The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-05
INTERFERENCE"
BY PRESIDENT
IS RESENTED

Washington. April 5.--The house during
it's session yesterday listened 10 criti-
clsm OF tho president by Mr.. Fitzgerald
IN. - for the failure of the chief execu-
tive to properly advise the house as 10
the objections he had 10 the bill opening
sos, 900 acres OF land for grazing purposes
in Oklahoma Territory. instead OF advis
ing the members OF tho Indian affairs
committee az 20 the weakness OF the
measure. 80 that IL might be amended
20 meet the wishes OF the commissioner
Of Indian affairs. Mr.. Fitzgerald I'm the
course OF his structures ON the president
said:
This Is not Russia. The president Is
not like the czar, who originates and
| onacts legislation. The president may
recommend, but he can neither originate
nor enact legislation.
| Somebody may say this Is trivial. The
history OF all governments which have
parliamentary institutions shows that the
| failure 10 resist trivial encroachments on
the part Of the chief executive has led
10 vast encroachments until the legisla
| tive branch OF the government existed
| In name only"
When the house convened the galleries
were bright with color caused by the
| presence OF hundreds OF New England
school mistresses who looked with inter-
| est upon the proceedings.
Mr.. Payne IN. ", chairman Of the
committee on ways and means. presented
the denaturaized alcohol bill. and Il was
ordered 10 the calendar. The house
| passed the joint resolution permitting the
waving OF the alien immigration law in
| the case OF Fannie Diner n Russian. who
desires TO join her family in this coun-
| try.
Mr.. Bartholdt (Mo) called up the bill
| TO incorporate the national American
| German alliance OF America under the
laws OF the District of Columbia Mr..
| Hepburn Ua) thought the organization
was political and he could not any
reason for such legislation. Mr. Bartholdt
replied that the organization had no
| political significance whatever Mr. Hep
burn objected and the bill went over.
Mr.. stephens (TeX.) called up the bill
opening 10 settlement sos. 900 acres OF
land in the Kiowa Commanche and
Apache Indian reservations in Oklahoma
/ Territory. He explained that this bill
had passed the house early in the session.
but some objection was made 10 IL by
the commissioners Of Indian affairs and
il was therefore recalled from the presl-
dent, and his objections TO the bill had
been met by Incorporating into the bill
the features desired by the commissioner.
Mr. Fitzgerald said that the manner I'm
which the bill was recalled from the
president was most unusual He objected
to- Il. ."hack door way i'm which the
bill was returned TO congress and thought
the chief executive should have signed
or vetoed the bill
This way OF doing things is an inno-
walton In legislation" said Mr.. Fitzgerald.
This Is not Russia. The chief executive
Is not the source OF all power. He has
rights under the constitution. and so has
the congress. The presidents duty Is
plain. but lately we are having strange
ways Of enacting legislation not com
porting with the plain terms OF the con-
stitution''
Mr.. Payne On. W called attention TO
the fact that the president had not com
municated his objections 10 the bill TO
the house. but had Informed the COM
mittee on Indian affairs where the bill
was weak and the committee rightly had
considered the measure I'm the light OF
the objections and had corrected them.
The bill was passed without division.
Mr. Overstreet was compelled to answer
rapid fire Of questions when the frank
ing privilege came up in the course OF his
general outline OF the postoffice appropria-
tion bill. The new legislation which
the bill provides makes It unlawful for
any person entitled under the law 10 the
use OF frank TO lend his frank or per-
NIT Its use by any other individual, com
mittee, organization or association.
Representative w. A. Smith Mich
said the Thanking privilege was made
necessary by the large demands made
upon public officers for information. He
believed that congress and its committees
should exercise this right In the general
distribution OF the proceedings OF con-
gress without restraint Mr.. Goldfogle
IN Y) thought the committee by the
proposed legislation was setting UP a
standard OF morality for Individual mem
bers not warranted by the facts in the
case.