Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
ATTACKS the PRESIDENT
DECLARES CHIEF EXECUTIVE
HAS EXCEEDED AUTHORITY.
Representative Harrison Discusses
Exercise of Control Over
the Canal Zone.

An attack upon President Roosevelt for
affairs of the Panama canal zone was
made in the House of Representatives to-
day by Mr.. Harrison, New York. His re-
marks were based on resolution report
ed by the committee on interstate and
foreign commerce calling on the President
to inform the House by what authority of
law he had exercised the functions of
government on the canal zone since the
expiration of the Fifty-eighth Congress
Mr. Harrison opened by saying: II
charge the President of the United States
with exceeding his authority and l charge
the republican majority of this House
with negligence and carelessness in their
conduct Of the government
Mr.. Tawney. Minnesota. at once was on
his feet in defense of the President and
the members of the House and declared
that it would be more appropriate if the
charges should he made after the Pres
ident has submitted his answer to the
resolution. THE President called for an
opinion of the Attorney General, which
am now going to submit" retorted Mr..
Harrison.
IT assume" remarked Mr.. Tawney sar-
castically, the gentleman knows now
what the answer of the President will
be-"
Mr.. Harrison protested that he had no
such information, but Mr.. Tawney insisted
in his contention that Mr.. Harrison should
wait for the Presidents reply before at
acking him.
The New York member. however. reit-
Grated that the President had acted under
the advice of his Attorney General He
went on and said that Imperialism began
about the time of the war with Mexico,
but it never dawned upon the founders
of the government down to the present
time that Imperialism within the borders
of United States territory would exist in
times Of peace
Executive Orders.
Replying to a question by Mr.. Stafford.
Nebraska, Mr.. Harrison asserted that he
did not censure the President for main
tanning peace on the zone, but he did
charge that in the legislation which the
President had formulated by executive
order 'abolishing by executive order al
most all the previous laws upon the zone
the President exceeded his authority. lie
mentioned. among other acts Of the Presi-
dent. the issuing, without any authority
whatever, of executive orders establish
ing new marriage law: amending the
penal code: creating new immigration
law; abolishing municipal government;
establishing three judicial districts: estab-
fishing jury trials in criminal cases.
Praises the President.
Not doubling that Mr.. Harrison really
believed the President was acting without
constitutional authority, Mr.. Mann in
sisted that he had acted within his con-
stitutional authority. In my opinion"
he vigorously remarked. the President is
not entitled to receive censure, but on the
contrary is entitled to every need of
praise for his conduct
II appeal with confidence to every right
thinking man regardless of party or parti-
sanShip." he exclaimed, whether that
person would believe it the duty of the
President of the United States to govern
the zone or to let anarchy prevail where
we were endeavorinS TO carry on great
work of construction
Declaring that the President had acted
as wisely as if the House had prescribed
laws for the canal zone. Mr.. Townsend.
Michigan. said, 1T does not lie in our
mouths now to complain. because we have
done nothing in the premises"
Charged With Usurpation.
Characterizing the President as 1.-THE
preacher OF the Constitution" Mr.. Will
liams (MississippD said the complaint was
not that the President did not compel
Congress to leglslate. but that not having
le2isated, the Pre- sident usurped the
power to legislate'' He insisted that the
President was not only not given power
by the Constitution to legislate. but he
was absolutely forbidden to exercise any
This republican administration" he de-
clared. has made a failure, and now it
attempts to excuse itself upon the ground
that N.ngress having made faiure-the
failure to legislate-the President must be
excused for having made d dsurpation of
executive power.
The resolution was then adopted