Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-16
ROASTED
Secretary Morton Is
Roundly Scored.
NOT A VOICE IN THE HOUSE WAS
LIFTED IN DEFENSE OF
THIS OFFICIAL.
AGRICULTURAL BILL.
GIVES THE MEMBERS A CHANCE
40 ENPREss THEMSELVES.
Comptroller Dowici Thought In for
Ills share of the Remark.
Against omcers.
AGRICULTURAL BILL.
GIVES THE MEMBERS A CHANCE
10 EAPREss THEMSELVES.

Washington. Feb. l5.--The attack on
Secretary Morton for his refusal to
expend the appropriation for seed in
the present agricultural appropriation
came up in the house today and fur
nished the feature Of the proceedings
In the lower house. 1t was led by Mr..
Baker (Rep.. n. III and was supported
by Messrs. Moses and Livingston
Dems.. Ga.), Boatner dem, Lao and
Meredith Dem., va)
Some very harsh things were said
and applaudcd. especially py MIR. Boat
ner, who referred TO Mr.. Morton con-
temptuously as that individual" and
not voice was raised in his defense.
The general debate closed before adj
jOurnment. Several bills OF minor Inn
portancc We're passed and resolution
was adopted directing the judiciary
committee to inquire into the right of
an executive officer to refuse to execute
law ON the ground OF Its constitution
nlity and TO report by bill or other
wise.
When the houS met at noon today
the senate amendment to the bills ON
the Incorporation OF the Daughters Of
the American Revolution, to grant
leaves of absence to the homcsteaders
on the Yankton reservation and to
lease certain lands in Arizona for edu-
cational purposes We're concurrcd in.
Mr., Ray Rep., N. " called up the
Boatner resolution directing the COM
mttec on judiciary 10 investigate the
right of the comptroller of the treas
ury TO refuse to execute the law on
the ground of Its alleged uuconstitu
tionallty. and n II was found that he
n n ~ a
or otherwise. which had been amended
so as to make the inquiry general as
to the right of executive officers to re-
fuse to execute the laws on tho ground
of their unconstitutionality. This reso-
luton was the outcome OF the decision
OF the comptroller In the sugar bounty
cases.
Mr.. Ray explained the long cuntro-
versy which had resulted in the comp.
troller's decision. "lt must be conceded
on all hands" he said, that the ques-
ton IL not free from doubt" The COM
mittee. he said, had thought 1t best to
make the inquiry general instead OF
continuing 1t to the right OF single Of
ficer. The resolution was not reported
with n view of censuring any officer
or restricting the scope OF the law.
Mr., Terry (Dem., Ark), a member of
the judiciary committee, said he did
not desire to make amy factious oppo-
sltlon to the resolution, but he wanted
to 20 on record as opposed to the I'LL
terror purposes sought TO be obtained.
He believed that an executive officer
executed n constitutional statute at his
peril. and therefore It was his duty 10
inquire into the constitutonality of a
statute when the matter was brought
TO his attention. The resolution was
adopted.
A parliamentary wrangle then fol-
lowed as to the privilege OF a resolution
directing the ways and means COM
mittee to investigate the Mckinley tar
If law
MIR. Tracy, chairman OF the commit
tee on public lands, called up bill to
extend the provisions OF the act OF
March 3, 1891, under which suits might
be brought to vacate and annul patents
upon public lands for five years as 10
the original grantees, The original
bill provided limitations.
Mr. Lacey said the bill was in re-
sponse to the recommendation of the
president and involved about 60.O00.0 900
acres, including, Mexican, Spanish and
railroad grants
Mr. McRae Dem, Arlt) offered n
substitute to repeal outright the limitl-
ton hNed In the act Of 1891. The re-
suit of the experiment made by the
Fifty-nrst congress, said Mr.. McRae.
demonstrated that there should be no
o
every innocent purchaser of railroad
land. A sovereign government should
have the right Mt any time TO EXPOSE
a fraud. After some discussion the
consideration OF the bill was postponed
until the agricultural bill, which was
pressing for consideration hho peeh
! disposed OF.
Then at $50 p. m. the agricultural
bill was taken up.
MIR. Wadsworth Rep., N. ". chair
man OF the agricultural committee.
yielded to Mr.. wills Dem) to explain
| The measure. He said II was fully up
| TO the spirit OF the times, carrying
I Sii5,35s less than mat or the lust con-
MIR. Baker Dep, N. H led an attack
| on Secretary Morton for refusing to use
the seed appropriation according to
the current law. The appropriation bill
had carried 100000 for seeds.
1--WE should" he said. "either force
Secretary Morton to execute the law or
10 abandon his Office"
Mr.. Moses Dem. Ga) declared that
John c. Calhoun was not more or a
nullifer than j. Sterling Morton. He
invelghed against the growing ten
dency OF executive officers to disregard
the express wish OF congress In the ex-
ecutlon OF the laws.
Mr.. Boatner Dem., LAD. however.
aroused the greatest enthusiasm by his
remarks.
"The feature OF Mr.. Morton's action
which has aroused my Indignation,
sold he, more than any other 10 that
II is based upon a sort OF false pre-
tense Antecedent to his decision that
under the terms OF the laws he was not
authorized to expend. the appropria-
lion there emanated IRON the agrl-
cultural department reports derosa-
tory to the congress OF the
ITnited States. The Individual who
ms found his way into the agricultural
department under this administration
dauRhter) considered II not consistent
with the dignity OF his position 70 al
low reports to go out by the press that
he had discovered great frauds ana
abuses In the distribution OF seeds BY
members. don't know whether, these
Statements were true or false. but
snnv and 1 ASSERT that the publication
of any such scandalous charge against
q body OF gentlemen without the dfsig-
nation OF the names or the inuiviuu,
hoNfe ia haap faupd so Email ana