Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-04-09
Fifty-Eighth Congress.
Washington, April 3.
SENATE.

eHS mn pPihNSs
HOUSE.
Large crowds were attracted to the
galleries of the House today by Tn
previous announcements that Mr.. Bourke
Cochran of New York, would be the
oratorical star at today's proceedings.
The scene on the floor, also, was an
unusually animated one, and by far a
larger number of members than can
ordinarily be found in the House On q
Saturday, gave attention to the pre-
iminary routine business Of the day.
1t was 1920 when Mr.. Dalzell re-
ported back the Cochran resolution
which calls on the judiciary committee to
investigate by what right the Secretary
of the Interior issued his recent pension
order, with the recommendation that it
lie on the table.
81 withhold my notion" Mr.. Dali
zell announced, "that the author of the
resolution may have an opportunity to
be heard"
As Mr.. Cochran arose from a seat in
the center aisle, he was cordially APP
pIauded, by republicans as well as dem
ocrats.
At the outset Mr.. Cochran disavowed
any aud all intention of making this
resolution the vehicle of a partisan
speech. at is my desire simply to vim
dictate the dignity of the House." he
said, raising his voice, which had
hitherto been confined to conversational
tones 81 arise, not as a partisan, but
as a member of the House"
1t was this statement which evoked
the first applause OF the day.
81 want to see generous provision
made for the old soldiers in their de-
clining years." he Numbered, "but /
want to see it done by Congress, and
not by any self constituted authority"
Again the democrats applauded him.
'If this order is accepted" he de-
clared, eff money is paid out on such
an order, what fragment or shadow Of
power is left to the House of Represent
atiyes?"
He spoke of the constitutional rights
of Congress. "The purse is held by the
constitution 10 be under the control OF
Congress" he said "But what is
really done, is the opening of the purse,
not by this body, but by an executive
officer Of the government-thirty mil
lions of dollars taken from the treasury
by the stroke of the pen of an executive
officer. We are at the parting of the
ways. If this order be tolerated, what
is there that is beyond the power of an
executive officer?"
Mr.. Cochran became more effective in
his delivery as he warmed up to his
work.
He advocated the reputation of the
Hitchcock order as contrary to the "secur-
ity OF our laws, the permanency of our
liberties, the safety Of our country" a
sentiment that brought forth laundering
democratic applause. He spoke of the
decline and decay of the House of Rep
resentatives," and referred in substan-
tiation to a recent magazine article on
that subject by Representative Mccall,
of Massachusetts, and 10 the last speech
made by Mr.. Cannon, last year, which
he declared TO be pathetic dirge over
prestige lost" He discussed the alleged
encroachments of the executive depart
ment into the domain of the legislative.
ours is the right to make wal" he
declared, speaking Of Congress, "but the
executive gives us the power to declare
war when we want to and makes war
when he chooses"
He saw no hope in the present condi-
ton. Impeachment would be the only
weapon, and impeachment is never in
vcked, he said, by statesmen unless sue
cess is assured in advance.
Again he devoted himself to the
Hitchcock order. at is justified by
some" he declared, "on the ground
that under President Clevelanda similar
step was taken. If thatbe So in Gods
name, let us condemn it.
Mr.. Dalzell-"Did it take You eleven
years to find that out, although you were
a member of the House at that timer
at t,ok many people eleven years to
find it out" was the retort. al hope
we will unite to prevent a repetition of
the event. am not afraid of vicious
theory adopted by vicious man. But
| have great fear of a mistaken course
pursued by a good man under a mis-
taken apprehension Of public principle.
The first order, driving the wedge, was
more reprehensible than the order by
Mr.. Hitchcock was, which only widened
the breach. II the republicans be true,
it was democratic administration that
led the way in our violation of consti-
tutional rights"
In conclusion Mr. Cochran suggested
what he called his remedy for the decline
of the power of the House. He urged
the House to adopt a resolution appoint
ing a committee to frame "new declar-
alton of rights" consideration of which
should go over to the first Monday in De-
cember.
Mr.. DalzelPs reply was to the
effect that Mr.. Cochran had made gener.
al charges but had given no particulars.
He said that it was nonsense to say that
the rights of the House bad been violated
Just because the pension bureau had
framed a new order governing pensions.
Mr. Dale gave way to Mr. Gros-
venOr who defended the Hitchcock order
and the House rules.