The Washington times., 1904-04-10


il, he said, with a hope Of calling The
attention Of the House TO an invasion
Of its privileges and a disregard or it5
authority indicating a profound con-
tempt
Continuing. Mr. Cochran referred 10
the Sulloway bill, by which II was pro-
posed to pension any person who had
served ninety days in the civil war, and
had reached the age of siXty-two years.
This measure the House had declined,
or. at LEAST failed 10 enact. and there
upon the Secetary Of the Interior had
decrced that the terms proposed by this
measure. which the House did not enact
should. nevertheless, govern the Pension
Department. and moneys were now ae-
tuallv paid out of the Treasury without
the slightest warrant Of authority from
Congress. Mr Cochran SAID he favored
liberal pensions. but he wanted them
made by Congress and not by any self
constituted authority.
at Parting of Ways
i think We are now al the parting
of the ways" Mr. Cochran went on. III
This order be sustained by the House.
what fragment or shadow of power Is
left to this body2 The thing which the
Constitution has provided is that the
purse shall be under the control of Con-
gress. The thing which is done by this
order is the opening of the purse, not
bv this body. but by an executive Of
ncer'' All the pretense, he said, Of the
order being an Interpretation" Of law.
vas but a hollow mockery, a play upon
words The fact that it is meant 20 leg
islate is proven by the character Of the
order itself.
The House" he said. must declare
whether it VIII accept this attack upon
its authority as a measure Of its power.
or take steps to vindicate the privileges
which the Constitution has vested in It.
Speaking of the decline and decay of
the Importance of the House, Mr.. Cock
ran referred 20 magazine article along
this line by Representative Mccall Of
Massachusetts. and TO Speaker Cannon's
speech at the last session OF the Fifty
seventh Congress. deploring the loss or
influence OF the House.
4 Pathetic DiTge.
You" he said, addressing himself TO
the Speaker, uttered words which may
be fairly held TO constitute q pathetic
6irge AT the loss of our importance by
forbearance and concessions which al
most amounts to pussilanimity and dis
loyalty on the port Of our members.
! Loud applausel
The executive department he said, had
proven itself entirely free from any re-
| straiut except what the incumbent OF
| the Presidency himself acknowledged.
/ The constitutional limitations. so FAR as
/ the Presidency Is concerned, IS only gov
erned by the limitation of his strong
disposition THE President allows Us
the privilege Of declaring war IL we want
| to do so, but he makes war when he
| chooses.
Reduced to a Shadow.
/ Mr.. Cochran referred to the growth of
| the executive departments Of the Gov
/ eminent. and said that the only part OF
our political system which had not
grown was the House Of Representa-
lives. which was shrinking more and
more rapidly into the mere shadow Of a
| representative body. If the invasion be
I allowed 70 pass unrebuked, he said,
! there would not be enough left OF the
House 10 justify the usurper in taking
he trouble to dispense it.
But" said Mr. Cochran, Il have not
risen here to describe this decay of our
powers merely 10 lament them. II this
condition IS hopeless; il we cannot res
cue ourselves from the degradation and
decrepitude into which we seem to be
hurrying. then we have arrived at a
condition 10 be lamented rather than TO
be discussed.
Tears belong TO women for conditions
which are helpless; discussions belong
TO men for conditions that can be cured.
I believe that the power OF this house
is al in the control OF it's members;
that Il needs but the loyalty OF our
! selves TO restore US to the Importance
and dominant position in our political
system" IAppiausel.
In Former Days.
Mr. Cochran referred to the power OF
the House In former days and recalled
/ happily the time. nine years ago. when
he had himself been a member He
| then told how the House differed from
other parliamentary bodies OF the world.
! ut never cCi EhS a man down" he
said. 1T never jeers him. II never is
known TO pre- ycrt him from expressing
his views. on the contrary. 1t Always
] cheerfully gives rim the floor; he gets
/ the eye Of he Speaker. the attendance
Of page. the prompt service Of u sie-
| nographer - everything but attention.
| prolonged laughter and applause.l
THAT" continued Mr. Cochran, after
/ the interruption, is reserves for its
| favorites. Sir. as I survey this cham.
| Der. as ] invoke my own memories Of II
/ to say nothing Of its historical assO-
I ciations-and as I realize what IL has
/ been and what II may be- and then re-
| aliZe what IL is-what IL possibly may
| becOme-I confess to the reflection that
/ l see here fOreshadowed a condition
which may fairly be described as =
| tragedy. and one Of the saddest Of all
] history"
Condition Not Intended.
] If tie actual condition in which the
! House finds itself were the condition
! intended by the Constitution. he said,
{ the prospects would be hopeless and
/ discussion useless, but he believed the
! Constitution never intended that the
House should sink 70 the condition Of