San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-23
WHICH is WHICH =?
Is THE PRESIDENT MORE POWER
Full THAN CONGRESS-
That's Likely to be the Question For Set
Element in the Cuban Resolution
0lney's "Amsricanism."

DSN. AoPNSAoA'
There is great danger that the merits
of the Cuban question will be entirely
overlooked in the wrangle that is like
ly to follow the extraordinary position
taken by Secretary Olney, that Con-
gress has nothing to do with the re-
cognition of a new state, the power
being vested in the president alone.
Mr.. Olney first publicly took this po-
sition In discussion with the Senate
committee of Foreign Relations, be-
fore that committee had decided to re-
port the Cameron resolution for the
recognition of the independence Of Gu
ba. After the committee had decided
to report the resolution, Mr.. Oh
ney went great deal further, by ma
king a statement through the Press
Associations, saying in effect that the
president would veto the resolution IL
it was adopted and that. even If it
were re-adOpted by constitutional
twO-thirds of both branches of Con-
gress he would ieonre it and treat it
simply as the personal opinions Of
those who voted for it. If it were
not that this administration had such
a short time to run there is reason to
believe that if Mr.. Cleveland dared to
maintain this position, the country
would see another impeachment trial
in the United States Senate, and even
as it is it may lead to serious trouble.
This question is higher than party pol
itics or than the Cuban question. If
the president has the constitutional
right to override two-thirds Of Con-
gress, which may be considered as
fairly representative Of the people, it
is time that the people knew it, in Or
der that this enormous power, greater
than that possessed by the crowned
heads of most Of the worlds limited
monarchies, may be curtailed by a
Observation-Disclosures before some
INSCRIPTIONS president uses it to de-
StrOy our government.
1t is hardly probable, however, that
this question will get before the Unit
ed States Supreme court for settle
ment in connection with the Cameron
resolution, for the very simple reason
that the Cameron resolution is not
likely to be adopted by both branches
of Congress, Notwithstanding its hay-
ing received the endorsement of the
following eminent gentlement, who
compose the Senate Foreign commit
tee: Sherman, of Ohio; Frye, Of Me-;
Lodge. of Mass; Cameron, Of Pa; Da-
Wis, of Mimi; Cullom, Of ILL.,; Gray, of
Del; Turpie, of Ind; Mills, of Texas;
and Morgan, of Ala. Daniel Of Vir-
ginia, is also a member of the commit
tee, but he was not present at the
meeting and says he has not made up
his mind whether he will support the
resolution or not The resolution viii
almost certainly be adopted by the
Senate, probably by more than two
thirds vote, if it be seriously pushed
that far, but if expressions of leaders
of the House count for anything, it
will never reach a vote in that body.
Gen. Henderson, of Iowa, voiced this
sentiment when he said: ''We are not
going to have war. The Cameron res
olution has not passed, and don't be-
Iieve in encouraging this war talk.
We have had enough agitation al
ready, and we don't want our business
interests again interrupted by talk OF
war or by actual war" 1t is the i'm
preston in Washington that by the
time Congress re-assembles, the coun-
try will have made it so plain that it
wants neither a war nor war scare
that the resolution will not be pushed.
1t was brought by question of Sena-
tors during Secretary Olney's unsuc-
cessful attempt to persuade the Sen
ate committee into following Mr..
Cleveland's policy towards Cuba that
the administration has received much
credit to which it was not entitled, by
reason of misstatements in the news
papers as to demands 1t has from time
to time made on Spain in behalf Of
American citizens For instance,
Secretary Olney admitted that this
government had made no demand up
on Spain in the case Of the alleged hli-
buster Competitor, and others OF
similar character, beyond mere re-
quests for information. This Will
doubtless greatly shock the indiyidu-
ais who only a short time ago stopped
over to the extent Of writing commu-
nications to the papers advocating Ol-
ney's appointment as President NC
Kinley's secretary of state, because or
his intense Americanism. His Sin
tense Americanism" seems to be. like
Ii Hung Chang's conversation, most
ly interrogation points.
Among the bills passed by the House
was one appropriating 100000, for
government participation in the Ten
nessee Centennial to be held at Nash
vile next year and $4,000 for Fed
eral building for the exhibit, and an
emergency deficiency bill appropriate
ing nearly 100000 for the completion
of naval work now under way. A
resolution was also adopted giving the
four days beginning Jan. It'll to the
consideration of the Pacific railroad