Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-09
seth CONGRESS.
Continued from Page Onc.)

der discussion i'll the Senate today.
Tillman's resolution requesting the
President to inform the Senate as to tht
existing status of Santo Domingo which
was offered on Thursday last and went
over under the rules, was called up and
made the subject Of debate.
Before the resolution was taken VI
the Vice President laid before the Sen
ate Il letter transmitting to the Sen
ate the report Of the isthmian canal
commission. The message was read.
The letter and report were referred tc
the committee on intcroccanic canals.
German. following the lNading, took
the floor. He said in part:
Il think the country should be highly
-r;.tifi"d by the extraordinary state
mont the President makes in regard to
his great work. 1t is true that indi-
viduals and the press have circulated
criticisms of the extraordinary orders
5sued ana the work done. but the
President has given a certificate of per-
feet purity and great efficiency to ali
that have been connected with the
canal construction.
1T IS true he invites the closest
sCrutiny-and in justice to him and to
the employees to whom he has intrusteC
the work on the iSthmuS that invita-
ton should be accepted. | trust that
before the Senate proceeds many days
t may instruct the Canal committee to
inter- upon such investigation. But
the President goes one step further.
He endorses the high salaries paid. No
1oubt he is guided i'll this by desire to
get the best result in the work to be
lone. and have no doubt he believes
he has exercised the best judgement
that til" expenditures for clerical du-
ties in Washington have been justified
| agree that we ought to deal in a
broad and liberal way without any at
tempt to obstruct the great work, but
1t seems to me that a blanket endorse
ment that the extraordinary salaries
should be continued requires careful
consideration by Congress
The Congress has placed in the hands
of the resident the Responsibility for
carrying on this great work, and I think
this ought not to be done Since the war
with Spain Congress has gotten into the
habit Of placing in the hands of the Pres
ident OF the United States millions of
dollars to be expended without any re-
striction whatever"
German condemned tho manner Of max
ing appropriations for tho various donart
mcnts and said that Congress should re-
view al these
I'll" President he said, must not he sen
sitive if Congress demands return to the
old system of having n review by Con
gross of all matters of extraordinary OK
penditurcs. 1t is not the fault of the
President that this has become necessary
now. 1t has been the ill-advised action
of Congress.
Halo agreed that Congress has fallen
into bad habit Of approrriatng large
sums without closely regulating the man
ner OF expenditure, but he declared that
the President in regard to canal work
had followed the course prescribed BY
Congress i'll the Spooncr act and that he
had not been at fault in any manner He
said that the action Of the President in
counting investigation showed that he be
lieved the time had arrived for Congress
TO assume part of the responsibility
Hale spoke in favor of an inquiry into
canal affairs by the isthmian canal COM
nlittee of the Senate. He said the Spoon
er act conferred the power on the Pres
ident to do all that had been done in canal
matters. but the President had now re-
ferred the whole matter back to Con
Gress
Inc letter ard reports were referred 10
the committee on inter-oceanic canals.
When Tillman's resolution in relation
70 Santo Domingo was read. Lodge an
nounced he would ask to have it referred
to the committee on foreign rela tons.