Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-14
WANTS ACCESS TO
ALL PAPERS
Senator Bacon introduces Bill
Giving Congress Right to In
sDect Government Files at
WIFI.


INV ~
'",yasbington. Jan. Ex-senator Ba
,odav introduced a dill DECLARING
.,a, .any ana every public document
aar or record OF copy thereof Oh
pnap files Of any department OF tn
n,arnment relating to any suplee
svN,,yar over which congress ha!
ANY, grant Of power, Juflsdlctlon 81
anE ri nnder the constitution, AM
eon'i IN starvation relative thereto With
any possession of the officers of the
N -utment. is subject to the cali o
uelaation of the senate for its use il
insP ,eeislature of it's constitutional
novers and jurisdiction
p"rral,ioo the floor. Mr.. Bacon said il
If special Importance because o
No recent message Of the president II
ahiob he stated he had directed the
attorney general not to give intorma'
,;on as to what he had done IN tn
lajno of any suit against Tho
United states steel corporation Tor ~
ahsorntion of the Tennessee Coal and
Iron company - 4
~ nresjdent in his Steel corporation
= : had not been distinguished
hs ;ts extreme courtesy" Mr.. Bacon
proceeded:
.i,t AZ the right of the senate has ever
heen made in such unlimited and en-
nhatic language as That now employ
ed by the president.
senator Hale expressed the opinion
that the president had not taken a
snuare ground on the right of con-
aroce IN direct the transmission Of pa
Ears by the heads OF departments. u
Az moi said Mir. Hale. know that
riebt has been questioned. and hope ii
meyer viii be.
Mr. Racon said that the president
al not stop at questioning the SEN
ote's reasons for its Inquiries, but that
he had said that the heads of execu-
two departments were subject to the
constitution. TO the laws passed by
congress and to the direction of the
president Of the United states, and 70
ma other direction whatever
THAT said Mr.. Bacon, lis as
broad as human language al
make it,
"Does the senator think from that
language that the president has com
ml,ied himself to the proposition p
Il understand hat language said
Mr. Bacon. plainly implies that the
president recognizes but three author
tiles by which the direction may be
exercised over the head of an cxecu-
tive department.
Senator Hopkins challenged Mr..
Baeon's contention on the ground that
NOT congress. but the senate alone, re-
Gently asked for the information re
garding the action of the attorney
general and Mr.. Lodge asked whether
congress. in the Judgment of the SEN
at0r from Georgia, had Il right TO de-
mand papers from the state depart
ment.
AS an absolute right Mr.. Bacon
replied. yes. But Of course while
congress has the right, it exercises its
discretion in such matters.
Mir. Bacon said the president had
but one royal power, and that was the
power of pardon. All other powers,
he said. he exercises IN conjunction
with congress.
Senator Fulton declared that while
the congress has a right to commend
heads Of departments, It has no power
to enforce its commands. He said:
We should provide a way to enforce
our power to command
Mr.. Bacon did not agree with the
senator from oregon, that there was
no way to enforce this power. lie
suggested that the power of congress
to withhold salaries VAS one way to
accomplish this end.
Senator Hale declared that he did
not believe il practicable for the SEN
ate to ransack the mind of an cNecn-
tive officer, demanding from him rea-
sons for a particular action, but he
was firm in his conviction that con-
gress had power to demand papers
and Information.
4 hope and believe" he said. lit
Is not in the mind of the president
That the heads of the great depart
ments are to be lowered in their stand
ing and ranked as head clerks, and
mat when congress, the senate or the
mouse demands information 10 help in
the legislation of the country the
President can say: There are my head
clerks, and | direct them TO refuse
ms Information
1 deprecate any such locking OF
nofhs On this great question. | do
moi agree with the senator from
ueorgia that anything the president
nas SAID commits him TO snch a pro-
position as denying the right OF con
sress to call for papers or informa-
uoh' ! dc not believe he will take
that position"
should be very much gratified,'
ssd mr. Bacon, "if the president
should say that the construction OF
tne senator from Maine upon the pres
"ehts language is correct"
senator Teller asked hat Mr.. Ba-
.ohs resolution be allowed to lie on
ge liable so that il might be discussed
Iatei' lie referred to Mr.. Hale's state
meht that cabinet officers are not mere
uefhs ana said that depends upon
VINO Is az the head of the government
also depends upon the kind of
men the president has under him.,
Sasa senator Tillman.
! 40 not think any self-respecting
r'tetary would take orders from The
r.'snent said Mr.. Telie-. There
~ tunes when the head Of a de-
pdrtment is independent Of the presi-
~,Hsht such as when congress directs
~s mead of a department To do a
eatdin Thing which the constitution
Su.horlzes congress to have done. |
Ny mat, viii the senator from
""'he' The president does net intend
sss say that the heads of departments
~r' not respond to congress when they
VI asked for information
senator Hepburn suggested the pro-
AL