Evening star., 1896-12-21

for war
Representative Skinner populist of
North Carolina: IF the Constitution Is
such as Mr. Olney says 1t is. IL ought to be
changed. The issue seems to be whether
the President is king. or the people.
Representative Perry of Arkans-. . IRON
icslly said that the passage OF the resolu-
ticn might prevent the restoration Of pros
i'erity and retard the onward advance OF
the agent of prosperity"
Representative Northway of Ohio: II am
inclined to think Mr. Oiney Is right. His
manner and spirit of expressing his Views.
however. were not such as should be ex-
Tected
on the bench for many years said: Il don I
think Mr.. Olney is right l concur IN the
opinion of Judge Cooley and a number of
others to accord TO the chief executive such
Irower might be equivalent TO a declaration.
of war. whereas Congress alone has the
power to declare war
Representative OJey of Virginia: My
opinion is that the matter of recognition ia
I'm the bands of Congress when that body
IL in session
Representative Owens of Kentucky: Il
am inclined to agree with Mr.. Olney with
out investigating the question.
Thinks 0Incy Has Conc Too Far.
Representative Maddox of Georgia: Il
have always been conservative on this
question. but l think Mr.. Olney has gone
100 far The successful answer TO his posi-
tion is. suppose the matter is reversed
the President declares war and Congress
refuses to furnish supplies If the Cons:i-
tuition does not give the right ii ought to he
changed. The idea Of President refusing
to carry out the wishes of Congress is 60
ing too far.
Representative Bartholdt of Missouri: "A
slave who is trying 10 break his chains is
always right. and j am with the struggling
Ieople of Cuba Anything which can be
d0Ee Will have my support. although L am
opposed to making Cuba dependency. 1t
does not matter what the result Eill be.
let us grant recognition.
Representative W. F. Aidrich of Ala
hams-'I think Congress has the power
and the President ought to De guided by the
wishes of Congress.
Representative Brumm of Pennsylvania
Il cent think Mr.. Oiney is justified in any
phase Of the case 1t looks to me like the
interests OF Spain are being considered
more fully than those of our own govern
ment."
Representative Kleburg of Texas: Il have
not investigated whether this is an execu-
tive or legislative function. The opinion of
a great r-.any men Is that it is an exec utire
funC tiOn. and so far l have gone that
seems TO he the case II 1t is an executive
function. l am III favor Of letting 1t stay
there"
Representative Curtis of Kansas think
MIR. Olney is wrong and that Congress has
the power. If the House gets a chance 10
vote it viii be found that there is large
majority IN favor of the resolution.
Re- I,re ntatIve BroInwell of Obio-.I am
free TO say that / have made no study of
tn" question. but / believe that precedents
sustain Mr.. Olney in the position that the
original act of declaring belligerent rights
rests with The President
Representative Linton of Michigan-"We
81 ould do all We can to protect and assist
the Cubans and / will vote for the Senate
resolution.
Thinks the President is Right.
Representative Jenkins of Wisconsin: Il
think the initiative in these matters rests
with the President and not with Congress
To make affirmative action of the Presi-
dent beneficial it would need the concur
rent support of Congress While 1 sympa-
thize with the Cubans in their struggle for
Independence. 1 feel satisfied the President
is right in refusing to recognize either
ee!lissreEcy independence
Representative Cooper of Texas: Il don't
know of any provision of the Constitution
Mr. Oiney can find that confers on the
President the right alone to recognize the
belliSerent rights of the Cubans. / think
Mr. O.neys position is stretch of con-
stitutionai authority. / think Congress has
the power 10 recognize belligerency and the
President must enforce the resolution of
Congress, al least after il should pass over
veto believe. however that Mr. Olney's
letter had a good effect in cooling down the
jingoes.
Representative Grow of Pennsylvania
The first steps to recognition of nations
belong to the President, bat II a resolution
Is passed over his veto the President is
bound TO respect IT as law as much as any
law.
Mr. kassOn Says Ii is an Executive
Function.
Hon. John A. Kasson. who has had long
and distinguished experience in public life
said 10 a representative of The Star:
Il think the press of the country has
hardly yet possessed itself of the real aues-
uon involved in the pending difference be-
tween the Senate committee and the Pres
The recognition of new political power
IN the world has hitherto been made both
In Europe and America by the executive
department .of the government whatever
the form of the government may be- Our
own precedents are that way There can
therefore. be 10 doubt that il is an exccu-
tive function.
The Senate committee now appear IN
calm the same right fer Congress: that is
@ @that there IS a concurrent power for the
ms seems to contravene the very
ihafKed purpose of the Constitution to so
divide the functions of our government
Ilto l taree divisions that there should be
NO CONNECT IN their respective exercise ror
sibiIity. p'''-
III II l. an act Of legislation. within the
constitutional definition of congressional
powers, then the committee is right If IL
Is an act OF mere administra ton under
The provisions and usages of internationaI
la". then the President and Mr.. Oiney sre
right. "
one thing appears clear to me- The
PRESIDENTS nave long possessed and excr-
clrAo the right: the party which now also
claims the concurrent right must GROVE
dihTmatiVeIy its claim justIfiable inno-
walton under our Constitution and prac-
tice.
One Precedent Cited.
Omcidis who sustain the view of Score
ta'y Oirey that the recognition of SOW
rreignty Is an exclusively executive func-
ton cite several precedents as tending to
establish that claim According to one a
very definite precedent was furnished by
Secretary Adams on one occasion. When he
said:
1t is the stage when the independence
Is established as matter OF fact so as to
leave the chance of the opposite party to
recover their dominion utterly desperate.
Inc neutral nation must, of course Judge
ltf Itself " hen tbs period has arrived. and
as lae beiligerent nation has the same right
10 Judge for itself, it is very likely to Judge
inherently from the neutral, and to make
~ q cause OF pretext for war. as Great
Britain did expressly against Franco l.,