The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-26
RED TAPE ROASTED.

| Washington. January 22.-The Star
Chamber methods at the white house which
have disguised self-respec,ing senators and
representatives so completely that they
| long since ceased to go TO the president
we're thoroughly aired in the house today,
End a bill was passed over the president s
veto very much as a protest against those
methods.
This was the bill making a new division
of the eastern district OF Texas. which the
president recently vetoed.
| Representative Cooper, Of Texas. told Of
his many unsuccessful efforts to get to the
| president to explain the needs of the bill.
told how he had been repeatedly rebuned,
and said he believed If the president had
allowed himself to be informed of the facts
he would never have vetoed the bill. Sew
era, other members spoke of the same ex-
pericnces. and the bill passed over the
presidents veto by the necessary two
thirds.
On the occasion OF his last visit Mr.
Cooper said he had just been informed that
the bill had been returned to the president
by the department of Justice without rec
ommendation. The secretary told him. at
first. that the president had not acted
upon the bin. but when Cooper told him
that the bill had been sent over from the
department OF justice the secretary maie
inquiry and reported that the president had
acted upon the bill and had veto messaEe
prepared. Then. Mr.. Cooper said, he again
asked for a personal interview with the
president. that he might present the rea~
sons why the bill should become a law.
But the secretary refused him access. say
ing that the president had made up his
mind and that 1t would be useless to see
HIM. In view OF these facts, Mr.. Coorar
said the reason advanced by the president
Was no reason and asked the house to pass
the bill over the veto. as recommended b.
the committee.
Mr. Grosvenor said that from the re-
marks made by Mr. Cooper he inferred that
that gentleman had experienced some diff
Guilty In seeing the president. II was un-
fortunate for the American people. he said,
that for three years past few self-respect-
Ing representatives OF a respectable con-
sttuency would make any effort to see the
president. II was represented that he had
issued an order that no senator nor repre-
sentative In congress should present him
self in person until he had bowed before
private secretary and had received for his
errand the sanction of that august per-
sonage.
at that time" continued Mr.. Grosvenor,
Il was In the midst of a matter connected
with my official relations to the president,
and after having concluded it. filed
statement at the executive mansion that |
would never again seek 10 see the president
of the United States under the present
administration. And have kept my
word. My constituents never commits
stoned me to percolate my business with
the executive through the clay OF private
secretary
1t was unfortunate, Mr.. Grosvenor went
on to say, that the president excluded him
self from communication with members of
congress.
He surrounds himself with skirmish
line of moderate capacity. and keeps him
self away from u.s. said Mr.. Grosvenor
Il condemn myself for not having ex-
pressed these views two years ago, when,
II they had been carefully considered by
the parties in interest, there might now be
two or three friends OF the president in
congress-"
1T will be better in the next administra-
ten" said MI Dalzell, republican, OF
Pennsylvania
Il can't speak for that" replied Mr.
Grosvenor but | hope that never again
viii there be an administration which will
refuse access TO the representatives OF the
people. The people are greater than the
pi esident. and when he fences himself In
he should be careful that the portals are
guarded by the highest intellects OF the
country"
II suppose the gentleman speaks as the
advance agent OF the new administration
MIR, Rishardson. democrat, OF Tennessee,
remarked amid laughter
Mr.. Grosvenor-I am the advance agent
about as much as the gentleman from Ten
nessee was the agent OF his party in that
unfortunate affair" replied the Ohio man
Addressing himself to the merits OF tho
bill, Mr.. Grosvenor said that II the presi-
dent told the truth in his veto message
about the condition of affairs in Texas, the
bill ought not to pass.
The bill was passed-li4 TO S. more than
two-thirds voting in the affirmative.
OIL