The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-12-28
POWERS OF PRESIDENT.
Senator CbadIer Gives His Ideas on
the Subject.
DOESN'T AGREE WITH POSITION
TAKEN BY SECRETARY OLNEY.

A Rather Elaborate Argument to Support
Which the Constitution is Freely Quot
ed-The New Hampshire Senator Com
pares Cleveland With johnson.
Washington, December ~. Senator
Chandler of New Hampshire takes is-
sues with President Cleveland. as to the
power vested in the President to alone
recognize or not recognize the belllaer-
ency or independence of % foreign coun-
try or dependency of that country. In
an interview made public tonight, the
Senator says: "Section = of the Consti-
tution. after enumerating in II clauses
the power of Congress, adds another as
follows: s1S. To make all laws which
shall be necessary and proper for carry
ing into execution the foregoing powers
and all other powers vested by this Con-
stituton in the government OF the Unit
ed States or in any department or officer
| thereof.
"A study of the above clause may lead
some of the defiant advocates to arrogant
personal government at the Executive
mansion to revise their assertions. 1t ~
not contended that the above clause 10
gives Congress power by law passed
over a veto by two-thirds vote 20 inter-
fere with any power made exclusive in
| the President, by express words or neces-
sary implications. What are the powers
exclusively given the President?
sI-To command the navy.
s2-ro grant pardons.
"S-To make treaties with the conssnt
OF the Senate.)
"4-Io appoint officers of the United
States.
"5-To convene Congress and adjourn
it when the two houses disagree.
"6-To receive am basadors and other
public ministers.
"7-To take care that the laws be
faithfully executed.
..s-To commission officers Of the
United States.
| ssThe above are all the powers grant
ed. Compare them with the long list OF
mowers given to Congress, including
that to declare war and provide for the
common defense and general welfare and
ending with power given in the above
clause IS, to make all the laws necessary
aud proper to carry into execution all
the powers vested in the government, or
| in any department or officer thereo1.
The President may command the army
and navy, but Congress by law may give
him specific directions what to do with
them, to use them in any particular d.
| reotiop. or not to use them at all. He may
grant pardons; Congress may by law
open ell prison doors and let the cr1nl-
nails 40 free. He may make treaties
with the consent of the Senate, and they
| become law. Here is the only power to
make law, not vested in Congress
Gle may appoint officers, but Congress
may create and abolish Offices and regu-
late power Of appointment Dy civil SER
vice rules He is to commission all 9TH
GERS. but can commission only those mp
pointed in pursuance Of law. He Is to re-
ceiye foreign ministers, but only minis
tersfrom countries which Congress chooses
to have recognized. If the two govern
l,try, Congress may, by law, decide which
government the United States will recog-
nize and the President is bound TO obey
the law and receive the minister OF that
oovernment and refuse to receive minis
ters from others.
sThe idea that the President has the
sole prerogative of deciding what foreign
governments shall be recognized by the
United States has no foundation what
ever in any words TO be seen in the Con-
stitutiop. The fact that the President
has recognized new governments with
out congressional expression, when Cen
eress and the people have approved his
action, is no proof Whatever that when
they disagree with him they cannot con-
troll him by law.
.sIt is singular that the only two Presi-
dents who have undertaken to defy Con-
eress have been Andrew johnson and
Grover Cleveland. One tried to create
and maintain against the will OF Con-
eress ton new state governments in this
Union: the other claims the right against
the will OF Congress to aid in sustaining
abroad bloody tyranny over an OPP
pressed people. MIR. johnson betrayed
and abandoned the party who h elected
him. His treachery was condemned by
all right-minded men. He went out of
office without party and without
friend, Mr., Cleveland still fingers with
us.''