The Washington critic., 1888-05-25
WASHINGTON, MAY 25, 1888.
,AGAINsT THE VETO POWER.


States as to enable the two houses
of Congress to pass bill over the
Presidents veto by majority instead
of two-thirds vote, Mr.. Stewart
made strong speech yesterday. The
Nevada Senator certainly has the
courage Of his convictions; and his
convictions that some limitations
ought to be put upon the growing
power of the Executive are no doubt
honest, as they may be to some extent
well founded.
That the exercise of the veto power
has become much more frequent
dnrine the present period of our his.
tory than 1t was in the past is shown
by the statement that in the first quar-.
ter Of century after Washington's
inauguration there were only six ve-
toes; in the second quarter, nineteen;
in the third, thirty-one, and in the
last twenty-four years, 255, more than
two-thirds of which were sent in by
Mr.. Cleveland, in addition to his fifty
pocket vetoes in the last Congress.
tmust be borne III mind that the
Legislative business of the country
has very largely increased since the
war, and especially the number of
private bills, which accounts, in part,
for the greatly enlarged number of
vetoes; at the same time, Mr.. Stewart
feels that the use of this power is
likely to result in dangerous en-
croachment ON the rights and liberties
Of the people, unless checked; and
the plainest, most direct remedy is to
let majority rule govern in the pas
sage of bill over the Presidents
veto, the same as on the bills origi-
nal passage.
This is certainly Democratic; while
the two-thirds requirement of the
Constitution is santi-Democratic.
The following extract will show the
general tenor of Mr.. Stewards re-
marks.
Delegated power without a reservation of
the right to recall II will never be voluntarily
surrendered to the people. The fifst step in
the way Of reform in legislation and admins
tration is to restore to Congress legislative
power TO the end that the peoples represent
atiyes may defend the rights of their con-
stituents regardless of the frowns OF smiles
of an ambitious Executive. | want 1t dis
tinotly understood that have no disposition
10 cFltieise the President on account of any
unkind feeling towards him personally. ON
eve contrary, am forced to acknowledge the
sagacity and skill with which he controls the
heterogeneous masses of the Democratic
party by a iudicious use of the loaves and
fishes. The trouble Is that he disregards the
restraints imposed upon him by the Constitu-
tion and the laws. The exercise of the great
natural force with which he is endowed Is
concentrating the whole power of the Gov
ernment in the Executive, and II not re-
strained must ultimately lead to mon
archy.
TliE ELEVATION of Rev. John p. New
man to one of the new Methodist bish-
opries gives great satisfaction, not only
to the congregation over which he so
acceptably presides, but to many
friends outside of his own denomina-
ton. He is man of high standing
in the church, eloquent in the pulpit
and popular in society; and the honor
is generally agreed to have been well
bestowed.
THE New York Press, which is
anything but an Administration
paper, shows its political sense by
recommending that the nomination
of Mr.. Fuller us Chief Justice of the
United States be confirmed without
further hltling. 1t says that "the APP
Pointm ent is an unexceptionable one
in every respect, and every patriotic
citizen, even if he be member of
the United States Senate, should re-
joice thatso good a selection has been
made, and do his utmost to consum-
mate it as soon as possible. TO reject
the nomination, it adds, "might
possibly cause the senate's party to
lose Illinois, where Mr.. Fuller
lives, and where the people be-
lieve in him, regardless of party"
Therefore, let this "nonsensical de-
lay he stopped
OuR CATHOLIC BRETHREN having laid
the foundation at the National Capt.
'tal Of what will be the greatest uni
Versity under direction of their church
in'America, would it not be well for
our Protestant brethren TO do rs much
toward having their branch of the
church militant represented at the
focal point Of the political govern
ment of the Republic?
GRESHAM STOCK APPEARS to be boom
ing. Even that stalwart organ of
protection, the New York Press init
mates that the candidate of that reve-
nue. reform organ, the Chicago
Tribune, may, after all, be the best
man for the Republican party in its
present emergency, II says:
Cleveland will probably lose the bulk of the
Mugwnmp vote. IL may not vote for the Re
publican candidate at all in certain con
f3ngrncles. In the Gresham contingency IL
will vote sOlidly for him. AS between Cleve-
land and Gresham a Mupwump vote will
weigh two IN the Republican scales. This Is
worth considering by the delegates TO the Ma
tOnal Republican Convention. The Repub-
caB candidate will want votes, and he will
want them In New York State.
In the mean time the st. Louis
Globe- Democrat finds great encourage
Dent in Mipnesota's Enforcement Of
Judge Gresham. This action II