River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-14
COCHRAN SCORES
THE PRESIDENT
SAYS HE HAS USURPED POWERS
OF THE HOUSE.
BITTER SPEECH IN HOUSE
Motion for Inquiry Into Legality of
Recent Pension Order Laid on
the Table by Margin of
Only Three Votes.

Washington, April 1.-THE president
and the administration were attacked
and defended in congress Saturday. In
the house Mr.. Bourke Cochran berated
the house for permitting the president
to usurp all the power formerly pos
sessed by the house until that body has
so lost caste that the newspapers no
longer considered its proceedings worth
printing.
In the senate Senator Spooner ap-
peared as the administration champion
and declared that while President Roose-
welt was laying himself open to the
criticism of his political opponents by
boldly facing situations and enforcing
the law, the democratic party was seek
ing as a. candidate some safe, calm, 81
lent, judicious man, who can be held up
in North Carolina as a trust buster and
in Wall street as man entirely devoted
to the business interests"
Cochran Makes Brilliant Speech.
Mr.. Cockran's effort marked his re-
entry into the house as the successor of
George B. Mcclellan, now mayor of New
York, and as an orator was up to his
usual standard. He had introduced a
motion to have the judiciary committee
inquire as to the legality of the presi-
dents order to pay pensions for age dis
abilities. He said the resolution was Of
fered solely to vindicate the dignity of
= ha
the propriety of paying liberal pensions
to federal soldiers, but he declared that
the basis of these payments should be
the laws of congress, "and not any self
constituted authority"
No Fragment of Power Left.
If, he said, the president order is rec
ognized by the house, what fragment
of power is there left to the house?" By
one stroke of the pen, he declared, the
president had appropriated $50, 600, 600,
and he said it was a matter with which
congress must deal if it has any regard
for it's own powers or if it be animated
by shadow of loyalty for the constitu-
ton which created it. He vigorously
asserted that 1--WE are here at the part
ing of the ways" and inquired IF this
order be tolerated without protest by the
house, what power is there that the eX-
ecutive order cannot usurp? What frag-
ment of control over the country's
purse?" Continuing, he said that this
pretense of Interpretation of the law is
but a hollow mockery and play of
words" and added at is known by the
man who wrote it as shown by the order
itself"
President Whole Power.
In his opinion, the steady decline in
the dignity of the house had attracted
much attention. In a sarcastic vein
he declared that the president allowed
congress 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-"
Continuing, he inquired if it was DOS
sible that the house must confess now
that it's last intrenchment has been taken
"by a subordinate executive officer" and
said that the contempt which had been
extended to the house and the violation
of it's rights constituted the measure OF
respect, attention, and submission
which it deserved. Raising his voice to
high pitch, he said that the house sis
the sanctuary of our constitutional tenn
pie. We are the priests to whom it is in
trusted and" he added, "you, sir
(pointing his finger at the speaker, are
the high priest, responsible for the
method in which that trust shall be dis
charged"
No Hiding Behind Cleveland.
Reverting to the presidents order
Mr.. Cochran contended that the sec
rotary of the interior justified the ac-
ton upon the precedent of President
Cleveland. well, sir" he said, pac-
ing up and down the center aisle, ''if that
be so, then, in Gods name, let us con-
denim that act of Mr. Cleveland's as We
hemently as the act of any republican
president The disposition to justify
almost everything by pleading that
Mr.. Cleveland did It," he vigorously de-
clared, ''is the highest of compliments
that can be paid to man by any con-
gress in our political history
The speech of Mr.. Cochran was re-
piled to by several members, and a vote
taken to table the motion, which was
carried by 103 to 100.
Memorial Service Held.
Washington, April 11.-Pursuant to a
special order, the house of representa-
tives Sunday conducted memorial ser
vices in memory of the late Represen-
tatives Foerderer and Burk of Pennsyl-
vania. In addition to members of the
families of the deceased, a large number
of Pennsylvanians occupied seats in the
galleries Each of the long list of speak
ers paid touching tributes to the two de-
parted members. Those who spoke OF
the life and character of Mr.. Burk were
Messrs Adams, McCreary, Patterson,
Dalzell and Morrell, of Pennsylvania;
Scott and Calderhead, of Kansas; Tir-
rell and Powers, of Massachusetts, and
of Mr.. Foerderer, Messrs. Moon, Wan
ger, Bates, Sibley and Morrell, of Penn
sylvania; Burgess, of Texas; Fordce""
of Michigan, and Hemenway, of Indiana.
Resolutions of sympathy and respect
were adopted, following which the house
adjourned until to-day.