The Washington times., 1904-04-10
COCHRAN UPBRAIDS HOUSE

| DEGREES of other departments and con-
! temptuously ignored If it undertakes TO
! exercise an independent judgment
Instead. the Constitution had given
power by which the dignity and consC-
qUtnce lost could be regained; by
which the House could rise to a great
/ eT power than has ever existed 10 be
used for the broader welfare of the Re
public. the greater security OF liberty.
and the wider progress Of humanity.
! Loud applause.l
! He asked how it was that the Sen
ate had gained influence and power at
the expense Of the House. The ex-
PLANTATION, he said. was simple. 1t
was bat the new Illustration of a truth
which all parliamentary history estab-
| fishes. The Senate was persistent in
asserting its rights and persistent in en-
] Lars in.- them. while the House had been
/ lerniss in asserting its rights. and 50
/ they had been steadily invaded.
II the House has declined in i'm
portance. il had been not through
( lack OF power. but through lack Of de-
! termination TO exercise the power that
! il possesses AT every stage, when the
House had come in conflict with the
| SCrate, the House has given way. The
| Speaker had said that public opinion
Would come to the rescue of the House
ana re-establish its authority.
''Public Opinion Here"
Public opinion!' exclaimed Mr.. Coc.s-
ran. Where is it? Where is its voice?
! Where is its sanctuary? Where Is its
source? Why, sir. the public opinion OF
the United States is here. We are Its
: agents; We are is creation. We, sir,
should regard this as the sanctuary Of
d 81 -.
priests TO whom it is intrusted. You.
sir" addressing the Speaker. are the
high priest. responsible for the method
! in which that trust should be discharged
/ by those upon whom this duty IS en-
/ tailed" loud and enthusiastic APP
| plause.l
This last assault upon the pre~ogatives
| OF the House, he said, was i-e most
/ grievous that ever has been perpetrated,
/ but 1t was the legitimate consequence Of
| the concessions made. of the impunity
/ which the other branches Of the Gov
! eminent have found in attacking il and
| compelling this submission.
By Interpretation.
! Mr. Cochran delved into history for
! the purpose of showing how other rep
/ resentatiye bodies had lost their power
and influence, and referring again TO the
| executive order. he said:
we find that it is called 'interpreta
ton and thus the successful attempt
l had been made TO take money from the
/ Treasury not by appropriation. but by
] Interpretation" He said that while the
! House had control Of the purse. if il ex-
, ercised that control every privilege that
properly belonged to ii would come back.
! The constitutions prerogative Of the
I II Cn7 rlc
did not mean TO give the House the
privilege Of writing the enacting clause
| only. 1t meant to give the House the
power to originate every tax upon every
| article and on every man IN the country.
| That power is ours" he said, and
let US assert it, Let US assert it and We
| shall have what is ours. and who is
! there to .coerce US? l ask the House to
appeal from the dispute of the Senate
/ chamber and the conference room TO the
| judgment OF the electors. If the tudg-
ment be adverse to our position, We will
be no worse than If We make a sacrifice
and consent without a struggle. II that
judgment be favorab BILE. that one favor
allie verdict Will re-establish the author
ity Of this House so that no man Will
again attempt to attack it, whether it
be IN the Senate chamber. in the execu-
tive mansion. or any Of the executive
departments.
Where Remedy Lies.
Mr.. Cochran said that no appropria-
ton could be made without the consent
Of the House, and If the House saw I'll
TO do 50 it could WELD this weapon IL
regain its lost power. Even the Senate
could not make a treaty without the
consent Of the House to appropriate
money TO carry II into effect. Mr.
| Speaker" he continued, If We want
to reassert our authority over all the
departments we have but to restore
our confidence in ourselves"
Commenting upon the rules Of the
House. Mr.. Cochran said that by those
rules no member of the House could
challenge the judgment of that body
on anything. He could not even present
a petition, or OFFER resolution from his
place on the floor. He must go to q
basket out Of the notice Of the House.
and drop In his application, his resolu-
ton. or petition silently and secretly
into a receptacle. as though he were
performing an act OF doubtful prophet
to be carried on surreputiously
SHOULD Be Abolished"
y am aware" he continued, that all
! Of these rules are justified on the ground
that it is necessary TO guard the House
against abuse; but, sir, II we cannot be
trusted we ought to be abolished Zap
plause and laughter.l If the Constitution
gives US powers which our rules take
away from US, that is an arrangement;
| for an amendment OF the Constitution,
looking to the elimination Of our activi-
ties. ILaughter.l
Referring to General Grosvenor-s
speech several days ago. in which the
Ohio member said that II any membe~
directly charges aDS 5cT5 bring thu
proof that there had been corruption IL
| any department that the House would
investigate II. Mr. Cochran said that the
| House had but TO exercise the power
| which the Constitution enioius upon il
| to keep every department clean FOR
| rascality and publicity are absolutely