The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-10-27
EXECUTIVE USURPATI0N.
Eot in Republican Congress 10 Oppose
i Republican fr.Sid.rt

Secretary OF War William III. Taft,
speaking for The administration at the
Union League club meeting on Thurs
day night. quoted from Judge Parkcrs
letter of acceptance this, and proceeded
TO criticise it:
ALREADY the National Government
has become centralized beyond any
point contemplated by the trainers OF
the Constitution. How tremendously
all this has added TO the power Of
the President 1t has developed from
year to year until 1t almost equals that
of many monarchs."
Then Secretary Taft has this COM
ment to make:
I'm what respect does the Executive
to-day exercise any more power than
he did in the time of Washington and
jefferson? 1t may be that the Presi.
dent of the United States exercises
more power under the Constitution
than many monarchs. IL this is true
| to-day, it is because the Constitution
builders put the instrument into force.
But if it were otherwise. il there has
been an encroachment by the Execu-
tive on the legislative and judicial
branches of the Government. why does
not the Judge point out where these
uSurpatiOns are, so that he may prom
Use to the people that under his admin
istration such usurpatiOns will not be
continued:"
Again continues Secretary Taft:
The possibility of improper limita-
| tta,, Of nv ('npnpncc ic
real, but the danger that tie Executive
will usurp the functions OF the Legs
| lature is Il mere hobgoblin, because the
Legislature las always at its comiuand
that which in England won from the
most arbitrary kings liberty for the
people-the power over the pubic
purse. Mere inaction by Congress
would render the President powerlesS."
Judge Parkcr's assertion as to the
Capitalization of power in the Govern
Ment is most abundantly warranted by
| abuses too VIGOROUSLY patent to need
specification. Not few administra-
lions have seen this question under dis
Crssion in Congress. and before the
people on the hustings. 1t is by no
means a new question. 1t was last
most seriously debated during the adj
miniStration of President Grant. New
er before has the question of central
iZat ton Of power assumed so grave an
aspect as under the administration
| Of Mr.. Roosevelt. Since the day he
took the oath of Office, after the death
of William Mckinley, Theodore Roose'
Welt has benz every energy of an en-
ceptionally energetic nature to pre- mot
ing his own succession, and in the pur-
suit of that object he has time and
again transgressed the Legitimate
sphere of his executive functions.
Mr.. Taft was in the Philippines
when Mr.. Roosevelt was bOssng his
Republican Congress, and there were
things about Congress lie didn't see
There were Republicans in that Con
gress who several times cvinced symp
toms of revolt. but the power of the
Executive was quickly brought int
play and the would-be party recalci
trants were incontinently whipped into
line.
1t is the veriest idle twaddle t, speak
in this connection of 1.-THE LegislG
ture' having the power to make the
Executive pOwerless. What is the pow
CT of the Legislature worth SO long a:
il is uneXercsed when it most needs tC
be exercised? Did Republican Con
gress ever dare to oppose Republican
Executive? Ii 1t has ever been criti
cised by Republican members. 1t has
been by indir-ction, with the final re
suit that the vote of the Republican
Legislature has been with the Execu
tive. The Republican Congress has
done President Roosevelt's bidding alb
jectly and servilely, the while Its IN
dlviduals in private criticised and eyei
cursed his fatuous laundering.
| Congress may. indeed. under the