Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-06
Has He Acted IllegallyP

Three recent instances OF alleged unau-
thorized action by the President given
by his critics. The first was the appoint
ment of a board of architects to confer
with heads of departments about the ioca-
ton of public buildings in Washington in
accordance with plans adopted 10y the park
commission a number of years ago. Al
though there was no provision of law for
such a board. the President named five or
six well-known architects as a board and
directed that no building should be located
without consultation with them. ne Pres
ident announced that the board would serve
without compensation. Some one pointed
out law which prevents any appointee OF
the President from serving free. There
upon the President issued an order direct
ing that the members of the board be paid
SO a day and expenses out OF the approprl-
alton for the buildings to be erected. Thls
was again referred 10 as worse viola
ton of law than the other, inasmuch as the
laws of the land provide that no money can
be paid out except upon specific approprla-
ton by Congress. There was no such au-
thority by Congress. Attorney GenefaL
Moody informed the President that his
amendment fixing salaries was Illegal. and
the President proceeded TO annul the whoie
thing and have a statement made that the
architects would call upon and consult him
as individuals and friends, lheEepy accom-
plishing his purpose.
The second case was the Santo Domingo
affair, where the Senate failed To fatlly OF
to act upon the treaty MADE permitting
conservatives of the United States to take
charge of the customs collections of that
country The President, notwithstanding,
through a modus vivendi has his critics
say. put into practical enect the treaty
which was held up in the Senate
Then comes the third case, the appoint
rnent of an engineer of the reclamation
service already outlined.
Object to "Slush" Funds.
What congressman call '.slush' funds are
charged with being responsible for the ap-
poiutment of Mr.. Grunsky and similar ap-
pointments of minor class that are mane
at frequent intervals by officials far pe-
low the President. The rugged and rear
less honesty of the President is admitted
on every side, but 1t is suggested that there
ought not to be any funds from which
President or anybody else can at any time
make an appointment to either large or
small salary. Such things are contrary 10
the principles of the government, winch
intend that the appropriation OF money Tor
salaries and all other purposes snail pe
made by Congress in an open manner. The
reclamation and irrigation projects OF tne
government bring in large sums of money,
the total aggregating many mlllons. Con-
gress specifically appropriates Tor most OF
the salaries but does not seem to have put
a stop to appointments or persons whose
salaries were to be paid out OF the great
suu that has accumula ted. This does not,
careful business management. 1t is ad-
nitted that an engineer at a high salary
for the irrigation projects of the govern
ment is probably necessary for the good or
the many projects on hand and 10 be car
ried out later, but it is held that there
should be no way by which this official
could be appointed and paid a high salary
except upon specific authority of Congress
The irrigation slush fund, as 1t is
sometimes referred to, is not near as vague
an affair as the lump appropriation for the
Panama canal In the last named case CON-
gress simply appropriated s1o,o0oooo cash
for the work without trying to say what II
should be spent for. Under President Roose-
Welt. the strictest honesty will be insisted
unon but there will be hundreds OF IN
stances of appointments and salaries upon
the mere wish of an official. When the
President was compelled TO get rid OF John
L, Bristow, assistant postmaster general,
because of the row between Bristow and
Wynne he looked around and saw an OPEN
ing for Bristow in the canal region. Bris-
tow was given place especially created
for him and sent to Panama. When the
President found it necessary to appoint q
new canal commission and saw that mum.
ber of men on the old commission woul0
be thrown out of employment he took care
of Grunsky in one way and of Engineers
Parsons and Burr by naming them as con-
sulting engineers in the canal work at
large salaries.