Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-30
'RESSURE FROM EXECUTIVE
Never Before Exercised to Such q De-
gree.
)NGRESS HAS BEEN HAMMERED
Remarkable Kxtendon Of Fedora
Power by the Legislative Branch
OF the Government.

In connection with the highly important
legislation OF the first session Of the pres
ent Congress two features stand out pre-
eminently. namely:
The exertion OF executive pressure upon
the coordinate legislative branch of the
government to degree never before at
tempted In this country.
Second, the extension Of federal super
vision Of state, domestic and Industrial at
fairs in similar notable degree
The entire session has been struggle on
the part Of Congress against executive en-
croachment, the aggression of the executive
being open. brutal and unconcealed, evinc-
ing. 1t IS charged absolute lack on the part
Of the President OF understanding Of the
comfy Of the Notwithstanding missing
in his cosmos which prevents his appreciat-l
ing the relative position of the executive
and the Congress
1.-The end justifies the means" Is said to
appear to have been his dominating motive
throughout the session. He did not hesi-
tate to hitch up with the Pennsylvania
boss and swing the Senate committee on
post offices around to his support OF Barnes
nomination and vindication Of White House
methods in the Morris affair although 1t
was a bitter dose for some Of the repub-
ltcans to swallow.
Congress Hammered.
He has hammered Congress on the rail-
road rate, pure food, meat inspection and
immigration bills-all worthy measures de-
manded by the country. But the point is
that he has gone beyond the executive
prerogative of recommending legislation
and has essayed to shape and mold 1t In
every stage of its progress between the
two houses. 1t has been his legislation"
not Congress
He has not hesitated at times to cast the
deciding vote In the inevitable controyer-
sizes between the two branches of the ma
tfonal legislature and to take 1t upon HIM
self to yield In behalf Of one of the
houses. His amazing righteousness upon
these occasions has simply dazed Congress.
and before 1t woke up he was of with the
goods.
View Of the Presidents Friends.
His friends say that he has been working
for great popular reforms in the face of
opposing sinister influences, and that he
was compelled at times to stretch his au-
thority and to strike hard with the mailed
fist. But there is an old-fashioned element
in Congress which feels that perhaps some
Of the reforms had better been left undone
than to have set the precedent of execu-
tive interference which Theodore Roosevelt
has established. Suppose they say, some
President who Is not actuated by as high
motives as Roosevelt should point to the
precedent and go 1t a few better in behalf
of legislation not SO salutary?"
His friends say that he will be able to
point to the enactment Of salutary laws.
largely through his own persistence and
logged interference, and therein will be his
vtndication for the means used. There are
others in Congress who fear that the we'll
worn path between the legislative halls and
the White House. which has been blazed
out during this session of Congress, may
be trod In the future by feet on less
worthier mission bent, and they are sorry
the trail has been made SO plain.
Extension Of Federal Power.
The other dominating feature Of the ses-
sion, the extension Of federal power and the
march in the direction of Capitalization,
will attract widespread attention as the
scope and extent of the legislation becomes
more familiar to the public. Congress has
taken broad and frmer grasp upon at
fairs hitherto left to the states for regula-
ton and control. Whether this will result
for good or for evil, congressional opinion
is divided.
In the pure food law. the meat inspection
bill and certain features Of the railroad rate
bill. will be found these ampliacations of
federal control. Republican politicians see
possible significance in them. They say
that this may prove to be forestalling OF
the socialists and the quietinS OF demands
Of the Industrial establishments Of the coun-
try.
These acts OF Congress, taken In connec-
ton with the record of the administration
in the prosecution OF trusts, will be used by
the republicans to answer the demands OF
the Hearsts the Debeses and the others for
more radical action and to meet the more