The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-11
committee to be examined in connec-
ton with the matter.
Take Il - Insult.


Take Il - Insult.
In the past the executive has at
times refused congress information on
the ground that the giving of it was
Incompatible with the public inter-
ests." Indeed. when information is
requested this incompatible" feature
generally is Incorporated in the reso-
luton Senators declare that in the
present instance 1t cannot be shown
that giving information about a pure
ly domestic affair which already is
accomplished would be harmful to the
public interests. and they regard the
refusal as direct Haunting of the
senate's authority. If the administra-
ton is allowed, in the language Of
the street, to get away" with the
present refusal. senators declare that
congress might as well go out of bust
ness as coordinate branch of the
government.
Regarded AZ Violation.
The contention, of course. is that
absorption of the Tennessee Coal and
Iron company by the steel trust was a
violation Of the antitrust laws of con-
gress. II it Is possible there are cir
cumstances under which this law
should be violated. senators declare,
congress ought to know what they are.
to the end that the law may be SO
amended that in the future such nee
essary acts may be accomplished
without violation Of law. They point
out that there can be no denial that
for the federal government to &C
quiesce in violation of law Is to bring
law into contempt-than which there
can be no greater calamity.
Gray Boards Are Busy.
Some Of the wisest of the gray
boards" of the senate are now racking
method for the senate to assert itself
in the matter Of securing information
from the executive departments. The
desirability of securing information
relating to the steel merger has been
almost wholly lost sight of. 1t is the
principle involved with which the SEN
ate now concerns itself.
Two chief plans of procedure are
under consideration. One is to at
once take the question into the courts
for judicial determination. The other
Is to authorize some committee of the
senate by resolution to inquire into
some specific matter. with power to
send for persons and papers and to
administer oaths. The steel merger
probably would be selected for the
test case. A subpoena would be issu-
ed for the attorney general and for
the papers in his possession. Should
he refuse to obey the summons the
matter would be taken into the senate
and he would be declared in contempt
and the sergeant-at-arms instructed to
take him into custody and brought
before the bar of the senate. Senators
generally agree that this would be
the better and more effective method.
but they object to 1t on the ground
that 1t smacks of the sensational.
Consider Joint Demand.
There Is q third course. even more
but which has the sup
port Of some Of the more belligerent
members OF congress. This involves
a Joint demand of the two houses on
the attorney general for the informa-
tioI which is withheld, and in the
event OF his refusal to have resolu-
ton Of Impeachment introduced in the
house.
Some of the constitutional lawyers
OF congress. however. do not regard
the offense as an impeachable one.
The constitution provides that the
president, vice-president or other civil
officers may be removed from office
upon Impeachment and conviction Of
treason, bribery or other high crimes
and misdemeanors. No one is quite
willing to take the ground that the
Withholding from congress informa-
ton to which congress is entitled Is
a high crime or misdemeanor. For
this reason. II for no other. the ques-
ton of impeachment is not likely to
go farther than cloak-room talk.
They Fear a Precedent.
Congress is very much in earnest,