The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-29

Versions as to what Mr.. Wilkie said
differ. Some say he declared the Pres
ident had embarrassed him greatly by
insisting upon Secret Service men doing
certain work, but that there was moth
ing for him to do but to obey or to re-
sign. In any event the appropriations
committee voted the restrictions into
the appropriation law as a proviso.
When the bill got over to the Senate
that proviso was struck out by the
Senate appropriations committee, of
which Mr.. Hale, now one of the most
insistent for censure of the President,
was acting chairman. However, when
the bill went into conference, Mr..
Tawney was able to have it restored,
and so it became law.
The resentment at the President s
action in going ahead and doing his
will without regard especially to the
statutes, has long been very strong
with the Senate and House appropria-
tions committees. They have to watch
the expenditures of the government s
moneys, and as abuses are constantly
springing uD, the annual appropria-
tions bills are constantly hedged about
with provisos calculated to make the
executive departments observe the
laws and not take the making of laws
into their own hands. 1t is therefore
not the first time that the appropria-
tions committees have felt very angry
at the President. The present situa-
ton, however, is a climax, and it was
the members of these committees who
were chiefly responsible for an effort
toward a concert by which the Presi-
dent should be rebuked even though
mildly.
Pulled Down Government Building.
Their present anger is enhanced by
the recent discovery that by the Pres
ident s orders, and without other au
thority, a mammoth railroad station on
the Mall, in this city, recently vacated
by one of the great railroads, was
torn down. Congress had intended it
should be used as storehouse or for
other purposes, as the government pays
an enormous rent bill in the District
of Columbia and at that never has as
much room as it needs. The building,
however, was not of artistic appear
ance; the President wanted it torn
down, and he proceeded to tear it
down. This has led to sarcastic warn
ings to Congress to beware lest the
President some afternoon raze the
Capitol to the ground.
Probably the cool heads will prevail
and the prospects of a serious breach
with President Roosevelt will disAp
pear. That is the prevailing opinion
at the Capitol. But before there is
final disposition of the matter there
is likely to be spirited debating in
Senate and House. Now that the
House Republicans have started into
the investigation and by that very
fact assumed an attitude of disap-
prevail of the President, the Demo
Gratis are standing aloof and demand
ing that the Republicans take the sole
responsibility. They say it is not
their kettle of fish, notwithstanding
the fact that they virtually drove the
Republicans into taking formal notice
of the offensive paragraph. AS the re-
cess of Congress for the holidays
comes very soon, the matter may be
postponed till the New Year.
Nevertheless, the possibilities of Sc
rious trouble with such situation are
recognized and those who wish the
party well will breathe more freely
when the matter has been finally dis
posed of.