The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-12-17


introduced in the House.
XIV
Consul Davis, american repre-
sentative in Alexandretta, Aslatic
Turkey, has beeu assaulted by some
Turkish soldier, in a dispute arising
out of the arrest Of an Armenian,
who is a uaturalized American
citizen. In consequence, the consul
has left his post for Beirut. The
incident is the cause of diplomatic
representations at Constantinople,
and it is expected that the Turkish
government will make an apology.
The State Department does not ex-
pect any serious trouble over the
affair, but it has notified the Navy
Department so as to be prepared
for all emergency. The State De-
partment has had much trouble
with naturalized Armenians, who
return to Turkey, as the Turkish
government refuses to recognize
the right ofa Turkish subject to be-
come citizen of another country.
Minister Leishman will make a re-
port on the present affair.
XIV
According to the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury, which
has just been issued, there will be a
deficit Of over $23, 900, 900 for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1904,
while the surplus for the present
fiscal year will be reduced to Sr4,-
ooo, 900. He admits that our cur
rency system has just passed
through a serious crisis, which
could easily have caused general
disaster. He admits also that the
non-elasticity of the currency is
weakness, but suggests no remedy.
XXX
There has been much discussion
here of the many instances in which
President Roosevelt has betrayed
his exaggerated idea OF the powers
and daties of the Executive branch
of the National government. Crit
icism of such actions OF the Presi-
dent are by no means confined to
the democratic party. AT the final
session of the last Congress, $500,
900 was appropriated for the prose
cution by the Attorney General of
violations of the antitrust laws. A
large portion of this money remains
uneXpended. Referring to this the
President says in his annual mes.
sage; Il now recommend as a
matter of the utmost importance
and urgency, the extension of the
purpose of this appropriation, so
that it may be available, under the
direction of the Attorney General
and, until used, for the due enforce
meut of the laws of the United
States in general and especially of
the civil and -iminal laws relating
to public lands and the laws relat-
ing to postal crimes and offences
and the subject OF naturalization" "
In other words, the president asks
| Congress to turn over several hun
dred thousand dollars, appropriated
for specific purpose, tor the use OF
the Administration in the general
enforcement of the laws. Such an
act is violation of the split of the
Constitution and of express provi-
sions Of the statutes, which declare
that all appropriations shall be made
for his specific purposes. In an
other part of his message which
deals with Panama, Mr.. Roosevelt
has shown himself to be the arbi-
trary interpreter OF acts of Congress.
The last Congress instructed the
President to negotiate treaty with
Colombia for the Panama canal.
Such negotiations failed, and after
the resolution in Panama, the Presi-
dent held that the orders of Con-
gress did not refer particularly to
the government Of Colombia, but
to any government which might
thereafter get possession OF the
canal Such an Interpretation was
enforced, showed lack of apprecia-
tons of the powers of Congress and
established a bad precedent. In
the matter of recess appointments
the President made another arbl-
trarv decision. The extra session
of Congress ended at noon last
Monday. The regular session be-
gan at once. The appointments of
General Wood, DR., Crum and
others had not been confirmed by
the Senate. In order that these
men might continue to draw their
salary as recess appointments, un-
til the Senate acted upon them, the
| President held that there was an
| inhnitismal recess bstween the two
| ---.. -, o,,J .a,,t -, tla tlOt1ip1 ions