The Washington herald., 1907-12-23
MONDAY. DECEMBER q. 1871.
legislative and Executive Usefulness.

The Philadelphia Press has lately pre-
sented with force and perspicuity an ar
gument in behalf Of Senator Knox as the
logical successor Of President Roosevelt.
il is pointed out that the Pennsylvania
Senator has been specially identified with
the distinctive Roosevelt policies-mean-
ing thereby the Presidents efforts to pros
ccute unlawful combinations and TO re-
strain by law the evil tendencies of cor
pOrate organizations. Mr.. Knox was con-
nScted with both the administrative and
the legislative sides Of the Roosevelt pol
icies. As Attorney General he struck
out in new paths of Interpretation and tri-
umphantly carried before the Supreme
Court a new and enlarged chart of gov
ernmental powers" As Senator he had
pre-eminent part in guiding railroad rate
legislation. Mr. Knox, says the Press,
IS the most consummate master OF the
whole subject of the powers Of the gov
crnment under the interstate commerce
clause and Of ,the most effective method
of their application"
We freely concede all this: but while
acknowledging Senator Knox's thorough
NNAA.AaAeAtAA
all its phases. the inquiry occurs whether
his place is not. after all, in the Senate
rather than in the Presidency. To carry
forward the Roosevelt policies will re-
QUire a deal of legislation Of a new and
untried character The President may
recommend, but it is not his duty to
formulate, legislation. 1t is true that he
may, on occasion, by the exercise Of the
immense influence Of his office, Jam
through Congress measures that are prac-
tically Executive measures. But that way
Of legislation is productive Of a good deal
of hard feeling. and just now it is rather
under a cloud. Would the Press have US
regard its candidate for the Presidency
as man who may be counted on as
better capable Of getting legislation past
the Speaker and the small coterie Of SEN
ators who manage affairs in the upper
body than any other candidate who has
been mentioned? Is not Senator Knox in
as good a position now to forward the
Roosevelt policies as he would be in the
White House? If rot, how can he for
ward them in the White House. particu-.
larly by means of legislation. unless by
an executive interference with legislative
functions that just now is mighty unpop-
ular at both ends Of the Capitol?
These considerations are given a pecul-
lar piquancy by the fact that Senator
Knox has been placed at the head of the
Committee on Rules. one Of the first duties
OF which will be to pass on a proposed
modification Of the Senate rules intended
to begin the process, If we are TO take
certain Senatorial protcstations at their
face value, Of completely divorcing the
executive departments from any partici-
patton in legislation Not so much as
suggestion is wanted from any of them
unless called for. Suggestions the Con-
gress is bound to accept from the Presi-
dent, as the Constitution requires him to
offer them; but in spite of Senator Al
drichs satirical remark that he would
take dictation from the President only.
We are inclined to think that at heart the
Rhode Island Senator relishes Executive
oictation even less than departmental sug-
gestions. In view Of our contemporarv's
choice of Senator Knox as pre-eminently
fitted 20 carry on the work of corporation
reform in the Presidency, we shall await
with much interest his report on the pro-
posal TO sever completely the duties Of
administration and the functions CT legis-
lation.