The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-09-08
WRITE US FREELY
A RIGHTEOUS UsURpATIoN.
MIR. RoosevcIt's Interference Aroused
Congress fo Activity.


administration agree that in the first
session of the Fifty-ninth congress
more general lxws of far-reaching
character were enacted than in any
other session of recent years. FaireT
judges regard this legislative work as
the best. from the standpoint of the
whole people Of the republic. that
has been done in the last quarter of
a century. And, in this accomplish
ment, friends, caus;ic critics and enc
mics declare, with one accord. that
the driving power vas unquestion-
ably the presidents. AS tersely ex-
pressed by a progressive southern
Democrat:
Roosevelt has galvanized congress
into action"
This means that the president Is a
usurper. But his interference in
legislative matters is by and with the
advice and consent Of the people.
Not so much can be said Of the usur-
patlons Of congress. When consider
ing the one the other should not be
forgotten.
In the first congress a dispute
arose IN the senate over the proceed
ure in advising and coRsenung rela-
tive to the nominations sent in by
President Washington. There were
members who commended that the SEN
ate must. without consultation with
the executive, confirm or reject the
nominations. There were Others who
made 50 bold as TO assert that the
president should be asked for refer
ences for the nominees in case they
were not known to senator's AT that
early period there was no expression
OF the fright Of senators of a state
to be consulted before selections we're
made,--a political doctrine upheld by
the late Senator HoT, a Statesman
Of the old school"
As the country grew and federal
offices multiplied it became necessary
for the president to seek counsel be-
fore nominating men 20 the govern
ment service. He naturally turned
to senator's and representatives. AT
just what period the giving of adj
vice came to be construed as the ten-
dering of consent in the making of'se-.
lections. it Is difficuh o'say. Even
under so independent an executive as
Roosevelt the appoiutive power Is
largely usurped by congress.
HAS the colleetofship of the port
at - been filled?" was the query
recently made at the White House.
no" was the reply. "The pres'-
dent would Ike to, appoint HIS old
friend Hardy, but Senator Slick is
committed to Heller"
About all the president can do is
to see TO it that senators aud repre-
senfativts name ft-pen. But, If he
suspects that they are ineligible, the
burden is on him to discover their
unfitness.
With this elementary discussion in
mind, it is patent that there is con-
gressional-particularly senatorial
usurpation of one of The important
functions of the executive. in this day
and generation. A practice inapeer-
ated by some president for HIS guild
ance and convenience has come to be
regarded by senators as an inalien-
able right. 1t is equally true that
there Is executive Interference in deg
isbative matters How and why has
that come about? For an answer let
us go to the legislation of the las.
session of congress But let us go
behind the work of congress.
The house OF representatives did
not pass the sort of meat-inspection
bill that the leaders had agreed upon
with Mr.. Wadsworth. The speaker
and his cohorts put up with the die
tation of the president. who usurpee
the functions of the legislative depart
ment in the interests Of the people.
But for Theodore Roosevelt there
wonid not now be the means of eff
Client inspection from the pasture
through the slauehterhouse and