The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-03-20
THE Pres GENT
AND CONGRESS
(Mai s2eeia! 10 the Advertiser.

WASHINGTCN n, D. c., March A.
There has been big sound again from
the White House, of which Congress
has to take notice. 1t has the indica-
tons; in embryo, of nice little war
between the President and Congress.
But while it is all very entertaining
for the moment, the oldsters are scep-
teal as to whether the President will
carry the quarrel to the firing line
He puts his seal of disapproval upon
the do-nothing Congress. He has been
chafing under it, at least for political
purposes. The popular effect of his
special message on the Employers
Liability bill and a great number of
other measures has died away. For
a time it stirred up people tremen-
dously. The Western congressman
heard from it in numerous ways. II
reused many of the voters, who were
disposed to rally anew to the Pres
ident and, in that particular, helped
the campaign for the nomination OF
Secretary Taft for the presidency.
''Since that special message" said
one congressman from Washington
state, ''our people have been unwilling
to consider anybody for the nomina-
ton but the Presidents favorite.''
AS the country has been assured
again and again, Congress intends to
enact an Employers Liability bill to
take the place of the measure when
was declared by the Supreme Court
to be unconstitutional. But the Pres
ident has now begun to reiterate his
demand for that legislation and
couples with it a demand for the en-
actment of a law to prevent the water
ing of stock of interstate corporations
and likewise a law to amend the Sher-
man antitrust law along the lines
indicated in his special message. He
is now telling his congressional callers
that those three measures must be en-
acted at this session or there vii! be
trouble plenty.
Congress is almost laughing in the
Presidents face. 1t does not intend
to enact the two last named measures
at this session of Congress, break or
no break with TIE President. The ses-
sion is too far advanced they say. to
enter upon such important work as
drawn yet. To be sure Senator Dolli-
yer, of Iowa, and Commissioner of
Herbert Knox Smith are
toiling away on draft of each of
those measures, but unfortunately the
lawyers of the Senate and the House
have none too high an opinion of the
legal ability OF either of those gentle
men. Then the reports from every
quarter of the industrial dep. eSsion
are discouraging. Congress does not
want to do anything to further dis
industry. The corporations
Ire having some troubles themselves,
trying to get back to normal coLdi-
ions.
The new move is believed to be
political. About the only matters the
President is having any success with
his winter, pertain to the campaign
or Secretary Taft. 1t is not sure yet
~ any means that he will succeed
With that. The new demand for legis-
alton, however, is calculated to bring
many people throughout the country
gain to support of the President, be-
ause of the belief that such legisla-
,hasize these measures as part of the
Presidents policies and will carry the
inference that to secure them they
must get out and holloa and vote for
he Secretary's nomination.
The indications of the Presidents
purpose began to crop out several days
go. The Peoples Lobby, which was
oing a rushing business in Washing
on last winter, has been quiescent this
winter. Its Secretary, Henry Beach
Seedham, a young man who HveSAin
has the run of the WHITE
House offices and the Bulletin, which
he Peoples Lobby issues is looked
lpon by the cynical as "the Court
Organ" 1t had not made its appear
nee this winter till a few days ago,
When out it came all of a sudden with
denunciation of the Do-Nothilg Con-
,ress and assertions that the President
wanted the legislation he hal asked
or enacted. OF course this 'publica-
ion has very small circulation, but
he leader about the do-nothing Con-
,ress was REGARDED as a forerunner Of
omething else. And it was in more
AAAAA4 O4lCs
= Speaker Cannon has gradually been
,etting more and more out of joint
With the President. He has bowed his
leck to the yoke for several years,
wearing like a pirate in his little
mahogany private room at the Capt. |
oil, but coming out into the open
louise and putting through the Pres
dents plans, with any modification |
e could force the President to accept. |
he ambition of his life, however, in |
ecent years has been to demonstrate !
hat the House would not submit |
ermanently to executive usurpation. |
ust as soon as he dared politically to |
o it, he has had it in his mind to |
how that the House was free and |
overeign body within its proper and
institutional jurisdiction.
When Congress assembled, and even
efore that the Speaker had put his |
Dot down pretty hard. He gave out |
lterviews before he reached Washing
On that probably it would be prefer
bic to have no general legislation this
inter, except the appropriation bills.
When he arrived here he did not hur-
Y around to see the President and
I'D his friends that when the Pres
sSsSSsSsSSSsSsSSSsSS SSsSsSSSSsSSSSSs&
les but owing to the sons some re-
used to go, but now express regret at
aving backed out.
Tho ,rass ~ uonolu1,, daSarx-ac anm i