Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-12-06
STRIKE Commission BILL
Was Passed by the House Yester-
day Without Division
THE MEASURE WAS CRITICISED
Mr.. Benton Declares the President Went Be-
youd His Authority-o Others Commend


Representatives yesterday took up the
bill to defray the expenses OF the An
thracite Coal Strike Commission,
which has been made the order Of the
day.
Mr. Cannon, Chairman of the Appro-
priation Committee had charge of the
bill.
The House went into committee of
the whole and took mp the considera-
tion of the coal strike commission bill
Before the discussion began Mr..
Gaines stated that he desired to offer
an amendment. The chair having rul-
ed 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 to be an amendment TO place
anthracite coal On the free list.
II presume the eleventh command
ment might also be read - remarked
Mr.. Cannon sententiously, who pro-
ceeded 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 OPPOSED.
Mr.. Benton member of the appro-
priations committee. to whom Mr..
Cannon yielded, declared that he could
not support the bill. As an original
proposition containing authority for
the recreation of commission to set
tie the coal strike. it would, he said,
have received his support. But this bill
proposed to place in the Presidents
hands $50, 900 for the payment of the
| expenses of commission for which
there was no authority, statutory or
constitutional. The President. he
said had no legal authority, for the
creation of the commission. If he
could appoint commission to settle
the coal strike without law, he could
commercial or trade relations with
Germany or any other sort of commits
sion that seemed good to him.
| 81 know said he, that to refer
to the Constitution is to place myself
in the role of back number Never
theless, / do have respect for the Con-
stitution and the laws, and | 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 a commits
si~n?' asked Mr. Hemenway.
II believe il was unlawful for the
President to act as ht did, replied
Mr. Benton, who proceeded to say that
his second objection to the bill was
that it placed $50, 600 in the Presi-
dents hands without any litigation
whatever.
Mr.. Livingston and Mr. Underwood
supported the bill although they
agreed that the Presidents action was
irregular.
Mr.. Bartlett Ca y said the Presi-
dent had acted patriotically, Mr.
Cochran Mo Mr. Feeley, Mr. Gaines
| Tenn. and Mr. Maddox Endorsed
the action of the President.
Mr.. Hemenwav and Nj Lacey
warmly defended the course OF the
President, the latter chasacterizing i
as one of the "boldest acts IN the
I l. ,AAA.-s- - tbo s~,a,f4f1rfa
! NJ McDegmotf pointed out the fact
that the strike commission had no pow
or behind IL. He Thought the commits
sion should be given power to make
an investigation and should report It's
findings to Congress.
VOICED PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
Mr.. Cannon. IN charge OF the bill.
argued that it should pass in the form
in which it was presented # the
| Presidents action lad been without
authority of law or constitution. Mr.
Cannon said, it had been taken in re-
Spouse to an overwhelming public sem
timent, 81 sometimes think. said he,
that a just and righteous public sem
timent, coming MP from the whole
country of s0o0o,o9o people, which
begets action. is for the express pcr-
pose it represents larger than the con
lstitution,
Mr. Griffith offered an amendment
to provide for the payment OF tie eS,
penses Of Jonn Mitchell in bringing
the strike to an end
Mr.. Cannon, in reply. paid a high
tribute to Mr. Mitchell. Who, he
said, was fellow citizen Of Illinois.
He said lie did not believe Mf Mich
81 would indorse such "cheap
Jonn" Proposition
The amendment was voted down
The bill then WAS passed without
division, although there were several
dissenting voices on err democratic