The evening times., 1899-04-27

Of secrecy and mortal fear have been re-
moved from the lips and hearts Of certain
persons connected with his reign. and We
are beginning to hear things that ought to
have been told while yet there remained
some sort of power to reach the individual
chiefly involved in the developments. The
Washington correspondent Of the New
York Tribune" relates that ths mouths
OF two Congressional clerks have been
opened and characteristic story Of the
autocrat's methods is the result It fol-
lows:
In the first session of the last Congress the Sen
ate committee made favorable report and the
Senate passed joint resolution ordering the
pilation and publication in one volume Of all the
treaties and conventions with foreign powers from
1716 to date. There is at present volume Of this
sort bringing the treaties down to 1889, but since
that time some important conventions and agree
ments have been entered into. and the commit re
believed these should be compiled with the Others
for the convenience OF the members OF Congress,
the various departments, and the public. The
work would have cost in the neighborhood Of ST.
0O0
The House passed the resolution in the closing
hours OF the first session, and the joint resolution,
having been previously signed by the Vice Presi-
dent, was laid before the Speaker for his sigma
ture. Mr.. Reed put it aside and declined to sign
il. The business Of Congress is not interrupted
by recess, and when the second session con-
vened Speaker Reeds attention was called to the
resolution, which the records showed he had not
yet signed. MIR. Reed for unknown reason
declined 10 sign the resolution. and this condition
of Affairs LASTED throughout tho whole Congress,
that resolution, properly passed by the two
houses. engrossed and signed by the Vice Presi-
dent on the part Of the Senate, remaining in the
possession of the Speaker when the Congress went
out Of existence. Among those who knew the
facts there much comment what was
said to be an arbitrary act Of the Speaker. The
incident caused some serious discussion in the
Committee on Enrolled Bills. and it was believed
that II the matter were permitted to go uncial-
lenged dangerous precedent would be establish
ed For some reason, however, no public notice
was ever taken Of this refusal of the Speaker to
perform the mandatory duties prescribed for that
official by Congressional enactment in pursuance
Of the authority Of the Constitution.
II is said by those who are conversant with this
refusal OF the Speaker to ax his signature to the
resolution that he stepped entirely without the
bounds of his powers. They contend that in such
matters the duties of the Speaker are simply ad-
ministratiye, and that after the House has once
acted the Speaker is compelled TO put his name
to the bill resolution an evidence OF the fact
merely that The House has acted.
The Constitution gives 10 the President only the
power to decline to approve the enactments Of
Congress. If if is admitted that the presiding Of
ficer of either house of Congress withhold his
signature 10 bill or resolution all legislation
of the proper officers the only guarantee that
the matters TO which those signatures have been
affixed have been properly passed through the re-
spect,ve branches of Congress. /! the Speaker
could refuse to sign joint resolution. which is,
perhaps, Of little Importance. the assump
tion OF such authority might. in the hands OF
Speaker so minded. extend TO legislation Of the
most vital importance II is the extent to which
so dangerous a precedent might drift that has
alarmed members of Congress familiar with the
incident. but at the time the leaders in
the House. fearing the power of the Speaker. have
dreaded 10 raise issue which they believed
would call Gown on their heads the wrath of the
man whose power in the body of which they are
members has been almost supreme.
The public generally has credited Thom-
as Bracket Reed with the belief that he
is, like Napoleon. "a man apart and su-
perior to all restraints of law, custom, or
propriety. 1t will now be understood
that as Speaker he actually arrogat-
ed to himself the power to exer-
else an absolute veto upon the leg
islation OF the two houses OF Con-
gress. The fact of his action in the case
above referred to was, of course. known
to many representatives Of the people. 1t
would not be particularly difficult to find
out who they are. They should be known.
that their photographs might be secured
and numbered for a national gallery Of a
certain sort.
The man who having knowledge Of that
offence. did not make it public, be he Sen
ator Member. clerk, or messenger, was
guilty of treachery to the American peo-
pie, and should be pilloried accordingly.