The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-06
SECRETARY SHAW
 IN INDIANAPOLIS
Continued from First Paee)


  there was something wrong. 1 fancy 1t would be a subject of comment if either of the two coordinate branches of the government should send to the supreme court for the files in a given case, and should ask for the correspondence be- tween members of the supreme court and supposed parties in interest with the implied nsnuation that those high of- ficials were believed to be corrupt.
 Criticised Supreme Court.
 "The democratic party of 1896, impliedly at least. and many of the leading demo- cratic orators openly, criticised the su- preme court for its decision holding the income tax of 1894 unconstitutional, and some went far enough at least to inti- mate something more than a difference of opinion. If congress has the right to investigate coordinate branches of the government without let or hindrance, why was not q congressional investigation of the supreme court proposed? If one CO., ordinate branch can investigate another, independent of impeachment proceedings, it would seem at first blush that each CO., ordinate branch might investigate both the others. This, of course, has no refer ence to requests by the legislative branch for information needed in determinging questions of legislation, nor to inquiries from the administrative branch concern ing pending legislation. It has reference only to what the democratic platform de- mands-congressio investigation of CO., ordinate branches.
 Congressional investigations in extreme cases are doubtless beneficial, but they are usually inaugurated for the sole pur- pose of furnishing campaign pyrotechnies It is bad enough for party to go on record as our opponents did in their con- vention telegram to their candidate, that "only campaign issues were mentioned in the platform" without inaugurating investigations for the sole purpose of swelling the number of campaign issues
 'If however, a committee of congress, self-appointed or otherwise, were to ask that the treasury department cease pusi- ness while they verified it's receipts and disbursements, It's contracts, and the in- tegrity of its more than 10000 subordi- mates, it would be done in trice, and there would be no intimation of congress sional usurpation notwithstanding MT Jefferson expressed opinion that the in- terference in the business of one branch of the government by another branch would endanger the very existence or the government itself.
 Judge Parker's Words.
 "In his speech of acceptance, the dem ocratic candidate indicts all three coor' dinate branches of the government in this language:
 It must be confessed that In tho course of our history executive depart ments have employed powers not belong ing to them (This Is aimed at the Pres idency) Statutes have been passed tha are expressly forbidden by the constitu tion.' (This Is aimed at congress. Statutes have been set aside as unconsu tutional when 1t was difficult to poin out the provisions said to be offended against in their enactment. tlhs l aimed at the supreme court)
 | sewhat the laws shall be within the linn itations of the Constitution, congress de | termines. What the constitution Is ol | shall be. the states determine. Whether | laws enacted by congress eneroach upof | the constitution, the supreme court ue' | termines. But for the execution Of th' | laws relating to administrative matters | strict constructionists like MT. JeHersof | thought the executive branch was aiont reenonsible MT. Jefferson seemed to | think that the executive branch was co | ordinate with the legislative and the judi | cial branches and that 1t was subordi | nate to nothing but the laws enacted b1 | congress as construed by the courts. Reasons for Hesitation. "During all the years of our history tho | utmost harmony has prevailed betweer l these coordinate branches, and God gran
 that harmony may ever prevail Ih' distinguished jurlst candidate might haV' saio that the peace. happiness and perpe
 tuity of this government are dependen upon the mutual confidence and coopera | ton prevailing between It's coordlhat
 branches, but as Thomas Jefferson ha | not so said, I see reasons why he shoul | hesitate to express an opinion on th | subject
 of a president can oe no better or wise | than his party, then candidate ana part | ought to agree at least on the princlpi | Of free trade or the principle of protec | ton; they ought to unite for or agalns | the free coinage of silver; they ought | harmonize their ideas with reference t | the retention and government or the dis position of the Philippine islands, the should, if possible, agree whether tn | comon law affords a sufficient relic