The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-04
RoosRvRLrs COURSE IRREGULAR.
Nevertheless his Appointment Of the Strike
Commission is Generally Commended.
(By the Associated Press

Washington, D. c., Dec. 3.-The House
passed. today, the bill to appropriate
100000 to defray the expenses of the
Anthracite Coal Strike Commission and
then adjourned until Friday when the
London Dock Charge bill will be con-
sidered. There were two hours of dis
cussion on the Commission bill during
which the Presidents course in creating
the commission was highly commended
except by Mr.. Benton, Missouri Demo-
crat, who contended that the commission
was created without authority of law or
Constitution. There was some criticism
OF the feature of the bill allowing dou-
bic salaries to members of the commits
sion now in government employ and be-
cause the bill left the amount of the
compensation of the members to the
President. But all amendments were voted
down and the bill was passed without
division.
Before the discussion began, Mr..
Gaines (Tenn.), stated that he desired
to offer an amendment. The chair hav-
ing ruled that amendments were not in
order at this time Mr.. Cannon, in charge
of the bill, agreed that the amendment
should be read for information. 1t proved
coal on the free list.
II presume the Eleventh Command
ment might also be read" remarked Mr..
Cannon, sententiously, who proceeded to
say that he had no desire to discuss the
bill. 1t showed on its face what it was
1t merely provided for the payment of the
expenses of the Coal Strike Commission
Mr.. Benton (Missour), a member of
hn
Mr.. Cannon yielded, declared that he
could not support the bill. AS an original
proposition containing authority for the
creation of a commission to settle the
coal strike, it would he said, have re-
ceiyed his support. But this bill pro-
posed to place in the Presidents hands
s5O,O00 for the payment of the expenses
OF commission for which there was no
authority, statutory or constitutional.
The President, he said, had no legal au-
thority for the creation of the commits
sion. If he could appoint a commission
to settle the coal strike without law.
ne could appoint a commission to settle
our commercial or trade relations with
Germany or any other sort of commits
sion that seemed good to him.
Il know" said he, "that to refer to
the Constitution is to place myself in the
role of back number. Nevertheless. |
do have respect for the Constitution and
the laws and I do not approve of this
sort of proceeding"
"Do you think the President should
have waited until Congress enacted a law
for the creation of commission ?"
asked Mr.. Henenway Qnd).
81 believe it was unlawful for the
President to act as he did," replied Mr..
Benton, who proceeded to say that his
second objection to the bill was that it
placed $50, 900 in the Presidents hands
without any limitation whatever.
Mr.. Livingston (Ga), and Mr.. Under
wood (Ala.), supported the bill, although
they agreed that the Presidents action
was irregular.
Mr.. Bartlett (Ga), said the President
had acted patriotically. Mr.. Cochran
tMo), Mr.. Feeley Glls.), Mr.. Gaines
tTenn). and Mr.. Maddox (Ga), endorsed
the action of the President.
Mr.. Cannon, in charge of the bill, ar
gued that it should pass in the form in
which it was presented. If the Presidents
action had been without authority of
law or constitution, Mr.. Cannon said. it
had been taken in response to an over
whelming public sentiment.
'I sometimes Think said he. chat
a just and righteous public sentiment
looming up from the whole country of so,
nNoQ people which begets action is for