New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
MORTON AND BOWLER SCORED
THEIR DEFIANCE OF THE LAW DE-
NOUNCED IN THE HOUSE.

THEIR DEFIANCE OF THE LAW DE-
NoUNCED IN THE HOUSE
DEMOCRATS BITTEREsT OF ALL IN THEIR AT
TACKs ON THE SECRETARY AND THE CON
TRoLLER-THEIR ACTIONS CALLED AN
INSULT TO CoNGREss-LIvELY DE-
BATE on THE AGRICULTURAL
APPROPRIATION BILL
Washington. Feb l5-The consideration Of the
Agricultural Appropriation bill In the House to-day
gave opportunity for a revival Of the attacks
on Secretary Morton. OF the Agricultural Depart
ment begun by Senator Vest in the other branch
Of Congress. for refusing execute the purpose OF
Congress to distribute seeds among the farmers OF
the country. The bitterest speeches were made by
Democrats-Messrs Moses and Livingston. OF Geor-
gia and Boatner OF Louisiana. Messrs. Boatner ana
Livingston included Controller Bowler in their scath-
ing denunciations and insisted that the time had
come when II necessary that the line between
the legislative and executive departments should
be definitely settled. When the House adjourned al
o'clock the agricultural bill the pending ousi-
ness.
Before the bill taken up number OF DIS
were passed and Senate amendments TO the follow
ing House bills were concurred In: Incorporating
the Society OF the Daughters Of the American ReVo-
luton, granting year absence 10 settlers -" 'N
Yankton. Sioux and Sisseton and Wahpeton resef'a-
tons South Dakot-: authorizing the leasing OF uni
versity and school lands in Arizona; extending the
mineral laws OF the United States to the northern
half OF the Coville reservation In Washington
On motion OF Mr. Ray Rep, n. " the judiciary
Committees substitute for Mr. Boatners resolution
regarding the refusal OF Controller Bowler to certify
the sugar bounty claims for payment was passed
1t reads follows:
Resolved. That the Committee on the judiciary be
and hereby Is authorized and directed TO inquire as
TO the condition of the law on the subject or the
right OF the executive officers of the Government IN
the several departments thereof TO refuse TO en-
force, execute or comply with the PROVISIONS OF any
act OF the Congress OF the United States on the
ground o. Its alleged unconstitutonality or Tor
other reasons and to report to the House by bill or
otherwise.
Mr. Ray explained that the question one Of
E eat Importance II the power existed certain
executive officers might set at defiance the laws OF
Congress approved by the Chief Executive officer OF
the Nation. on the other hand II might be urged
that the power should rest with these officers TO
stay. pending judicial determination In the courts.
the execution OF law OF Congress prima facie
valid and constitutional. Recent discussion by thoss
learned in the law had disclosed wide difference
OF opinion to what the law is to what Il
ought to be. Without expressing any opinion as 70
what tho law Is TO what 1t ought to be- tho
committee OF the opinion that the condition Of
the law this subject ought to be looked into. and
that such Investigation might suggest proper legls
lation the subject. The committee did not deem
IT wise or proper that the investigation should be
directed to any particular officer. act depart
ment.
Mr. Terry Dem. Ark) said he was not in SYM
patty with tho Interior object sought TO be secured
by the resolution. believing that executive on
Ger enforced unconstitutional law at his peril.
However. II the Hous. thought the committee
should enter on tho inquiry into the Jaw on the sub
Ject he would rot object.
AGRICULTURAL BILL TAKEN UP
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole on the Agricultural Appropriation bill
Mr.. Willis Rep.. Del) said that tho bin Was the
child OF company OF farmers. faugh-
teri II carried total appropriation OF S.l5sl92.
which sE25s less than the total Of the bin for
the current year. THAT bin ne said. was passed
vhile tho famous Holman. OF Indiana. was a mem
Der OF Congress The reduction from standard
which passed his scrutiny and approval should COM
mend itself to the economical spirit OF the House.
believe that the bill Will meet your approval until
you come TO tho seed-dlstribu,ion paragraph. and
that have doubt. you will be able to manage
to the satisfaction OF men and angels
Mr. Picker Rep.. :. D. asked II there was any
thing in the bill different from that OF the current
year Intended to compel the Secretary OF Agriculture
to distribute seeds. as desired by Congress. Had
the committee any assurance that the Secretary
who had dened the law OF 1866 would defy the
Law for 1861?
Mr.. Wadswor,h Rep.. y. ". chairman Of the
committee said there wa, no change In the law.
and no such assurance as the gentleman suggested
had been given.
Mr. P.cker-W Wouldn't II be well for the committee
to arrange a parity between the law and the Secre-
tary?
Mr. Wadsworth responded that amendment
would be proposed by Mr. WILDER N,ep. y. y.
which was intended TO accomplish that result
r,,l,nr uhA natf troy Ia Il
summer with Secretary Morton over the refusal Of
the latter to distribute seeds in accordance with
the Appropriation law and the intention and desire
OF Congress exploited at the time. addressed
the committee for half an hour. He quoted largely
from former speeches in Congress and from reports
by department tai officers to show that the Secre-
tary could have carried out the law passed by
Congress to the advantage OF the country generally
and farmers Individually In the distribution OF
years. Mr.. Baker asserted that there was absolute
ly nothing In the opinion OF the Attorney-General,
on which the Secretary OF Agriculture said h"
based his action, to warrant that official In refus-
Ing to execute the Law of Congress in relation 10
the distribution Of seeds.
Mr. Moses Dem. Ga) followed Mr. Baker in de-
Of the OF the Secretary OF Agri-
culture. He said 1t did not make much difference
what kind of an appropriation was made II the Will
Of the House was not to be the law Of the land:
The danger to American institutions. he said was
not that the representatives OF the people failed to
carry out their will. but that some other power.
after the representatives OF the people had ex-
pressed the will Of their constituencies nuhed that
expression by negecting or refusing to carry out
the law.
HOT SHOT FROM MR.. BOATNER.
Mr. Boatner CDem LAP was the next to attack
the Secretary. His manner expressed the deep In
dignation which he said he felt the fact that
the refusal OF the Secretary OF Agriculture TO ex-
pend the seed appropriation made by the last Con-
yress based a sort OF false pretence. Ante
cedent to his decision that under the terms OF the
law he not authorized to expend the approprla-
ton" said Mr.. Boatner. there emanated from the
A gricutural Department reports derogatory and
ilscrediting to the Congress OF the United States
The Individual who has found his way into the
Agricultural Department under this Administration
Qaughter) considered 1t not inconsistent with the
dignity OF his position to allow reports to go out
through the press. scattered broadcast through the
Union. that he had discovered great frauds and
abuses from the distribution by members Of the
seeds allotted to them under the existing laws !
10 not know whether these statements were true
Or false. but do know and assert that the pub