The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-10
And Atlas Strong Bears
Up Houses Dignity.
THE PENSION ORDER
Bourke Cochran in Impassioned Speech
Holds the President up Before the
People as Usurper CT
Rights of Their Re-
representatives..
(By the Associated Press.l

(By the Associated Press.l
Washington, April 9.-The recent eXecu-
tive order of the President relating TO PEN
sons on age disability today furnished
the text for an impassioned appeal by w.
Bourke Cochran, of New York. for the
members of the House to uphold tho dig
nifty of that body by refusing to submit
to what he alleged to be the usurpution
of the Legislative authority of Congress by
The executive order. In authorization of
Mr.. Cockrans speech almost every seat
on the floor was occupied and the CALLER
les were filed to overlooking From the
moment Mr. Cochran began to speak un.
til he had concluded, he held his audience
in manner that gave evidence OF their
interest in his first speech since he re-
turned to Congress.
If, he said. the Presidents order is re-
cognized by the House what fragrant OF
power is left 20 the House," by one
stroke of the pen. he declared. the Presi-
dent had appropriated $30,000,000, and he
SAID it was matter with which Congress
must deal il 1t has any regard for its own
power, or If it be animated by shadow Of
itNdlNA Apl the CONSTITUTION WHICH fItultu
1t. He vigorously asserted that I'VE are
here at the parting of the ways" and in
quired ''if this order be tolerated without
protest by the House what power is there
that the executive order cannot usurp
What fragrant of control over the coun-
-trYs purse? p
Continuing, he said that "this pretense
of Interpretation of the law is but a hol-
low mocltery and play of Words and
he added cit is known by the man who
wrote it 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 declared
that the President allowed Congress The
privilege of declaring war, aud ne was
loudly applauded by the Democrats when
he added:
But the President makes war when he
chooses to-.
Ii this condition was hopeless, h. said.
amid more Democratic applause, If we
cannot rescue ourself from the degreda-
ton and decreptitudc into which we seem
TO be hurryinc, then we better leave the
condition to be lamented rather than to oe
discussed" The Congress, he debated.
had So lost caste, THAI today there was
not Il paper outside of Washington that
gave more than one or two paragraphs
about its proceedings why has this de
cline come upon us? Why has this de-
creptitude ovcrtaken us?''
Amid an outburst of Democratic APP
plause he declared that when the House
shah stand on it's rights "the greater Will
be the security of liberty and the wider
the progress of humanity"
He then flayed the members for permit
ting the Senate to grow up at the expense
OF House, by persistently asserting It's
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 Can
mons utterance that public opinion must
come TO the resctte of Congress "the public
opinion of the United States is here. We
are its agents. its creation Raising his
voice to a high pitch he said that the
House us the sanctuary of our constitu-
tlonal temple. We are the priests to
whom it is entrusted, and" he added,
pointing his finger Al the Speaker. you.
sir, are the high priest responsible for
the method in which that trust shall be
discharged.
He declared that the Presidents order
WIS tue uSITpallOti OF power, not Dy APP
preparation. but by interpretation, which
he attributed to the "pusilamlnou failure
of Congress to do its duty TO itself Con-
gress had control OF the purse. and If t
would exercise that control. he insisted.
every privilege that belonged TO it viii
come back. He dwelt at length on the
inalienable right Of the House TO originate
revenue bills and urged the members to.
assert that right.
lie attacked the rules Of the House, and
trusted eve ought to be abolished He
also spoke of the system in vogue of i'm
bills and petitions by silently
dropping them into a basket, as if" he
said 'you were performing an act OF
doubtful propriety TO be carried on sur
He further attacked the
rules of the House. which he said forced
members to rise and discuss questions hav-
ing no reference to the bin under con-
sideratlon. thus reducing the whole pro-
oeeding to the level OF onera BOUTS"
Revertng TO the Presidents order. Mr.
dochran eontended that the Secretary of
he Interior justified the action upon the
precedent Of President Cleveland. well
'ir, he said. pacing up and down the
,enter aisle. "if that be so. then in Gods
1ame let condemn that act OF Mr..
Sleveand's as vehemently "a the act of
my Republican President" The DISPOSE
(Coptin,t.d D.