New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
SENATE OFFENDED.
Nove to Stop Cabinet Officers Com
municating Directly to Congress.
IFcnm The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington, Dec I-Senator Aldrich has taken
the initiative in a movement TO end the pfacuce
which has grown rapidly of late or members 'l
the Cabinet communicating dtrect to congress c.
inclosing drafts Of measures they wish enacteo 10
this end the Senator from Rhode Island mas gwen
notice OF a motion TO reconsider motions by which
all communications Of this character nave p
ferred TO the committees Of the senate anu ", -
his first motion Is adopted, viii folo" VIZ
motion to refer all such communications 70 INC
Committee Rules, with the request ''"' - -
port rule the subject -.
The Secretary of the Interior is hrst on ~ liie l'
he having sent to Congress some forty measures
.he adontion of which he urges The Actihs 0ecie
+o,, of I.-ar js second with something like twenty
hills and the Secretary OF Agriculture mas sent ID
some measures affecting the National fores' ser
vice. ,. - .,,
Der of the Cabinet has the right 10 coiiii"il
with CONGRESS- with the single exception OF the
Secratarv Of the Treasury, who is required pF Id"
to make his report 10 Congress ans'ead VI % -.
President. The Secretary of the treasury u, - o."
over, according to the members OF iHe St' -
ito1 in his duty or privilege to such recommends
80 nc bo NAV cnoose to make n his regular an
mol -e,ort Other members of the Cabinet VIII
be reminded that hereafter they are ho' u 'p0"i>
to Congress unless they are spoken TO-
The President is the only member of the eA-
ocutize branch of the government emitted 10 CUM
punicate 10 Congress with the eNcepuoh al ''I0
ase of tbe Secretary of the Treasury above noted
and in the cases of all others who have reconi-
,,endations 10 make their suggestions must ne ao-
d-assed 10 the President and embodied IN or trans
n,tted with a message from him to Congress inns
decision having been reached by the Senate Isau
crs il is exnected that as as Senator Knox
tares his seat at the head of the Rules Committee
table he will prepare the proper rule. ana MS ooiii
1nittee will report it to the Senate.
The custom of Cabinet officers communicating
their wishes and recommendations direct to Con
cross is matter of slow growth, but this year al
nrevious records have been exceeded
Senator Hepburn to-day made strong oojection
"a having a hill sent TO the Senate by Cabinet
of4cer and ordered printed and referred to COM
nittee.
since when" he asked, has a Secretary r'si'
to send bill here and have it printed!
His objection was made 10 a biI! coming from
the Secretary of the Interior
Vice President Fairbanks suggested that the sec
retarv had not introduced bill. but the draft OF
The bill sent TO the Senate by him was merely 6
part of his communication and was referred 10
committee such,
Senator Carter. OF Montana. defended the course
that had been taken with the Secretary's bill
Sena tor AIdrich interrupted to say that only the
President authorized 10 transmit such recon-
mendations TO Congress- and under certain conol-
tions the Secretary of the Treasury might do it,
1t is the first time I have heard Of such &C
ton by a Secretary" said Mr. Aldrich' anc IL II
has been done it should be stopped
Senator Culberson brought the discussion 10 a
close by suggesting that it was out Of order