Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-21

s-J,pu lot the triVelluS SAPcHoS" " ei'S
President, which went out on n point
of order. Mr. Watson of Indiana, then
in the chair, and who sustained the point
Of order against the item introduced the
bill which the House had under consider
alton today.
Mr.. Underwood, Ala, demanded a sec
ond reading. which was ordered and de-
bate OF 40 minutes ensued
Mr.. Underwood called attention to the
CLAUSE in the constitution wherein it is
provided that the President "shali at
stated times receive for his services Il
compensation which shall neither be in
creased nor diminished during the period
for which he shall have been elected and
he shall not receive within that period
any other emolument from the United
States or any of them" He said that
it was not of much avail to make a con-
stitutional argument to the men on the
other side Of the center aisle (meaninc
the Republican side), but he could not
consistently agree to the voting Of this
money He said there were some adj
vantages to the country growing out of
the Presidents trips but the utteranccs
of 4 President of the United States has
n worlds audience, no matter where he
makes it, and it is Just as effective made
in the city Of Washington as in San
Francisco or Chicago"
This statement of Mr.. Underwood
brought Bourke Cochran of New York
into the arena in support Of the bill, say
ing he was not willing to make a partisan
matter out Of the measure. Mr. Cochran
remarked that the gentleman could not
violate the constitution Of the United
States, if he tried.
There happens to be in the constitu-
ton the means of asserting itself against
even the gentleman Of the House of Rep
resentatives." he added. Continuing, Mr..
Cochran said:
The point I wanted to submit to the
gentleman and our side here and to the
entire House Of Representatives is this:
That in the opinion of our constitutional
system the President has become great
1 leader of public thought and public opin-
ion quite as much as n mere executive
of the laws, and if the circulation of the
President throughout the country adds
practically in the direction Of improved
legislation, giving effective direction to
! public opinion, whether that be not an
expense that ought legitimately be borne
out of the public treasury"
| In conclusion Mr.. Cochran said: ut
affords me very great satisfaction to
support the proposition of the committee
on appropriations. l hold it is a very aus
picious sign that this suggestion comes
from the majority of the House. For
many years the Democratic party has adj
vocated certain policies but some way or
other it has failed to get them incor-
porated into our political system daugh-
teri. However, within the last two or
three wears q new force has developed.
giving to the country from epublican
sources 4 wonderfully efficient enactment
of Democratic ideas. BY circulating
throughout The country and placing be-
fore its people certain views upon public
questions q public opinion was developed
which had already been placed on Dem
ocratic platform and now practically
within our laws: and almost inevitably
within the course of the next few years
will make the balance of the Democratic
ideas the dominant feature of our legis-
lation.
Now I would much prefer that this
had been accomplished by the Demo
Gratis. They have had the disposition, but
some way or other they did not have
ident has seen fit to use the means by
which a railroad rate bill is already Oh
its rwav to the statute books and WI
. have n force through which the stand
matters will be upset within the next few
wears. I do not want on this side TO d.
ANYTHING which is likely to withstand OF
arrest the march of the salutary 1orc'
in the development Of that salutary pur'
nose. Mr.. Rooscvelts speeches through
out this country have been. think os
the confession of everybody, the strong
est force in the development Of pubic
oninion in favor of the railroad rate bill
(applause).
!, The bill was passed by vote Of 176 to
&c the yeas and nays being demanded
by Mr.. Underwood.
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