The Washington herald., 1909-02-16

The House Of Representatives yesterday
passed the Senate bill reducing the salary
OF the Secretary OF State from sl2,oO0 to
$3.50 in order to remove the disability
which prohibits Senator Philander c.
Knox from becoming a member Of Prezi-
dent Tafrs Cabinet
Twenty-three Democrats voted for the
bill. while thirty Republicans opposed it
Speaker Cannon voted for ii.
Does this action BY the House remove
the disability? That is the question varl-
Gus members are asking. and a great
many Of them say it does not
The section OF the Constitution prevent
ing member Of Congress from accepting
an Office created. OF which has had the
salary raised during his term In ofee
until the expiration OF MS term. is very
clearly worded.
It reads as follows:
No Repzeseutzti-e or Senator shau darizz tbs
tine for which he vas elected be appointed TO a1y
civl oics undsT ths suth0-ty q TIE United Ssstes
which shall have been created q ne eno,unents
increased duriEg szcS tt1e
Disability Sot Removed.
Those opposing the friends OF Senator
Knox contend that The mere fact OF re-
ducing the salary uow has nothing 70 DC
with the question; that the salary has
been increased. and that even II Il is
later reduced no member OF the Senate OF
House Of Representatives can legally III
the place
The bill yesterday was passed by & vote
Of ls7 TO Us. Eight Representatives voted
/ present" and ninety did not vote
This result was Tot brought about, how
ever. until after the House BY q vote of
Is noes 20 77s ayes, had refused 20 sus-
| pend the rules IN order that the measure
might be adopted \ two-thirds af7rns-
tive vote Is required 20 suspend the
rules, and while those IN favor OF remov-
/ ing Mr.. Knox's disability outnumbered
their opponents BY IS. they still lacked 3
votes Of the necessary two-thirds.
When the House leaders found them
: selves defeated they put their heads TO-
gether and decided TO bring 8 special
rule TO permit the passage Of the bin
/ by a majority vote. After some exciting
/ debate this rule was adopted. and tha
bill passed
Mr.. Knox Reticent.
Mr. Knox. when informed OF the stti-
tude Of the House. declined TO make any
public statement as TO what he intended
to Co His friends are convinced. how
ever. that II Mr.. Taft insists. as he Is ex-
pected to do. XIr Knox viii agree to
stand by his acceptance OF the President
elects tender Of the Cabinet portfolio
Mr. Taft has expressed himself as sat
isied that the bill passed BY the Senate
/ Thursday and by the House yesterday
met the constitutional objection raised
ags ilst Dir. Knox. and the latter has
beca assured by many constitutional law
ys-S including Senator Bailey, OF Texas.
and Senator Raynsr, Of Maryland. both
Democrats. that with the restoration OF
lhe Secretary OF States salary 10 $500
t1e amount Pa!d 10 that officer prior TO
tne begiEfnz OF Mr.. Knox's term n the
Senate, The impediment 20 his appoint
mept would disappear Besides. the
bill was passed by the Senate with
cut a dissenting vote and IN the
House Il was supported by twenty-thres
OF the Democratic members
Mann Opposes Bill.
During the debate that followed the
motion TO suspend the rules. Representa-
tive Mann. Of Illinois. a Republican. and
one OF Speaker Cannon's Heutenants OF
the floor. created something OF a stir By
making an attack on the effort to put
through the measure
L cannot bring myself" he said. TO
be part % a conspiracy 20 violate the
Constitution or 70 allow or compel the
next PT silent Of the United States in
medIateP after taking the oath Of Office
to s,sr-olt the Constitution, 20 violate
on OF its provisions
II seems 10 me unfortunate Il the
CJuT ;, IS 50 devoid Of able men that in
ordtr 60 secure a Secretary OF State it is
compelled to violate both the letter and
the spirit OF the Constitution.
1t is true that the passage OF this act
in itself is no violation OF the ConstitU-
ton, but It Is a violation OF the proprie-
ties Of the occasion
Then Mr.. Mann referred to the CON-
plaints th0t the present President OF the
United States had disregsrded a strict
observance OF the law in dispOsing OF
public questions
we had hoped. said Mr. Mann that
the next President would consider the
Constitution inviolsble and sacred"
Question OF PropTiety.
Representative De Armond. Of Missouri.
ore Of the Democratic leaders. contended
that a constitutional question was not IN
volved, but merely 2 question OF pro-
priety. He voted for the bill
other Democrats spoke in opposition .
the measure. while Representative Las
sitter. Of Virginia. also a Democrat. de-
Tended the legislation Representative
Gaines. Of West Virginia. who had re-
ported the bill from the Committee on
Election OF President. Vice President and
Representatives IN Congress. and who
had made the motion to suspend the
rules. contended that no violence 70 the
Constitution was involved.
Among the Democrats who spoke for
the bill was Representative Clayton. Of
Alabama, who was permanent chairman
al the last Democratic convention Rep
rssentatve Champ Clark. of Missouri.
fhe ~bocAy, ta>J1- ~ fra Tlersr..~zss -,