The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-01-08
Culberson Of Texas
Speaks Out.
INTRODUCES A RESOLUTION
ON PRESIDENTS COURSE
Texan Puts Severe Structures On
Roosevelt.
Message Of President ON steel Cerper.
alton Probe Is Proof That Pre.ident
Absolves Himself From Legal
Restraint.

Washington, Jan. Tin the Senate to-
day, Senator culberson made q brief
reply to the message sent TO the Senate
yesterday by the President, saying that
he had directed Attorney General Bona
parte not to reply to the Senate's reso-
luton of inquiry concerning the merger
of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Com
pany with the United States Steel Corr
poration.
In his statement. Mr.. Cuiberson
characterized this as another arbitrary
and lawiess act" which he said, had
been traced to the chief magistrate OF
the country"
He continued:
who is not only solemnly obligated
to obey the law himself. but to see that
others do So"
Mr.. Culberson introduced q resolution
instructing the Committee on Judiciary
to report to the Senate at as early q
day as practicable whether. in the opin-
ion of that committee, the President
was authorised to permit the absorption
of the Tennessee Coal and Iron COM
pany by the United States steel Corror-
alton and then proceeded with his rs-
marks.
When Mr.. culberson began his com.
ment on the Presidents message Senm-
tors Cullom and Lodge were conversina
on the Republican side of the SenAts
chamber, and the Texas Senator sus-
pended his remarks and then said he
hoped the Senators would talk in low
tones so that he could proceed.
He said the Presidents position IN
denying that Congress had authority TO
| direct the head OF a department By
resolution of inquiry els characteristics
eff the distinguished occupant OF the
White House. and II IL q corolIary Of
| the main dogma that he IL absoived
from any legal restraint whatever"
Cites Legal Aspect.
Mr.. Culberson cited legal authorities
to prove that Congress is empowered
to place restrictions upon heads Of
executive departments and to direct
their acts In certain wRye.
He read statement published ~
ilnowspaperso OF october 10, 1895. in which
the Attorney General was quoted az
ter the absorption Of the Tenheasee
/ Coal and Iron Company by the United
| States Steel Corporation as saying that
| he would proceed in the courts against
the Steel Corporation II the Steel Corr
poration should violate the law in re-
spect to the restraint of trade.
Yet" said Mr.. Culberson. "the At
| tOrney General then had received from
the President himself a letter dated
| November 4. 1907. In which he told him
1t was contemplated to merge the Ten
nessee Coal and Iron Company into the
| that SO far as he was concerned he
did not see ut to interfere"
Action on the resolution was not
| taken.
Mr. Cuiberson. commenting on the
Presidents remarks about the absorp-
said they were FOR some purpose I'M
known to me and on which viii not
speak ut this time"
As the President was taking his ae-
ton in respect to the Steel Corpora
ton. Mr.. Culberson said the Attorney
General was proceeding in the courts
/ OF New York to procure the dissolu-
tion of the tobacco trust" on the
| ground that 1t had absorbed some OF
| its rivals.
'The response OF. the President" said
Mr.. Culberson. shows that no action
has been taken by the Department OF
Justice and that none has been taken
because the President took the mat
| ter into his own hands as Is not in
| frequently the case. It shows further
that one other arbitrary and lawless
act of an important nature has been
traced to the chief magistrate OF the
country, who Is solemnly obligated by
the Constitution not only to obey the
law himself but to take care that Il is
faithfully executed by others"
Defended By Hopkins.
| Mr.. Hopkins suggested that the
| President in his message did not make
| any statement susceptible OF me In
| depreciation placed upon 1t by Mr..
| Culberson. He said the Presidents re-
marks Ina reference to taking over Of
the stock of the Tennessee Coal and
Iron Company by the Steel Corporation
| was to the effect that he felt mo pub-
| lie duty 90 interpose objections. He
does not say that he approved IT," in.
sisted Mr. Hopkins.
The question we have before u.s."
said Mr.. Culberson. SIS whether there
| is any law that authorizes the Presi-
dent to issue a permit to allow the vio-
lation OF statute whether to relieve
| a financial strinReney or for any other
| purpose.
| on motion OF Senator Clark. the fur
Their consideration of the resolution
was postponed.