Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-09
Addresses the House on Pres
ident's Recent Order.
CHARGES USURPATION
PHILIPPINE SHIPPING BILL PASS
ED BY THE SENATE.
Conference Report on the Indian Bill
Taken, but Consideration Post
poned at Mr.. Honey's Request.

One of the most memorable events of the
present session of Congress was enacted In
the House of Representatives today, when
Representative w. Bourke Cochran of New
York delivered his long-anticipated speech
on the subject of the alleged usurpation OF
the legislative power by the executive
branch of the government. Mr.. Cockrans
speech had reference to the recent order or
the Secretary of the Interior, decreeing
that all persons who served ninety days In
the Union army during the war of the re-
bellion, and who should have attained a
certain age. to be entitled to a pension. Mr..
Cochran introduced several days ago a
resolution calling upon the Attorney Gen.
erai to inquire into the facts surrounding
this order, which is supposed to have ema-
mated from the White House, and to report
to the House of Representatives whether or
not the constitutional rights of that body
had been invaded. Representative Dalzell
of Pennsylvania, from the committee
rules, reported the resolution in the House
this morning, with the recommendation
that it should lie on the table.
1t was then that the Speaker recognized
MIR. Cochran amid tumult of applause on
the democratic side. Mr.. Cochran spoke
from a position in the central aisle of the
House. well back from the Speakers desk.
He had not proceeded far before he had
won not only the applause of his colleagues
of the minority, but had compelled the same
tribute from the republican members of the
House.
The Galleries Filled.
The galleries were filed with an intensely
interested throng. The news that the gen.
tleman from New York was to speak today
had been sent broadcast over the country
yesterday. The speech was intended not
only to signalize his return to Congress af-
tor aleS of rip huf tn
political text during the forthcoming
campaign on the ground that the present
chief executive and his subordinate officers
were attempting to invade the dignity OF
the legislative branch of the government
by usurping powers not conferred upon .
them by the Constitution.
in beginning his speech Mr.. Cochran said
he sincerely hoped that the recommends
tions Of the committee on rules that the
resolution proposed by him should lie upon
the able would not prevail. He said that
the resolution was not introduced for any
harm that it might do one political party
or benefit it might bring to another, but
was brought forward with the purpose to
vindicate the importance and the dignity OF
the House of Representatives.
The sulloway Bill.
Mr. Cochran referred to the fact that
Representative Sulloway of New Hamp-
.shiree chairman of the House committee on
invalid pensions, had introduced at this ses-
u
service pension bill, This bill provided that
all persons who served in the Union army
during the civil war for period of ninety
DAYS or more, who should have obtained
the age of sixty-four years and over. should
be entitled to certain rates of pension. The
House of Representatives declined or failed
to enact the bill into law. Whereupon the
Secretary of the Interior by an order dated
March 10, 1884, decreed that the terms pro-
posed by the measure which failed in the
House should govern the pension Office In
granting pensions under existing law. By
the terms of this order Mr.. Cochran said.
pensions were now. being granted and
money paid out of the treasury of the
United States without the slightest war
rant from the Congress of the House OF
Representatives.
see the old soldiers drawing 81 900 a day
under an act OF Congress than to see them
drew 81 day in defiance of the authority
of the legislative branch of the government
and the usurpation of this authority by
deputy executive officer.
',If this order is countenanced by the
House." continued Mr.. Cochran. what
fragment shadow of power is left to usr'
Alleged Usurpation.
He said the executive order had been
brought forward under the guise of inter-
probation of existing law, when a matter
of fact it created new law and took away
from Congress the constitutional rights to
create the statutes OF the Cndef tDo
same guise of Interpretation of existing law
the executive officer issuing the order had
attempted 30 go further and decree limf-
tation of the Interpretation by saying that
nothing i'm the order should be deemed as
retroactive. Mr.. Cochran called out round
of applause by asking:
Gould Newton limit the application Of
the law of gravity to the apple he saw
fan?
Mr. Cochran used this illustration to show
that ir limiting the meaning of words the
Secretary of the Interior had invaded the
function of the law-making body and had
attacked the dignity and authority of the
House of Representatives.
He wanted to know If the House would
be content to sit idly by and let this out
rageous usurpation of constitutional author
ity go on without protest.
He declared that the House was at the
parting of the ways. 1t must assert it
self now or else sink to such a low depth
that there would not be enough of dignity
left to attract any executive usurper. IL
animated by any shadow of loyalty TO the
Constitution which created II, he declared
the members of the House would protest
against the invasion of their rights and
duties.
Continued Loss of Power.
Mr.. Cochran referred to the constantly
growing power of the Senate and the exec
utive branches of the government as COM
pared to the continual loss of power by the
House of Representatives. He declared
that If things continued to run on as at
present the time would soon come when TO
be a member of the House of Representa-
tives would mean nothing more than to be
a presidential elector. He sincerely hoped
that such degradation and decrepitude would
not be allowed to creep upon such a mag
nificent legislative oody without some sort
of effort to stem the tide.
1t was with the hope that he might arouse
the members to some action in this respect
that he had introduced the resolution and
made the speech in support of it.
Wrong for Cleveland, He Says.
Revertfng to the Presidents order Mr..
Cochran contended that the Secretary os
the Interior justified the action upon the
precedent of President Cleveland. We'll,
sir" he said. pacing up and down the CEN
ter aisle. IF that be so. then iE Gods name
let us condemn that act of Mr.. Cleveland
as veheme1tly as the act of any republican
President