The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-17

approval OF the President. All save three
OF the appropriation bills have gone TO
the Senate. The pOstofiice bill was taken
up in the House to-day, ana the appro-
priations and naval committees are
working night and day to get the last
two bills, the general deficiency ana
naval into the House.
The action Of the appropriations COM
mittee I'm preparing the general deficiency
bill al this time is the best evidence OF
the intention of the leaders 10 secure an
early adjournment This bill is always
held back until the last, rs II contains all
the odds and ends and usually is not Tee
ported until an understanding as TO iindl
adjournment has been reached
In much Of the discussion over the eN-
pediency of an early adjournment OF Con
gress there is displayed almost an entire
Instrumentation 10 facts and necessities.
Not "A little OF this ignorance is shown on
the part of members OF Congress them
solevs. who. ID might reasonably be sup
posed ought 20 know better Under any
possible contingencies affecting the rcla~
tions between Spain and this country.
there is no necessity for the presence OF
Congress Not only this. but 10 the con-
trary its presence here I'm the event OF
hostiities would be thousand times
more likely 20 embarrass than assist the
administration.
Senator's and members would be con-
stantly submitting ill-advlsed motions
and giving utterance TO ill-advised opln-
ions They would annoy and hinder the
executive and the military and naval au-
ihorlties with crotchets and theories as
to plans and movements. Under the
constitution. the authority Is invested In
wa
lions begin and end In has nothing
whatever to do with the conduct of war.
The direction of that is conhded eNclu-
siyely 90 the President or commander
in-chcf of the army and navy
Congress has nothing 10 do with diplo-
matte negotiations. nothing 10 DO with
terms OF peace. nothing q do with trea-
ties The Senate has supervisory power
over treaties. but that is after the exc
cutive has negotiated them. Should the
executive conclude an agreement or COM
pact involving the payment OF money
the House would have 10 join with the
Senate I'm making tho appropriation be
fore the money would he available. This
would do at any time when Congra
came together So # will be appreciated
that those members OF Congress who
think II important for that body 10 re-
main I'm session on account of the Cuban
situation. are altogether mistaken as TO
their duties obligations and preroga-
tlves.
n Congress can get through with It's
regular business by May lst as is indi-
Gated. the best thing 81 can do is 90 close
up and 90 home The President can pro
coed with his $50 10000. and. If that should
be exhausted, patriotism. precedent and
common sense would justify him I'm i'm
4 L. cal ca ar
with the confident assurance that Con-
gress. i'm due time. would make provision
for g.
There are men in public life now who
can we'll remember the action Of the
Executive in 1s6 when Fort Sumter was
fired upon. Congress vas not In session,
and Mr.. Lincoln did not call IL for three
months later. But be went right on. en-
listed 1000 volunteers. spent millions
upon millions of dollars. and when Con-
gress convened il. of course. voted the
money without a word. During the whole
four years Of that tremendous struggle
President Lincoln was never so much re-
lieved as when Congress was not in ses-
sion. Congress and Congressman by
hasty and injudicious action embarrassed
the administration, both at home and
abroad.
il was said IN this correspondence
President Mckinley is anxious for
Congress 10 leave and permit him 10 deal
with the situation. as his is the response
billty Knowing the experience Of his
predecessor II is not strange he should
entertain such feeling. Nothing is more
apparent than that the heated and intern
perate expressions of Congressman. In
vested with authority by utterance on
the floor. have done much TO complicate
the situation and adds 10 its annoyances
and irritatons.
The American people will be quite con-
tent 90 leave the cause Of the honor and
dignity OF their country I'm the hands OF
the Executive. where 10 property be-
longs II the crisis which is upon MS
should evsntuate in hostilitics f. would
be i'm no sense incumbent for Congress
TO be- here 20 60 through the purely
formal and entirely perfunctOry process
of declaring war. process which has
become practically obsolete among ma
tions.