALWAYS stated with sufficient fullness, but
| uuon the report OF some subordinate IN the
! Bureau Of Pensions. This bureau, whose
! action Congress has reversed, il thus en-
/ abled T. review The action OF Congress by
! The EXPIRES, direction Of The President. This
method OF confederation is an alSid$e-
ment 10y the Executive Of the exercise
II the night OF Congress 10 waive that
| street proof which ~ required In ordinary
cases In the department. II II shall ever be-
| come established that such an exercise OF the
veto power has sufficient warrant as 10 this
| class Of cases, It must follow that Il Is proper
/ IN an cases. That this has never before been
/ systematically attempted in any class OF cases
does not remove the cause for alarm. Usur-
patlons move rapidly in republics from snail
objects TO those II tie creates concern.
That the power exists in the Executive to
disappr0ve any legislative measure cannot
he denied. But the duty uudenably exists
also that IL shall not be used in such a manner
or upon any occasion Of pretext "a to make
the exercise operate as an encrOschment
upon the powers OF other departments OF the
Government.
The right TO so use the power Of Executive
di.approval az to change toe ordinary method
Of legislation by a majority vote upon proper
subjects OF legislation, merely because the
Executive differs from Congress upon SUM-
cheney Of proof or ex.ediency OF relief, does
not in the opinion OF your committee exist.
such mIscOucsptiou OF the extent OF the
. Executive power, naklnS u IiuliIcNN' ~
fraught with dangers TO the Independence OF
Congress aud TO it, constitutional powers,
and il clearly implies lbhi factiOus or
u>urping President who Purposes to snbOr-
dins,e 10 his will that department To which
the Constitution has conidrd the principal
powers OF the Government can rightiully do
This aud prevent the Will OF the people from
taking statutory form except 10y a tuO-ihIds
vote OF each house Of Congress.
The inOrdnate proportions to which tho
Executive power has grown during the last
twenty five years, through the tendency 10
Capitalization; through The production Of
those great subjects OF administration which
have come under Executive control toreuTh
ifs departments through the political innu-
ence Of Office holders, and through
the discrer Onary power Of the Tx
ecutiVe over an enormous Imam
cial system give, just cause for apprehension.
To admit that these powers Which have in
creased, which are increasing, aud which
OUGHT 10 be diminished can be reinforced by
The constitutional exercise OF the veto power
upon the SctiOn Of Congress uUOn subjects
clearly within it, province and lis dvty and
involving not the least infringement upOn
any other department is to admit psusr to-
tally subverslve Of the eRds OF the Govern
ment and destructive 10 the Federal Consti-
tuition.