The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22

I think there has been nothing of the kind.
] have been there. The public building OF
palace as il is called there, vas put IN
shape fit TO live in. Nothing more was
done. II Congress desires the information
Of course it can ascertain how much zen
eral Brooke paid his cook and how much
he paid his chambermaid- but l 90 not
think extravagant expenditures have oeen
made
Mr.. Plat argued that the only question
for the Senate to decide was as to whether
tho allowances to Army officers charged
with the administration Of civil affairs IN
Cuba were reasonable or were eXuava-
CANT
rs Congress" he asked Ito legislate for
Cuhaq What right has Congress to legis-
late for Cuba any more than for Canada?'
Can we not direct the President to
withdraw the army from Cuba enquired
Mr. Tillman.
That is one thing We can do replied
Mr. Plat
Mr.. Daniel-Do acts Of Congress control
in Cuba?
Mr.. Platt-They do not and cannot. Cuba
is foreign territory.
Mr. Daniel-Do the laws Of the United
States as to the pay and emoluments Of
I Army officers apply in Cuba, or do they
4 not?
Mr.. Platt-As TO the pay and emolu-
/ ments Of Army officers. yes; but as 10
I what shall be done in Cuba, no. Cuba IS
under military authority. II is in military
occupation. That occupation is under eA-
] ecutive authority and not under leglsla-
tive authority.
Where does the President get TINS great
authority" asked Mr.. Daniel.
From the Constitution" was the reply.
/ As Commander-iu -chief Of the Army the
! President has authority far beyond the
/ power which may be conferred upon MIN
/ by Congress-
Mr.. Daniel Surprised.
Mr.. Daniel expressed his surprise at
the doctrine Of sbsolutism laid down by
Mr.. Platt Such a doctrine. he said, should
not 20 unchalIenged. The President OF the
/ United States was given certain specific
powers under the Constitution. Beyond
those his great executive duty was TO see
! that the laws were faithfully executed.
/ 1T was a new, if not purely original,
/ idea Of the Senator from Connecticut that
the President was so far beyond the laws
Of the United States that Congress could
not determine his duties as military
D
Mr.. Daniel.
rs not that the blossoming Of the i'm
perial idea ?" Mr. Tillman broke in.
1t is not its blossoming,' Mr.. Daniel
! replied: lit is its perfected and rotten
| fruit 1t will fall from the tree OF its own
( weight And / trust 1t will do something
to remind the people Of the country OF the
I fearful precipice over which they stand,
/ and remind them that they should be more
careful than they have been in entrusting
their lives. fortunes. and military desu-
MES to illimitable executive power.
The discussion was proceeding when
O'Clock arrived and the unfinished bust
4 ness-lhe Philippine bill-was laid before
/ the Senate II was informally laid aside,
however. at the suggestion of Mr.. Hale,
! who called attention to the fact that there
were many speeches TO be made on the
Quay case and that that case would have
/ 10 be disposed Of next Tuesday.
Mr.. Daniel continued his remarks on
. the Bacon resolution as TO the extra pay
aud emolument Of Army officers In Cuba
and Porto Rice. He declared that the doc
trine enunclated by Mr.. Platt would ie-
NIT this country TO the most complete
Z militarism and absolutism that the world
/ had ever known.
Mr. Chandler expressed his dissent ( ON
the doctrine stated by the Senator from
! Connecticut That Senator had asserted
/ that the military power OF the President
in Cuba could not be controlled by
legislation OF Congress; and be -tMr
I Chandler entirely dissented from thai
doctrine He admitted that allowance
might legally be made 10 cover the eX-
penses Of ARMY officers in Cuba who were
performing military duties; but he did not
think that their salaries could be legally
f,-creau.a As IN the "dpco-at ion Of nal.