The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-23
CLEVELAND SCORED
GruSVenor and Cooper Unsparlng In Their
Criticisms of Executive eSGIusYenesS.
GREAT QUESTIONS IN THE SENATE
The Recognition OF Gnbnn Independ
ence Comes Gp-shermnn Contra
diets the tntement thnt Olmey hnd
Pnssed the 3urstIOn on 10 Him
The Nicaragua Canal Bill.

The Nicaragua Canal Bill.
Washington, Jan. 22.-This was pri-
Vate bill day, and there was little of
PUBIC interest in the House.
Mr Cooper. Democrat, of Texas called
up and the House passed over the
Presidents veto, the bill to establish
new division of the eastern judicial
district of Texas. The feature OF the
debate on this matter was caustic
criticism by Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican,
OF ONO, upon the executive order which
denied senators ana Representatives ac-
cess TO the President except through
the private secretary of the president.
EXCORIATION OF CLEVELAND.
When Mr.. Cooper called up the Texas
judicial District bill, he explained that
In The consideration or the bill neither
he nor amy member of the Committee
on the Judiciary had ever heard any
objection 10 the bill. He had made
several attempts 10 see the President
while the bill was before him. I'm order
TO set forth the reasons why the bill
should become law, and to meet the
objection which the court officers were
SAID to have made, but which had
never been presented to him. In all
these attempts he was unsuccessful. the
secretary of the President, who holds
the key to the door by which members
OF Congress are admitted to the presi-
dent denying him the right as Il rep
resentatiVe OF the people of his dis
trict to see the executive On the oc-
cason of his last visit MIR. Cooper
said he had been informed that the bin
had been returned. To the President by
the apartment of Justice without recon-
mendaton.
THURBER MIXED UP.
The secretary told him al first that
the President had not acted upon the
bill, but when Cooper told him that the
Dill had been sent over frfom the De-
partment of Justice, the secretary made
inquiry and reported that the President
had acted upon the bill and had q veto
message prepared.
Then MIR. Cooper said he again asked
Tor a personal interview with the Pres
ident that he might present the rea-
sons why the bill should become q W
But the secretary refused him access,
saying that the President had made up
ms nina that ii would be useless TO see
him. In view of these facts, MIR.
Cooper said, the reason advanced by
me president was no reason, and asked
the House to PASS the bill over the veto,
as recommended by the committee
GROSVENOR'S PROMISE.
Mr.. Grosvenor said that from the re-
| marks made by Mr.. Cooper he Inferred
that the gentleman had experienced
some difficulty In seeing the President
1t was unfortunate for the American
people that for three years past, few
self respecting representatives of a
respectable constituency would make
| any effort 10 see the President. 1t was
| represented that he had issued an order
that no Senator nor Representative in
Congress should present himself in per-
son until he had bowed before private
secretary and had received for his err
| N
sonage. "At that time" continued Mr..
| Grosvenor. Il was in the midst of a
matter connected with my official rela-
| tions 10 the President. and after having
| concluded il, | filed a statement at the
executive mansion that ! would never
again seek to see the President under
the present administration. And have
kept my word My constituents never
commissioned me to percolate mu busi-
ness with the executive through the
clay of private secretary"
THE PRESIDENT FENCED OFF.
1t was unfortunate. Mr.. Grosvenor
went on TO say, that the President eX-
cluded himself from communication OF
members of Congress HE surrounds
| himself with a skirmish line of mode
rate capacity and keeps himself away
from us. ] condemn myself for not
having expressed these views two
years ago. when. If they had been care
July considered by the parties In inter
est there might now be two or three
friends of the President in Congress"
Mr.. Da!zell. Republican, of Pennsyl-
vania: II will be better in the next
administration.
Mr.; Grosvenor: l can't speak for that.
but may express the hope that never
again will there be an administration
which will refuse access to the repre-
seniaiives of the people. The people
are greater than the President. and
when he fences himself in he should
be careful that the portals are guarded
by the highest intellects in the coun-
try.
Mr.. Richardson. Democrat, OF Tennes-
see: ] suppose the gentleman speaks
as advance agent OF the new adminis-
tration? Uaughter)
Addressing himself to the merits of
the bill Mr.. Grosvenor said that If the
President told the truth in his veto
message about the condition OF affairs
in Texas, the bill ought not to pass
| The bill passed-l44 to S. more than
two-thirds voting In the affirmative.