The Washington herald., 1906-12-12
MUCH TALK IN HOUSE.
Discussion Covered a Long
List of Varied Topics.
WANTS BASIC LAW CHANGED
Mr.. De ArmOnd Argues In Favor of
Constitutional Amendments - New
spelling Again to the FOre-Gaines
Speaks in support of Proposal for
Increased Salaries for Legislators.

In the House yesterday MIR. De Almond
Dem, Mo- discussed the issuance Of in
functions by courts. and, indirectly, the
Presidents remarks about criticism Of
courts. He was suggesting questions that
could be considered By a constitutional
convention with benefit.
shall our courts" he asked, be final
and supreme arbiters; shall the court de-
termine what its powers are; shall court
determine when it shall issue particular
writ; shall the court determine who viO-
lates an injunction or writ of prohibi-
tion. or any other extraordinary writ; who
IS concerned in the violation, and what the
punishment shall be-all determined by q
single lifetime appointee? or shall the
people and those who were elected to Office
from time 70 time, who are responsible to
them. the members Of Congress. determine
what the power of courts shall be? 1 be
lieve that one of the troubles Of this cOun-
try grows out of the assumption by the
courts of the right to issue writs which
they have no right to issue unless author
lied by the lawmakng power to issue
them. A court created by law possesses
Responsibility of Judges.
There ought to be some way Of get
ting at the responsibility of individual
judges. There ought TO be some way Of
determining when a judge has been gull
ty OF such an act as would lead to the
vacation Of his Office. and when he has
become incompetent or disabled for any
reason he ought to be removed. Something
more expeditions. less cumbersome,
surer than the remedy prescribed in the
mpeachment-ought TO be
provided. There ought to be some sense
Of responsibility. something held before
every man who holds judicial Office by life
tenure"
Il was day Of miscellaneous debate in
the House the list Of topics discussed
formidably rivaling the Presidents mes
sage in length Mr.. Keifer (Republican),
Of Ohio, protested against the reduction
Of the membership Of the Board Of Pen
sion Appeals, as proposed by the Com
mittee on Appropriations. and incl
dentaIly expressed a hope that members
Of the House would be able 10 spell cor
rectIy. according to the dictionaries.
Otherwise, he said. they would be violat-
ing the law Of the land, should the bill
be passed.
Mr.. Underwood Dem., Ala) advocated
the construction OF macadamized roads
by the national government
Wants Commercial Agents.
Mr.. Richardson dem. Ala.) told Of the
advantages TO be derived from the en-
pIoyment Of commercial agents to further
the sale in foreign markets Of American
cotton and cotton goods.
Nj De Armond Dem. Mo- described
several amendments TO the Constitution.
which. in his opinion, would aid in re-
storing to the people much power polit
ical and otherwise, of which they had
been improperly deprived Incidentally
he criticized the Committee on Appr0-
priatiOns for It's recommendation regard
ing simplified spelling. He suggested 10
Mr.. Tawney, chairman Of the committee,
that il incorporate its proposed action IN
an independent bill. which the President
could teto.
IIr- GrosvenOr CRep.. Ohio. IN response
10 Mr.. De Almond. expressed the opinion
that that gentleman would not live 10 see
the Constitution amended. save as the
result Of war. He briefly paid HIS re-
spects to the simplifed spelling fad
countering on Champ Clark Dem, Mo-.
who yesterday raised a laugh by telling
that one Of the most distinguished mem
bers of the House pronounced does" as
If IL were spelled 'dews." Grosvenor said
that a gentleman, whom it would be in
vidious 10 mention but who was dis
tingUished for being the youngest man
cat that time) who ever held the position
OF president Of a college, in the heat of
debate startled the House one day by
vehemently declaring II hain't got no use
for any man who wants TO reduce the
pay Of school teachers"
Increased Salaries Urged.
Mr.. Gaines Dem. TENN urged the
passage Of his bill increasing the salaries
Of Senators, Representatives, and Dele
gates to $500, beginning with the Sixtieth
Congress He enormously named the
Sixty-frst Congress. and, his attention be-
ing called TO it, he cOntemptuously re-
spOnded: oh, I mean the Sixtieth Con-
gress- I'd rather be q coward and run
from sheep-killing dog than be a moral
coward"
He made feeling speech on the subject
Gentlemen" he said. you cannot get
along here on 5000 a year and do your
country and yourself justice. Do the peo-
pie expect you to do IT? I can answer
my own question. No. they do not"
All this hung upon the nominal consid-
GRAFTON Of the legislative, executive. and
judicial appropriation bill. General debate
fc lrpf m