New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-17
STATE BAR MEETING.
" CHOATE NOW HEAD.
cong ressn,an LittIefeJd Discusses
po.-ers of President and Congress.

Ton 16-The features Of the twenty
nal meeting of the New-York State
nin'l .oro,,a+ion to-day were the speech by Con-
hSi -. charles z. Littlefield. OF Maine. in
IT,. ba discussed the power OF the President
Wiz [-.,eress under the Constitution. and the
So BE ~ Joseph H. Choate. ex-Ambassador to
. pritain. as president of the association.
- Assembly Chamber was crowded in the
iAs Tho, Mr.. Littlefield made his address
Ne said in part:
,-,cs theoretically and rhetoricaly, ours is q
Mnl+ VII; OF the people by the people and for
RI less IN than aS' one Il 6F the people
pe tendency OF our system Is 10 % spaces
ioes a e. in to which the body polite is heir
10 energy is too often exhausted IN procuring
IopassIc Of law and nothing is left TO compel
az ENLARGEMENT Effective, thorough and contnH-
~ render unnecessary large portion OF the new
tagisIstion peTsstenuy clamored for ana result III
uDonilsr discussion seems to have vested the Pres
IL with prerogatives that Were omitted In ms
{61onnecti6n with legislation. that able to
sT5 is the approval or disapproval OF acts OF ON
Ss snd from time to time giving TO Congress IN
sIess.. Of the state of the Union and recon-
Ion51rg 10 its consideration such measures as Ne
MI f5dge necessary and expedient- T..
rec anG its fate from a constitutional stand
ExeTclseU1 ~ m concern TO him Beyond question 1t
.bs duty Of the Congress TO consider caTetu4ly
- RESPECTFULLY his Recommendations. II IS 49,
~ 51-v and privilege of each member Of Congress
- reach his own conclusions, as he alone IS lesPo
70 2si Tor his action though his view OF the
s gtg welfare requires him TO reject recommen-
da1 5 Judgment upon which member acts should
:. tis cVTn and not snother's To that MS COZ
;+nsnts are entitled. The Executive recommends
re Congress legisates preV3iHng mp p eS'6t
te to Ignore this relation as illustrated by ule
seioTtng quotation from the press AccoT4lhg 10
oos trustworthy accounts the PTesdent WIN UeStt1
e. agbt for his pet subjects Of Hesitation VIII
more or less advantage over his opponents
I'm bs limited only by the degree in when ne -
ale 70 overcome the opposaon o. any " re sem
rsr legislate-in this particular instance tS
&C. He IS placed IN the position OF vigorously
Lighting not 10 say S9OH aS the President desires
=. Ne nlsced in this Standardization attitude bis
n!sl rs senata IN the humiating position Of being
driven into registering an eXecuule QecLSe, - go
no reflection upon the FTesldent tlat OlHeI --'o-
Tss enlarged constitutional powers of the Presi-
. sSIs Campaign The Philippines Panama, 18th
risn Canal and the trusts involved egsIaLlVe any
nowe- The pension order, while challenged was
4 no sense, supreme issue" -.,.,,
the assertion that extreme or extra consLlu-
tional executive action received an oveTwheIInin6
Endorsement by the people in that campaign pro
though specifically It might be thought correct
What created the general impression OF an OYER
feu short Of Bryans vote l2809S5, giving Roosevet
vote in 1919 was lS5723 smaller than in 1900 when,
with an equally general expression Of the people
at the polls there should have been per cent, or
tf7i7s more than in 1900, showing that l552,Ssa
voters failed 10 vote as compared with 1900. The
overwhelming result was not caused by more votes
for Roosevelt, but by less for the other tickets so
that the people can hardly be sale to have given
an overwhelming Endorsement Of anything.
Experience has demonstrated that there was
never baseless notion than that the Judg-
rnent OF the legislature upon the question of con-
ttitutonalty Of legislation is reliable as that OF
tbs court. 7 could cite instance within my own
knowledge of q distinguished lawyer Of unusual
courage and decision voting legislator for
proposition, which, within two years thereafter,
acting in q judicial capacity he denounced with
righteous and indignant vigo- as unconstitutional.
ana making II unlawful for one class Of men to do
IN act which another class OF men, under like
circumstances were permitted TO do.
The gross abuses IN life insurance which have
been disclosed by the recent Investigations have
very properly Intensified the public demand for
more effective regulation and control. AS TO which
Jurisdiction is best calculated TO produce this
suit shall not now discuss, though I am by no
means certain thar some Of the men seeking for
federal control not anxious for less, rather
than more, rigorous supervision. Whether they
can be subjected TO federal control depends upon
whether Insurance, because II opens to be done
n different States by the same company or IN
State other than that Of its origin. IS interstate
commerce within the meaning OF the Constitution.
y decisions OF the federal and State courts estab
commerce.
George Lawyer n his address argued that
the grand Jury system should be abolished on
account Of its secrecy, ex parte character and
sEhservience 10 popular prejudice
Tomorrow William NJ WINS. Of New-York,
will speak on Electoral Reform