The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-01-13
AIMS SHOT At CHIEF
Cu|berson Replies to Words
of President,
ROOSEVELT MOTIVE QUERIED
Senator Introduces Resolution Asknu
Whether Executive Has Authority
for Statements Which Were Made
In Message-Hot Fight Ahead.

Washington, Jan. SIN the senate
yesterday Senator Culberson made a
brief reply to the message sent to the
senate by the president, saying that
he had directed Attorney General Bon
aparte not to reply to the senate's res
olution of inquiry concerning the mer.
ger of the Tennessee Coal and Iron
Company with the United States Steel
Corporation. In his statement Senator
Culberson characterized this as IAN
other arbitrary and lawless act
which," he said, "had been traced to
the chief magistrate of the country
he continued, who is not only solemn
ly obligated to obey the law himself,
but to see that others do So"
Asks Presidents Authority.
Senator Culberson introduced res
olution instructing the committee on
the judiciary to report to the senate
at as early day as practicable
whether in the opinion of that commit
tee the president was authorized to
permit the absorption of the Tennes-
see Coal and Iron Company by the
United States Steel Corporation, and
then proceeded with his remarks. He
said the presidents position in deny
ing that congress had authority to di-
rect head of department by reso-
luton of inquiry, lis characteristic of
the distinguished occupant of the
White House and it is corollary of
the main dogma that he is absolved
from any legal restraint whatever"
Presidents Salary 100000.
By an amendment to the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
bill, which yesterday was reported to
the senate from the committee on
finance, the salary of the president of
the United States is increased from
$4,000 to 100000, the increase to
include the $4,000 now annually ap-
propriated for the presidents travel
ing expenses. Amendments also were
reported from the finance committee
increasing the salaries of the vice.
president and the speaker of the house
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. The
amendments were referred by the SEN
ate to the committee on appropria-
tons, which, if it approves them, will
incorporate them in the appropriation
bill, which is now under consideration
and report them back to the senate
for action.
Would Table Message.
In it's report to the house to-day the
Perkins committee recommends the
adoption of resolutions laying on the
table the portion of the annual mes
sage of the president relating to the
secret service and all of the message
of last Monday. If the resolutions are
adopted the presidents language in
both messages will be declared as not
respectful to house and not respon-
sive to the houses inquiry.
Fight Over FuIton's Bill.
An adverse report to the senate on
Senator Fulton's bill to prohibit rail
roads from increasing freight and pas
senger rates without due notice was
made by Chairman Elkins of the COM
mittee on interstate commerce. The
action of the committee anticipated
message from President Roosevelt
calling attention to the need for
further legislation on the subject of
railroad rate legislation, as indicated
by the recent decision of the supreme
court of the United States in the case
of E. H. Hartman against the inter-
state commerce commission.
1t is expected that the presidents
message will be used as an argument
in favor of taking up the Fulton bill
in the senate regardless of the report
made against it and Senator Fulton
already has given notice that he will
make an effort on the floor to over
turn the committee report