Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-26
TALK ABOUT HARPER
President Criticised in House
for Interference.
BEALL OF TEXAS OBJECTS
To Any Outside Advice Given to the
Courts.

The Harper case-that is to say, the
action OF the President In sending for
District Attorney Baker to insure a Jail
sentence for Robert N. Harper-was dis
cussed in warm terms on the floor of the
House today. Representative Jack Beall
Of Texas did the discussing, and during
the course OF his remarks he handed a
few real hot ones to President Roosevelt
Mr.. Beall was steaming ahead in placid
fashion, talking about some subject Of
acute unimportance. when he was inter-
rupted by Representative Hardwick Of
Georgia.
Hardwick Interrupts.
Il want to ask the gentleman one
question:" said Mr.. Hardwick
While he is on that particular line
Of discussion I want to inquire of him
what his opinion is OF the action Of the
President not very long ago in causing
the publication to be made Of his de-
sres about a certain sentence to be i'm
posed on a man in the District Of Co.
lumbia named Harper. who had been
convicted in one Of the federal courts z?
mt. Chairman" replied Mr.. Beall. Il
intended to call the attention Of the
committee to that case. and now is an
opportune time. If concrete illustra-
ton was necessary Of the danger Of the
executive, this case most abundantly at
fords It, Let US look at It for mo-
ment. Here IL a case pending In the Police
Court Of the city Of Washington. the
President Of the United States
And his term Is soon to EXPIRE" In
terjected William Bill Sulzer of New
York.
soon to EXPIRE" Mr.. Beall admitted.
But" he said, II do not know about
that"
Criticism Of President.
THAT is right, think" commented Mr..
Hardwick.
"a citizen Of the District OF Columbia, y
Mr. Beall resumed, was arraigned before
that court, tried and convicted OF viola
ton Of the pure food law. The RESPONSE
bility rested upon the judge Of that court
resenting the District is q representative
Of the judicial department of this gov
eminent, appearing before a judge, a
member Of that department. and this
country was afforded the spectacle few
days ago. as it was reported to the news
papers, Of the President of the United
states summoning to the White House
the attorney OF this District and issuing
to him his commands that he should in
sist upon a prison penalty for that Of
Tense care not whether the defendant
was innocent or guilty.
Let us assume that the verdict OF the
jury was just verdict. and that he was
guilty. Let us assume that he violated
every provision Of the pure food law. It
would be, unfortunately. better Mr.
Chairman, for a thousand men to spit
upon and defy that law than to have the
President Of the United States descend
from his high position and attempt to dc
tate to a minor officer Of different de-
partment of this government what he
should or should not do" applause on
democratic side.)
III the gentleman will yield for that one
other suggestion said Mr.. Hardwick, in
terrupting. eff we are to believe the news
papers. the President not only made this
suggestion to the district attorney. but
he also caused It to be published as COM
ing from the executive ONCE, SO that the
Judge must see it himself
"of course" replied Mr.. Beall. because
there is one thing peculiar about bout the the
he does not cause to be published" CAD
plause on democratic sde).