Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-02-23

WHICH A1NOANc0 . IucS14O1 Va 1On-
stitutional law too abstruse, per-
hsps for the average citizen % de-
eide, but while the Senate was en-
gagged In removing the mote from
the Presidential eye il failed TO see
the beam in it's own.
IS
Inadvertently, no doubt, but not
the less certainly, the Senate itself
perpetrated an unquestionable viola
ton Of the constitution when il
adopted the Hansbrough amend
msut 70 the Agricultural sppropria-
tion bill, instructing the Secretary
Of the Treasury not 70 apply the
drawback provision Of the Dingley
Act 70 -four made In whole or in
part Of imported wheat. The House
was quick 70 perceive theinvasion Of
Ito constitutional prerogative OF ini-
tiatinR revenue legislation, viola
tion Of the constitution far more
II
obvious than that alleged TO be in
volved In the arbitration treaties,
and she result was that the Senate
has been obliged 20 recede from its
| position and strike from the Agri-
cultural bill the offending amend
mens before the House would con-
sent 70 consider it, at all.
-
When the Agricultural bill reach
cd the House the unconstitutionality
Of the Hansbrough amendment was
Immediately perceived and without
bringing the bill M for considera-
ton resolution was proposed res
pectfully calling the attention OF the
Senate 70 its violation OF the prerog-
alive Of the House. When this re-
solution reached the Senate its
equity was Immediately appreciated
and Senator Hansbrough himself
moved TO strike from the bill the
offending amendment. This done,
the bill was again PASSED and re-
turned TO the House, all OF which
goes 10 show that the best constitu-
tional lawyers may differ regarding
she exact meaning Of the constitu-
ton and that the best intentioned
may unwilling violate even the
clearest provisions OF that veneer
able embodiment known as the con-
stitution of the United States.
-
The President has sent to the
Senate o remarkable message on af-
fairs in San Domingo and a protocol
which, at 6rst glance, meets with
the approval Of a large number
Of the members Of the upper cham
Der. IL is almost too early to
make predictions regarding the
ultimate fate Of the treaty but it is
obvioss already that there will be
no division on party lines The
President in his message points out
the advantages which must accrue
TO the Southern, and especially the
Gulf States from stability and pros
perity in the Dominican Republic
and his argumen: appeals to South
ern Democrats with quite as much
force IS 70 Northern Republicans.
The protocol, or treaty, provides
that the United States shall take
charge Of the financial affairs of San
Domingo; collect, at the expense OF
chat Republic, all OF her customs
duties and turn over to the San
DOMINICAN government As per cent.
Of the gross receipts for current ex-
penses; out Of the remaining IS per
cent. shall be paid the expenses Of
collection, and the remainder shall
be devoted to the payment of San
D0mingo's outstanding indebted
ness. The United States will also
adjudicats all unliquidated indeb-
tedness and will exercise reason
able control over the tariff schedules
OF the Republic until its debts shall
be paid.
-.
In bis message the President re-
views the long history of San Do
mingo's "frenzied finance" which
has produced condition of absolute
insolvency and declares that this
country cannot logically maintain
The Monroe Doctrine in its entirety
without taking the nrnnosed stem