The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-01-31
CRITICISM SHE'D
AT ROOSEVELT
By WouId-Be Patriotic Members Of
the Upper House.
is DUBBED AUToCRAT
Presidents Action in PrOmulgating Ger
man-American Treaty on His Own
Initiative, Subject Of Debate.

President Roosevelt ON Wednesday
transmitted to the senate and the
house copies OF the tariff regulations
negotiated some time ago between the
United States and Germany, together
with proposed amendment to the
customs administrative act putting the
same in force as statute. In the SEN
ate the message aroused lively discus
sion in executive session, when it was
taken up. The remarks we're not adj
dressed to the message so much as to
the policy Of considering it in execu-
tive session, as well as the policy OF
the president in connection with the
agreement.
His course not only in negotiating
that instrument, but in proclaiming 1t
to the world, as he did last July, was
sharply criticized.
It was declared that the agreement
makes changes which are equivalent
to legislation and it was pointed out
that all legislation effecting the tariff
must, under the constitution, originate
in the house of representatives. At
tention was called to the third section
Of the Mckinley law as possibly per-
hitting the presidents course, but his
CRITICS contended that his action in this
case had gone far beyond the limits
permitted by that section. Stress was
laid on the fact that the president had
pot only negotiated the treaty, but
that he had given it out as complete
performance without referring it to the
senate for action This the senators
seemed to consider as especially re-
prehensible and far beyond the author
ity of the chief executive.
It was pointed out that the German
kaiser had not only referred the agree
ment to the reichstag for Its action,
but that he had even consulted both
the local and rational boards OF trade.
Hence the president was charged with
being even more autocratic than the
head of the German empire 1t was
also declared that under the system Of
valuations provided for by the treaty
great injustice would be done to the
United States.
Senator Hepburn made strenuous OBJ
lection when the question was raised
that the message was a subject for
consideration in the open senate in
stead of behind closed doors.
Senators McLaurin, Teller and others
called for open session, and their plea
finally won, but not before Senator
Gallinger and one or two others had
delivered their sentiments concerning
the action OF an executive in calling for
legislation whenever the spirit moved
him.
1t was finally decided to refer the
message to the committee on finance.
If a bill is to be forthcoming it will be
from the committee.
After referring to the proposed
amendment to the treaty, the presi-
dent, in his message. dated January
%. 1908, says:
II earnestly recommend to the con-
gress the enactment into laws of this
amendment at an early date. Besides
promoting harmonious relations be-
tween the contracting parties to the
agreement in question, l regard the
proposed legislation as meritoricus
measure for the development of our
customs administrative act, the provis
ions Of which are applicable to impor.
tations from all countries"