The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-28
Mr.. CLEVELAND ASSUMING AUTOGRAPH
POWER.

w
accord unusual and unconstitutional
power to Mr.. Cleveland in shaping the
policy of the Democratic party and the
Legislation of Congress. We think it
safe to say that at M previous time in
our history has there been so much of
this disposition manifested as at pres
ent. And it is o confined to one side.
Mr.. Cleveland seems as ready to assume
such unauthorized power as his party
leaders are to confer it on him. The
evidence of this is in the following
facts:
Not long ago it was announced that
Mr.. Cleveland had finally decided that
the best way to handle the tariff ques-
ton was to have an executive tariff bill
framed in the Treasury Department,
under the general supervision of him.
self and executive officers appointed by
him, said bill to be submitted to Con-
gress for its ratification. Again, it was
stated a few days ago. and has not
been contradicted, that the Presi-
dent-elect was using his influence to
secure the election of Representative
Wilson. of West Virginia, as Speaker
of the House, and that, failing in this,
be wanted Mr.. Wilson to be made chair
man of the committee on ways and
means. 1t is an open secret that he
wants Mr.. Wilson in one or the other
of these positions in order to voice his
views in shaping the legislation of the
House. Following Immediately after
this statement came one that Speaker
Crisp was going to New York to see
P~resident-elect Cleveland. He has, it
was stated, been much disturbed of late
by the stories which have come to him
of opposition to his reelection as
Speaker. and especially at the position
which Mr.. Cleveland's friends repre-
sented the latter as holding. 1t was
added that Mr.. Crisp's object in visiting
Mr.. Cleveland was to ascertain just
what he has to expect in the way of Op-
endeavOr to placate it. Further cyl
dence of the Speakers subservient atti-
tude towards the Pre~sident-elect is
found in the statement that cit is un-
derstood that Speaker Crisp is willing
to entirely r~eorRanize the ways and
means committee. placing Mr.. Wilson
at the head and associating with him
any gentlemen Mr.. Cleveland may So
lect, so that the framing of the new
tariff bill can be accomplished in a COM
vnttfoo -hioh - in nnfiro horuonnr NTH
MIR. Cleveland's view." 1t was even
stated that although Speaker Crisp was
himself in favor of an extra session of
Congress he was willing. if Mr.. Cleve-
land so desired, "to use all the influence
of his position in defeating the schemes
of those members of the present House
who threaten to make an extra session
unavoidable by defeating one of the APP
preparation bills"
All this evidence points one way. 1t
shows that Mr.. Cleveland is exerting
himself actively to influence the organ
ization of the House, the composition of
its most important committee, and the
course of legislation, and it shows fur
Their that prominent Democratic leaders
not only approve of this assumption of
authority by him, but are taking pains
to let him know that they are complete
" subservient to his views and wishes.
The Journal ventures the assertion that
this situation is without a parallel or
precedent in our political history.
Never before has a President-elect un-
dertaken to dictate who should be
Speaker of the House or chairman of
the committee on ways and means, and
never before has any President made
known his wish that Congress should
abdicate its legislative power and SIM
ply ratify a bill to be drawn by himself
and his executive appointees. 1t is not
alone the improperly and indecency of
the thing that should attract attention.
but the dangerous tendency also. 1t is
a fundamental principle of our govern
ment that its various departments
shall be entirely Independent of one
another. No President or Presi-
dent-elect has a right to attempt
to influence the organization or
action of the House in any way what
ever. He has no right to have n policy,
much less to force it on the House. He
may make recommendations to Con-
gress, but he has no right to try to CO.
cree that body into adopting them by
electing a Speaker and securing the ap-
pointment of a chairman of the ways
and means committee who will be sub
servient to his views. There is nothing
democratic In Mr.. Cleveland's present
position on this subject. On the con-
trary, it savors strongly Of an exercise
of autocratic power. 1t is a complete
departure from the constitutional rights
of a President. not to speak of a Presi-
dent-elect. and an offensive interfer-
ence with the constitutional rights of
Congress. Mr.. Cleveland is setting a
bad and dangerous precedent. and one
which. if followed up. may lead to
practical revolution In our form of gov
eminent. If his right to meddle in the
organization of the House is recognized.
how long will it be till some President
elect will claim and exercise the right
to name the Speaker OF the House
and the chairmen of all the i'm
portant committeesf In fact, if the
dispatches are true, Mr.. Cleveland is
already practically asserting that right