Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-10-27
EXECUTIVE %USURPATION.
Not in a Republican Congress 10 Oppose
a Republican PrsSid mt.

Secretary of War William II. Taft.
speaking for the Administration at the
Union League Club meeting on Thurs
day night, quoted from Judge Parker's
letter of acceptance this, and proceeded
to criticiSe it:
Already the National Government
mas become centralized beyond Il
point contemplated by the trainers of
the Constitution. How tremendously
all this has added to the power Of
the President 1t has developed from
year to year until it almost equals that
Of many monarehs."
Then Secretary Taft has this COM
ment TO make:
I'm what respect does the Executive
today exercise any more power than
he did in the time of Washington and
Jefferson? 1t may be that the Presi-
dent of the United States exercises
more power under the Constitution
than many monarchs. If this is true
to-day, 1t is because the Constitution
builders put the instrument into force.
But il it were otherwise, il there has
been an encroachment by the Execu-
tive on the legislative and judicial
branches of the Government, why does
not the Judge point out where these
%usurpationS are, 50 that he may prom
ise TO the people that under his admin
istratlon such %usurpations will not be
c%ontlnued?"
Again continues Secretary Taft:
1.-THE possibility of improper limita-
ton Of executive power by Congress is
real, but the danger that TIE Executive
win usurp the functions of the Legis-
lature is n mere hobgoblin, because the
Legislature has always at its command
that which in England won from the
most arbitrary kings liberty for the
people-the power over the public
purse. Mere inaction by Congress
would render the President powerless."
Judge Parker's assertion as to the
Capitalization Of power in the Govern
ment is most abundantly warranted by
abuses too VIGOROUSLY patent to need
specification. Not q few admlnlstra-
tons have seen this question under dis
CEssion in Congress. and before the
people on the hastings. 1t is by nc
means a new question. 1t was last
most seriously debated during the adj
mlnistration of President Grant. New
er before has the question of central
Of power assumed 81 grave an
aspect as under the administration
of Mr.. Roosevelt. Since the day he
took the oath of office, after the death
of William Mckinley, Theodore Roose-
.,o1t hoc han avapv aparpv nf an ny-
c~eptionally energetic nature to pre- mot
ing his own succession, and in the pur-
suit Of that object he has time and
again transgressed the legitimate
sphere of his executive functions.
Mr.. Taft was in the Philippines
when Mr.. Roosevelt was bosslng his
Republican Congress, and there were
things about Congress he didn't see.
There were Republicans in that Con-
gress who several times evlnced symp-
toms of revolt, but the power of the
Executive was quickly brought into
play and the would-be party recalci-
rants were in~continently whipped into
inc.
1t is the veriest idle twaddle t. speak
n this connection of "the Legisla-
.ure' having the power to make the
Executive powerless. What is the pow
Y Of the Legislature worth so long as
t is unexercised when it most needs to
le exercised? Did n Republican Con-
yress ever dare to oppose a Republican
executive? If it has ever been criti-
Used by Republican members. it has
leen by indlraction, with the final re-
ult that the vote Of the Republican
legislature has been with the Execu-
iTe. The Republican Congress has
lone President Rooseyelt's bidding alb
Getty and servilely, the while its in
livlduals in private criticised and even
.ursed his fatuOus laundering.
Congress may, indeed. under the |