New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-12
DID HE EXCEED HIS POWER!
CLETELAND TAKEN TO TASK.
MR.. HOAR THINKS BLOUNT'S APPOINTMENT
AND WORK UNCONSTITUTIONAL
RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
CALLING FOR INFORMATION AS TO Mr..
CLEvELAND's AUTHORITY IN THE
PIryifsEs-soME CAUsTIC CRITI-
CLsM-MR. GRAY DEFENDS
THE ADM INISTRATION.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEIBrSE.I


tBY TELEGRAPH THE TEiBrxEl
| Washington Dec. ll.-Another line OF attack
was opened In the Senate to-day upon the Ad-
ministraton's Hawaiian policy There being no
indication that an immediate reply to last
Wednesdays resolution Of inquiry might be ex-
pected. Senator Hoar again led the way. his new
point of assault being the wholly questionable
character Of Paramount" Bounts authority TO
conduct his extraordinary researches in Ha-
wall his diplomatic ttle first as commissioner
and then as Minister, never having been con-
hrmed by the Senate or, indeed, submitted to
| that body for approval
Mr. Hoars resolution aims to ascertain from
the President just what powers were conferred
by him upon his personal representative, ana
what functions under the Presidents construc-
ton Of the Constitution. this paramount eX-
plorer was expected to- and did actually, eXer-
else The text Of the resolution is as follows:
Resolved. That the President be requested to to
| consistent with the public interest whether any
! the Senate for It's advice and consent. and II
| so what person. has been appointed since S tnS
| Whether sucn person has been accredited to inc inc
| President of the Executive and ADVISORY Counen
| OF the Hawaiian Islands. and whether such person
has been presented to the head Of the GoVernmeht
| II so. what authority has been given TO such
person touching the relations OF tnis M h
| Hawaiian Islands and the protection OF American
Whether any discretion or power has been com
mitted any such person TO determine whsn inc
naval forces OF the United States should be landed
therein or withdrawn therefrom, and whether any
authority has been committed to sucn person per- 10
crnment. to land an armed force there; ana
Fucn psona a in regard to the pubic
affairs OF tho Government OF the Hawaiian Islands
with any private person. newspaper or other
!
fact undertaken TO receive In said Hawaiian slanus
auested or received written communcations from
any private person In regard 20 thc %l
under which sa.d existing Government was ss
public affairs thereof. and II any such appointment
or authority has been made or gwen. iurthsr 10
eiven At a time when the senate was in session.
has continued In force during any session 1t % Wy
Whether any such appointment or authority twas was
communicated to the Senate during any session
Whether any person has accepted undertaken
Minister with the powers aforesaid. or any OF
with the Government Of Hawaii or with any private
person 10 describe himself a. commissioner OF lHe
tarcd States
OBJECTIONS TO IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
Mr.. Gray. the chief Administration Democrat
on the Foreign Relations Committee. and one OF
the most prominent Of the leaders of what is
now jocularly known as the cuckoo" faction
In the senate objected 10 the consideration OF
the resolution. and under the rules 1t went over
until tomorrow. Mr.. Hoar was allowed, now
ever. To- explain the scope and purpose ot ms
proposed inquiry and took advantage oi TINS
opportunity frame another causuc arrHcn-
mon, ~ the Administrators reckless and alro-
CANT methods OF settling question whlch
clearly concerned Congress equally WIN the
Executive. The speech was cleverly worded ana
contained many telling points. though the whoie
question of the Presidents doubtful or extra
constitutional exercise Of power Will he more
fully amplihed In the general debate whch Is
expected to follow tomorrow.
Gross VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. IIoar commented upon the fact that the
information communicated by the President to
the Senate under the seal Of confidence, had been
freely given on, to the representatives Of four
newspapers that were known to be Jealous
thprough-going. he had almost said unscrupu- |
lOus. supporters Of the Administration.
one OF the allegations made was that the |
President on the 7th Of March, 1893 uhe Senate |
being then in session. commissioned Il person
to proceed to the Hawaiian Islands. accreditnS |
him by a letter as commissioner from TINS
Government; and SAID IN the letter OF liistruc-
tons that he was to be paramount as repre- |
sentati,e OF the United States In these islands
II that allegation (sad Mr. HoaD were true |
II seemed 10 him as gross a violation OF the Con- |
stitut!on of the United States as was ever |
charged upon. or imputed To. any pubic oihc'ai'
II was not necessary to say To the Senate or 10 |
the American people that an attempt TO usurp
the power Of appointing and commissioning such
an officer. without the consent OF the senate was
an attempt To usurp all the dlplonduc reia'iVHS
Of the Government.
Mr. Hoar went on 10 say that this diplomatic
officer (Mr BlounD had proceeded to The Ha-
waiIan Islands opened correspondence win per
sons there IN relation 10 public affairs In these
islands called before him certain G citlzens
and addressed letters 70 other citizens. taking
their replies orally. and had requested them TO
reduce their oral communications 10 writing ana
had transmitted that private correspondence 10
tho President Of the United States.
NJ ALI lp1 D H.
attributing t. Mr. Bayard thr statement that there
could be no reversal OF a policy based SIMPLY Oh
Justice and magnanimity. and that no advantage
would be taken Of the weakness Of the Hawaiian
Queens party: and he said that If the dispatches
were true it also true that Great britain had
been taken into a confidence when the American
Senate or people had not shared.
TIE PRESIDENT CN SLIPPERY GROUND.
He wanted this matter to be separated from
all questions Of dealing with Hawaii from all
questions Of annexation. or prOtectorate or de-
pendcncy from all questions in reference to
which the two parties were divided But If 1t
" ere true that the President of the United states
Uhe Senate being In SESSION. authorized an Of
fcer to exercise paramount authority In another
country with which the United States is at
peace directed the Consul and Resident Minister
10 promote his success by every means I'm their
power to place the archives under his complete
and untrammcllcd inspection. authorized him
to employ, at his discretion. the naval power
and 10 land or withdraw the forces OF the United
States at his will he (the PresidcnD is standing,
I'm mis- (Air HOar's) Judgment. on very slippery
ne had better step onto terra hrma
ra pidly and at once.
IL in the next place said Mr.. Hoar such an
Official entered upon that duty. and established
with private persons about the
public affairs of these Islands. that official Vio-
lated. In the most gross and palpablc manner.
the express written law Of the American people;
and II he reported that action 10 the President ani
IL was approved and the President thus made
himself accompce after the fact. OF that vio-
la;.on Of law. he (the PresidenD is standing on
Ice not only very slippery out very thin, ana
especially If after that act OF that public com
missioner the President proceeded To decorate
him with new diplomatic appointment. The
ostrich. said Mr.. Hoar puts his head In the sand
hoping his body will not be seen: the rhinoceros