The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-16
MORTON'S EARS RING
Bitter Attacks on the Seed Secretary
in the House.
BOATNER'S TART REMARKS
Eaker Follows With Sarcasm for
the Cabinet official. Then Liv-
ingston Takes Up the Cudgel
and Gangs Away at Him.

the present agricultural appropriation
was transferred from the senate to the
house to-day and furnished the fea-
ture of the proceedings I'm the lower
house. 1t was led by Baker, republi-
can, New Hampshire, and was sup
ported by Moses and Livingston. demo-
Gratis, Georgia; Mr.. Boatner, democrat
Louisiana and Mr.. Meridith, democrat,
Pennsylvania. Some very harsh things
were said and applauded, especially
by Boatner, who referred to Morton
as that contemptuous individual" and
not voice was raised in his defense
When the house met the senate
amendments to the bills to incorporate
the national society of the Daughters
of the American Revolutions; to grant
leave of absence to homesteaders on
the Yankton Indian reservation, and to
lease lands in Arizona for educational
purposes were concurred in.
Ray. republican, New York, called
up the Boatner resolution directing the
committee on judiciary to investigate
the right of the comptroller of the
treasury to refuse to execute the law
on the ground of its alleged unconsti-
tutionality, and If it was found that he
had violated the law. to report 10y bill
or otherwise which had been amended
so as to make the inquiries general into
the right of executive officers to refuse
to execute laws on the ground of their
unconstitutionauty. This resolution
was the outcome of the decision of
Comptroller Bowler in the sugar boun-
~ cases. Ray explained the long con-
troversy which had resulted in the
comptroller's decision. 1T must be
conceded by all hands," said me, that
the question is not free from doubt"
The committee, he said had thought IL
best TO make the inquiry general in
stead Of confining it to the right of a
single officer. The resolution was not
reported. ne said, with view TO CEN
sure any officer. but TO determine
whether it was proper to recommend
an amendment for the enlargement or
restriction of the scope of the law.
Terry, democrat. Arkansas. said he
did not desire to make any fictitious
opposition to the resolution, but he
wanted to go on record as opposed to
the Interior purpose sought to be OBJ
tained. He believed that an executive
officer executed an unconstitutional
law at his peril and that II was there
fore his duty to inquire into the un-
constitutionality of a statute when the
matter was brought directly to mis- at
tention. The resolution was adopted.
Lacey of Iowa called up bill TO ex-
tend the provisions of the act of
March 3. 1891, under which suits might
be brought to vacate and annul pat
ents upon public lands for five years.
AS to the original grantees. As to bona
fde settlers the bill provided for the
expiration of the Limitation March 3
next. Lacey said the bill was in re-
sponse to the recommendation of the
president and involved about &C. .OO0 600
acres. including Mexican, Spanish and
railroad grants.
McRae, democrat, Arkansas. offered
substitute to repeal outright the linn
itation fixed in the act OF 1891 The re-
suit Of the experiment tried by the
Fifty-flrst congress, said McRae. DEM
onstrated that this should be no lini-
tation. The act of 1887 protected every
innocent purchaser of railroad lands.
A sovereign government, which was
obliged to act through its agents.
should have the right at any time to
expose a fraud. After some discussion
the consideration of the bill was post
poned until the agricultural appro-
priat!on bin had been disposed of.
At $40 o'clock p. m. the agricultural
bill was taken up. Wadsworth. repubIi-
can, New York, chairman of the agrl-
cultural committee, yielded to Willis.
democrat, Delaware. TO explain the
measure. lie said It was fully up to
the spirit of the times" carrying Sf45. =
35S less than that of the last Congress.
OF which the celebrated Holman. whose
record for retrenchment was known
throughout the world. had been a MEM
ber
Baker, republican. led in an attack on
Secretary Morton for refusing to use
the seed appropriation in the current
law. The present bin again approprIat-
ed Sl36.000 for seeds. I'VE will" he add
ed, force Secretary Morton 10 either
execute the law or abandon his office. 3"
Moses, democrat, Georgia, declared that
John c. Calhoun was not more Of a nui-
lifier than J. Sterling Morton. lie in
weighed against the growing tendency
Of executive officers TO disregard the
express wish of congress In the execu-
tion Of the laws.
Boatner, democrat, Louisiana, how
ever aroused the greatest enthusiasm
by his remarks. The feature Of Nor
tons action which has aroused my in
dignation." said he. more than any
other. is that il is based upon a sort Of
false pretense. Aatecedent to his de-
cIsion. that, under the terms Of the law.
he was not authorized 70 expend the
appropriation, there emanated from
the agricultural department. a report
darogatory to the congress Of the Unit
eI states. The individual who has
fl-rd his way into the agricultural de-
partm.ut under this administration
daughter cons I1eral n not iuCgusist IT
with the dignity of has position To allow
reports 10 20 out through the press that
he had discovered rTedr frauds I'm the
distribution Of seeds. 1 do not know