New-York tribune., 1909-01-07
SENATOR'S MADE ANGRY
-1rFFDFD AUTHORITY,
THE PRESIDENT SAYS.
", Bonaporte Ordered Not to Gre
Information Demanded on
T. &. and 7. Deal.
r=-, b@Trteune Bureau )

-f~7. j n.
=. to-day 2 message which aroused tile
sv.,.-s+s 70 the highest pitch OF Indignation
Del'O>.e De..s some Of the Republicans no little
[in The President pracucsliy Iolo lIe sen
Snse,- - had exceeded its authority in its in
t .,,-s n the Attorney General. ana salo
Nod instructed that official TO disregard
tnsl l'' = - the Senate. The message was in
ue ,ba CuIberson resolution. adopted on
rePN = ;, -rbirh the Senate directed the At
'a1--a- General 10 advise it if he had brought
I0l'-s-e- I0l'' +4a United States Steel Corporation
s0'' = - ,+s absorption Of the Tennessee Coal
,-d iron Company. ana Il '"'' !" ''''''
- for such non-actlon-
Eel - .-o1,,io-7 Was rot directed to Presi-
W.. -..-a1+ his attention was called TO it by
-. General Ronaparte. who. after quoting
u,,irar,ants Of the resolution, said; AS
u' .u-e-a no such proceedings have been
.nstituted- ,~-.,,,. 7,++e,-
commenting on tne A''o' iiT'
.he President says.
s+o the transaction in question, ! was per
As - a-,5zar+ Of and responsible for its
so.1E' e+ detail For the information or the SeIl-
eve! *onsr7it = copy Of 2. letter sent by me 10
a. -. attorney General on November = iSo'' as
follows: --4 White House
Washington, Nov. j. 1907.
- ard Mr. H. c. Frick. on behalf OF the
e; g oo-nora-ion have Just called upon me
r. srate that there Is certain business
g.. the nsrne Of which I have not oeeh
80 b,t which is OF real importance III
S.T- york business circles. which VIII uh-
ts,h-s51z- Tai1 this week # help Is not given
Among its assets are rna1etllS - --- -
.-,-,+ies ~ TIE Tennessee coal ConnpaIS-
cuLII.eS cuIioS.... -. rAer urgently made 70 the
- .o-ro-a+ioY1 10 purchase this STOCK as
TIE only means Of avoiding fa1lurs- Jus
cz- and Afr- FTick informed me- ina q
-,ere business transaction IhNF 90 no. -
~ -1--. The s-o-E- that under ordinary
circumstances they would not consloTI Ftss.
chasing the stock. because pot 4lIll7 o1H -,
viii come n the steel corpordiio4 LiyLii , -
-,,,rrIhase. that they are aware Jlat tie ~
rrb.sa viii be used as handle Tor a1IaCK
unon them on the ground that 1ney ar
striving 10 secure monopoiF OF IhS % puSLIle SS
- --e,,a-+ co-rretitior-nor that this would
-.nrssen+ what could honestly be SAID. buI
-,hs4 might recklessly and unTuth1ully Dc
sot5 They inform ne that as g matter OF
fact the policy Of the company mas heen u
s..1,-a ~ zrouj-e more than so per cent Of
Tbe eteeI properties. and that this purpose
has been pe-seyered in for several years
past. with the object OF preventing tn9se &C
c1ssrions and as & matter OF tact tnelr pro
,ortinn OF steel properties has slightly de-
creased. SO that g is below this so per cent.
snd the acquisition Of the property IN Ques-
rion will not raise II above so per cent; hut
thev feel that Il IS immensely 70 their inter
est as 70 the interest Of every Responsible
rrs+,ess man to try 70 prevent a panic ana
general Industrial smash-up at this time
ana that they are willing 70 60 INTO tnls
transaction which they would not otnerWlse
70 into because II seems the opinion or those
best fitted 70 express judgment IN New 1oIH
fhst II will he an important factor in pre-
venting break that might be rl-nous; ana
thzt this has been urged upon them BY the
nn-siration OF the most responsible hank
s-s IN New York. who are now mus en-
razed in endeavoring 10 save the situation.
But they asserted they did not wish TO 90
this Il stated that IL ought not 70 he oon4.
snszs-ed that while. Of course. could not
eSz-ise than 70 take the action proposed,
felt Il no public duty Of mine 10 interpose
sry objection. Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Hon Charles J. Bonapsrte, Attorney General
After sending this letter was advised orally
hv The Attorney General that in his opinion no
sufficient ground existed for legal proceedings
against the Steel Corporation. and that the STU
stion had been n way changed by US acdnl-
sitio5 az the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company.
have thus given n the Senate all the In
formation IN the possession OF the executive dN -
psrtnlents which appears 70 me n ne rna'@rlaI :
or relevant on the subject of the resolution J
fsel bound, however 70 add that have instruct
ed the Attorney General not 70 respond u that
ro-t.cn Of the resolution which calls for state
nent ef his reasons for non action. I have done
So because Do rot conceive II 70 be within the
authority of the Senate 70 give directions OF this
character II the head Of an executive depart
nent- Or n demand from him reasons Tor MS
sctior. Heads of the executive departments are
subject 70 th= Constitution and to the laws
passed by the Congress in pursuance Of the
Constitution and 70 the directions Of the Presi-
dsnt Of the United States. but 70 no other di-
rection whatever.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
The White House. January 6. 1903
Senator Culherson and other Democrats are
highly indignant At the position taken by the
President and the tone of his message. and
Promise some pyrotechnical discussion Of the
subject The best lawyers on the Republican
hoe say. however. that the President is within
ts rights. and that the Senate has only itself 70
blame for any humiliation They say they
adopted the CUIberson resolution without suffi-
aent thought. and that unquesttonahly the Sen
se has no right n demand opinions or reasons
Tor action Or non-acrion from the Attorney Gen
ersl or any other executive officer.