The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-14
SENATOR BACON
MAKES A SPEECH
The President and Secre-
tary Olney Are Sharply
Criticized.
Their Treatment of the Cuban
Resolutions a Challenge
to Congress.
Bold Usurpation of Power That
Properly Belongs to the National
Lawmakers.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 13.-The
Senate spent the first two hours of to-
DAYS session behind closed doors in the
consideration of executive business (the
extradition treaties with Argentina and
the Orange Republic) and the remainder
of the day was occupied in the delivery of
speech by Bacon CD of Georgia on the
question of whether the recognition of a
new power was an executive or a legisla-
tive act. His contention was that it was
a legislative function-one exclusively for
determination by Congress. Even where
the recognition was by the President its
validity, Bacon argued, was derived from
the assent of Congress, either direct or
implied. If the President had such ex-
elusive power it was greater than any
which any constitutional monarch
welded. Never Bacon said, was a chal-
lenee of power more sharply made than
that made by the Secretary of State in the
matter, and never was defiance of au-
thority more boldly given.
Bacon confined himself to the consti-
tutional and legal points in the argument,
refraining from every allusion to the prac-
tcal question of recognizing the republic
he had introduced concurrent resolution
which had been referred 10 the Judiciary
Committee, declaring that the question of
the recognition by this Government of
any people as free and independent ma
ton is one exclusively for the determina-
1ion OF Congress. As he could not call up
his own resolution, he would make Mr.
Mills resolution the text of his remarks.
When the act of recognition was by the
President, it derived its validity from the
assent OF Congress, either direct or i'm
piled. His proposition was this: That
the ultimate power to determine whether
nation should or should not be recog-
nized was in the making branch of
the Government, and when that branch,
in full knowledge of what is going on,
permits the executive to act in the mat
ter, it is confirmation OF the President s
act
White Cd of California put the case of
the recognition by the President of a
Minister represeE ting a new Government,
and asked Bacon whether that recogni-
ton was final and bound Congress and
country.
Bacon gave decidedly negative re-
spouse. and when Hale tR.) of Maine fol-
lowed up Whites question by asking
whether Congr IS might order such Min
lister to be sent home, Bacons response in
the affirmative was equally positive.
1.-The Secretary of State" Bacon con-
tinued, "has denied the power of Con-
gress, has defied its authority and has
proclaimed through the press to foreign
nations that even il such proposf d action
shall be placed on the statute book in the
form of law the President will not obey
it. He has practically threatened Con.
ress with the veto of the President, ana
has added that if passed over the veto it
Will be thrown back in the face of Con-
gress rs so much waste paper. Never was
q challenge of power more sharply made.
Never was defiance of authority more
boldly given"
Bacon spoke for nearly three hours,
most OF the speech being delivered from
manuscript. The Mills resolutions remain
on the table.
Gear (R.) OF Iowa, chairman of the Pa.
cific Railroads Committee, introduced a
bill, which was referred to that commit
tee, appointing the Secretary of the Treas
ury, the Secretary of the Interior and the
Attorney General a committee to settle
the indie btedness of the bond-aided Pacific
railroads to the Government.
On motion of Pettigrew (Pop.) of South
Dakota it was ordered that the House bill
for homesteads on lands acquired from
Indians shall be voted on at 4 clock to-
morrow.
Morrill, (R.) of Vermont, from the Lii
brary Committee, reported a concurrent
resolution that the library building
should not be used or occupied for any
purpose other than those legitimately
connected with the library.
Hale objected 10 the i'm Mediate consid-
Grafton OF the resolution and it went over
until to- morrow.
Stewart (Pop.) of Nevada offered a reso-
luton, which was agreed to, instructing
the committee OF mines and mining to
examine a report as 10 the best method of
gathering statistics of the products of
mines in the United States.
The asking OF permission by Allen
(Pop) OF Nebraska to correct substitute
mead In his speech as published in the
Record afforded the presiding officer Mr.
Hill, the chance of putting the question
in these words: lis there objection to
striking out the successes and failures of
Mark HANNAH" There was laugh but
no objection.
The Senate at 5 20 P. NJ. adjourned until
tomorrow.