The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-02-05
The PRESIDENT
AND The SENATE
Debate on Whether Executive
Can Refuse Senate State :
Documents.
CLEVELAND MADE A RULE
He Declined Such Request From the
Upper Body, and He Won His
Point, as Shown by Senator
Hale in Argument.

Washington, Jan. 30.-Much time has
been devoted by the senate to debate
rather than TO set speeches on the at
titude of the United States toward the
Panama revolution. There was a va
ration, however, in that the discus
sion also had reference to the right of
the president to Withhold information
called for by the senate.
The immediate foundation of the
controversy was the democratic eau
Gus resolution calling on the president
to state whether he has yet supplied all
the papers in the archives bearing up
on the Panama affair.
The debate was opened by Senator
Culberson, and was participated in by
Senator German and Bacon on the
democratic side of the chamber, and
by Senators Cullom, Spooner and
Lodge OF the republican side. The
democrats contended for the right of
the senate to demand information in
the possession of the executive depart
ment bearing on treaties before the
senate, While the republican speakers
spoke in defense of the discretion of
the president to withhold information.
Morgan Withdraws Resolution.
When Senator Morgan's resolution
calling for Minister Buchanan's letter
concerning amendments to the canal
treaty was laid before the senate Sen
ator Morgan withdrew it, saying that
he had been Informed that it was the
intention of the president to send the
document to the senate in executive
session.
The resolution of Senator Cuiberson,
introduced at the instance of the dem
ocratic caucus, requesting the president
to inform the senate whether all the
correspondence relating to the con-
rt,,,.1f,-,. re Z, =, ;"t : ~, l., I, ~ +, n hos hnnr
sent to the senate, was taken up.
senator Culiom objected to the reso-
luton as too broad as to date, and on
his suggestion Senator Culberson
amended it so as to limit the request
for correspondence since June 2S, 1902,
the date OF the approval Of the Spoon
CT act
Senator Cu,berson then suggested
that the resolution he further amended
SO as to relieve the president from the
necessity OF sending information tC
supply Which would, in his opinion, be
Incompatible with the public interest.
Senator Culberson declined to accept
this amendment.
Senator Cullom said it was his opin-
ion that the president has a right to
refuse to comply with the resolution. He
> had no doubt, however, that the presi-
dent would send every scrap Of infor-
nation.
The Cleveland Case.
Senator Hale referred TO the contro-
verSy which occurred during Mr.. Cleve-
and administration over the point as
to whether papers bearing on presiden-
tial nominations should be sent to the
senate. The president had refused to
comply with the wishes Of the senate,
n ultimately he won his point.
Senator Tillman commended that there
Is a difference between nominations
and treaties, but Senator Cullom con-
tended the president, as the head of one
branch of the government, has rights
which pertain to his office exclusively.
He feared, he said, that the resolution
was for mere effect"
Our friends on the other side of the
chamber" he went on, seek after a
week or two % caucusing to get some
advantage. They nope to catch the
president In an untruth, but they won't
succeed, fer there never was in the
White House a president who is less
liable to be found in sue a predica-
ment."
Senators Culberson and German dis
claimed any intention of rejecting upon
the presidents veracity. All they want
ed was the fullest possible light on the
subject"
Senator Aldrich suggested that the
resolution should be SO amended as not
to include papers covering present ne
gotiations which may be on for the
rotil VI llo
German replied hat he had not heard
before that there was such negotiations
in progress. He was delighted to hear
that such was the case.
Hoped for Success.
He hoped for the honor of the coun-
try that the negotiations would be
pressed to a successful elimination.
Instead of desiring to hamper the ex-
ecutive in such a work it was his desire
to encourage t,'for he feared the meth
DDS Of the president has done much tc
jeopardize, if not to destroy, the work
that had been done south of the United
States in past years. w fear" he
said, that in your anxiety to reach the
orient you are risking other inter
ests."
Senator Spooner replied to Senator
German. The resolution, he said, was
understood to be the fruit of the ''col.
lective civilization Of the democratic
side of the senate" He did not adopt
the suggestion of Senator Cullom thai
there was an Interior motive in it's in.
PRODUCTION, for he knew how absolutely
guileless the senator from Maryland
and the senator From Texas are II
matters POLITICAL Yet he could not re.
strain the thought that possibly Their
was a purpose Of using the matter or
the stump. While the resolution calls
for information for the executive ses.
sions, 1t is not being considered in legis
lative sessions. There are possibly
he added, references in the papers t.
another great power, which, if given t.
the public, would be offensive
Senate Cannot Command.
The president is not, Senator Spoone,
argued, the servant of the senate, an
the senate could not command, and al
though the senate is a part of thu
treaty making power, the president il
still the head Of the coordinate brancl
of the government, and could exercis,
authority in his own sphere of duty.
In conclusion Senator Spooner said