The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-04-12

Washington, April 9.-The recent ex-
ecutive order of the President relating
TO pension on age disability today fur
aished the text for an impassioned ap-
peal by w. Bourke Cochran. of New
York. to the members OF the House
TO uphold the dignity OF that body by
refusing to submit to what he alleged
20 be the usurpation Of the legislative
authority of Congress by executive or
der
In anticipation of Mr. Cockran's
speech almost every seat on the floor
was occupied and the galleries were fill
ed to overflowing. From the moment
Mr.. Cochran beganto speak until he
had concluded he held his audience
IN a manner that gave evidence of
their interest in his first speech since
he returned to Congress.
If. he said. the Presidents order is
recognized by the House, what frag-
ment of power is left to the House?"
BY one stroke of the pen," he declar-
ed, the President had appropriated $780,
o00, COO and he said it was matter with
which Congress must deal if it has any
regards for its own powers. or if it be
animated by shadow of loyalty for the
constitution which created it. He Wig
0rOuSIy asserted that I'VE are here at
the parting of the ways" and inquired
IF this order be tolerated without pro-
test by the House. what power is there
that the executive order cannot usurp?
What fragment of control over the
eountry's purse?" Continuing, he said
that this pretenSe of Interpretation of
the law. is but hollow mockery and
a play of words" and he added 1T is
known by the man who wrote 1t, as
shown by the order itself"
In his opinion the steady decline in
the dignity of the House had attracted
much attention. In sarcastic vein he de-
clared that the President allowed Con-
gress the privilege OF declaring war,
and he was loudly applauded by the
democrats when he added:
But the President makes war when
he chooses to-"
If this condition was hopeless, he
said amid more democratic applause.
IF we cannot rescue ourselves f-o-''
the degradation and decreptitude into
which We seem to be hurryinS, then
we better leave the condition to be Ia
mented rather than to be discussed" :"
The Congress- he declared, had so LOST
caste, that today there was not a paper
outside of Washington that gave more
proceedings.
why has this decline come upon us 4?
Why has the decreptitude overtaken
us?"
Amid an outburst Of Democratic ap-
plause he declared that when the House
shall stand on its rights the greater
will be the security OF liberty and the
wider the progress of humanity"
He charged that the House had been
remiss in its duty in not asserting its
rights. He received vociferous applause
from both sides OF the chamber when
he declared. notwithstanding Speaker
Cannon's utterance, that public opinion
must come to the rescue of Congress,
1.-The public opinion of the United
States is here. We are its agents, its
creation" Raising his voice to Il high
pitch he said that the House is the
sanctuary OF our constitutional temple.
We are the priests to whom it is en-
trusted, and, he added. pointing his En-
ger at the Speaker. you sir. are the
high priest, responsible for the method
in which that trust shall be discharg-
ed" -,
He declared that the Presidents Or
der was the uSurpation of power, mot
by appropriation, but by interpreted
tion,'' which he attributed to the ''pu-
~silanemouS failure of Congress to do its
duty to ITSELF Congress had control
of the purse and if it would exercise
mat. cOnIrOi ne insisted, every pIlNll-
ge that belonged 10 it would come back.
He dwelt at length on the inalianable
right of the House to originate revenue
bills. and urged the members to asser,
that right. He attacked the rules OF the
House, and said that il the members
were not to be trusted I'VE ought to be
abolished" He also spoke OF the sys-
TEN in vogue of introducing bills and
petitions by silently dropping them
into a basket. as if he said, you were
performing an act OF doubtful propri-
-ety to be carried on surreptitiousiy.
He further attacked the rules Of the
House. which, he said, forced members
to rise and discuss questions having nc
reference to the bill under considera-
ton thus reducing the whole proceed
ing to the level of opera bouffe.
Reverting to the Presidents order
Mr.. Cochran contended that the Secre-
tary of the interior justified the actor
upon the precedent OF President Cleve-
land. well, sir" he said, pacing up anG
down the center aisle. if that be so
then in Gods name let Us condemn that
act OF Mr.. Cleveland's as vehemently
as the act OF any Republican Presi'
dent" The disposition to Justify almos
everything by pleading "that Mr. Cleve'
TaHd did it" he vigorously declared, 'is