The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-09
To RESIST THE
TREND TOWARD
AbSOLUT|SM

Warrington, Jan. 9--There are unnlis-
taxable signs that an outburst of antag-
onism TO usurpation OF power by the ex-
ecutiye will be witnessed soon III con-
gress. Many consresmen hold that II is
time to call a halt on what they contend
is not only unlawful assumption OF au-
thority by the executive branch OF the
government. but dangerous trend TO-
ward absolutism.
Two resolutions that voice protest
against the attempt to create tendency
toward naturalization are pending In the
senate, and Senator overman of North
Carolina addressed that body yesterday
IN opposition TO the Capitalization idea
declaring that "it is time 10 stop and take
our bearings, and see whittier we are
drifting
The more intense feeling aroused. how
ever. concerns the charge that President
Roosevelt has atrogated to himself
monopoly OF authority in matters that
also affect the rights OF the law-maklng
branch of the government.
A Joint resolution. which will require
the sanction OF both houses of congress,
will be offered I'm the senate within
week. directing the president 10 transmit
20 congress at the beginning of each ses-
sion a copy OF every executive ana de-
partmental order which shall have been
issued since the last previous transmits
sion and that. attached 10 each copy, shall
be "A citation OF the law under which the
order IL issued.
An effort will be made to press this res
olution to a vote. and IL is expected that
n bitter tight will result
The resolution will probably provide
also that committee shall be appointed
by each house To determine whether the
acts OF the executive have been I'm con-
fornity with the law. The senator who
has the resolution I'm preparation has two
alternate methods under consideration,
one TO create commission OF distinguish
ed lawyers. whose duty shall be 90 report
10 the congress on the presidents acts
and orders 10 the judiciary committees
OF senate aud house
The proposed resolution is partly the
outcome OF the presidents action in dis
missing q battalion OF negro soldiers
Perry Belmont gave out this statement
last evening after he had heard Senator
Overmsn's speech on the power OF the ex-
ecutive:
"The testimony taken before the inter-
state commerce commission has disclosed
how far Mr., Hartman personihes the
'one-man power I'm our railroad manage
ment IL is. however, the system rather
than its personal exponent that should
be most condemned Very great prosper
ity has been accompanied by a certain
tll-considered satisfaction In dazzling ex-
hibitions of personal control OF great
properties, and until now there has been
n general drift i'm this direction from
which healthy reaction has set in with
severe and sometimes even cruel critI-
cisms. What has been done for life in
surance management is now being under
taken for the railroads Of the country
However deplorable and injurious To
the public interest and credit may be
the exercise OF the 'one-man power i'm
railroad and life insurance management
~ Is evidently more important. that the
much greater danger of a similar drift
toward constant and repeated exercise
OF absolute discretionary power on the
part ofthe executive without federation or
constitutional restraints should be fully
realized.
=, There is now well-sustained demand
that directors should direct in the semi
public institutions I'm which Stockholders
and the general public are pecunlarv in
terested More insistent should he tbe
demand that I'm the administration OF ma
tlonal ahairs the house OF Representatives
the senate and the executive should gov,
ern and not the executive alone"