The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-01-21
WORK OF
CONGRESS
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The authority of Congress to direct
heads of executive departments to send
| to the Senate or House information in
their possession was the subject of a |
speech in the Senate Wednesday by |
| Senator Bacon of Georgia, who took /
the broad view that Congress has abSo-
| lutte power to demand from heads of |
departments any information within |
their possession and even to require |
them to give reasons for the action or |
non-action ON any matter. Senator |
Lodge questioned the power of Con- |
gress to demand papers on file and |
insisted upon the right of the Presi- |
dent to exercise discretion. Senator
Hale declared that he did not believe
the President intended to state in this
message to Congress that he would not
| furnish documents and information,
but merely that he declined to permit
a cabinet officer to furnish reasons for
the action he had taken. Senators
Fulton. Teller. CIapp. Money and 9th
ers Joined in the debate, all of them
unfolding the power Of the Senate in
the matter. Practically the whole SEES
sion of the House was devoted to a
discussion of an amendment to the
District of Columbia appropriation
bill appropriating $4,000 for childrens
Fairgrounds. The subject occasioned a
lively debate. The supporters of the
proposition prevailed and the amend
ment accordingly was adopted.
| -
The Ananias Club was discussed in
the Senate Thursday by Senator Till
man, who declared that statements
made by Attorney General Bonaparte
and Postmaster General Meyer i'm an
swer to his reply TO charges made
against him by the President in rell-
ton to Oregon timber lands made them
eligible to membership in that organi-
ZatiOn. He again defended his action
and said in fighting the "unscrupulous
men, who are determined Ito destroy"
him he was prepared for anything,
even assassination" The bill TO estab-
lish postal savings banks and the ON
nibus claims bill were under consider
alton during the day
For a time in the House of Repre-
sentatives ii looked as if that body
would further resent the Presidents
statement affecting members OF Con-
gress and the secret service by order
ing the printing of 100000 copies of
the proceedings tabling his remarks.
4 resolution to that end was presented
by Mr. Lands of Indiana. but SO
strong was the sentiment against it
that it was tabled. The District of
Columbia appropriation bill was pass
ed, minus the major part of the appro-
priation of $4,000 for Fairgrounds.
| -
The amendment TO the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation
bill increasing the salary of the Pres
ident to 100000, of the Vice President
and Speaker of the House to $4,000.
with $1,000 additional allowance for
carriages and coachmen for the Vice
President and Speaker. and increases
for the Judiciary aggregating sos, 500,
precipitated lively discussion in the
Senate Friday. Senator Borah of Ida
no made point Os order against these
increases ON the ground that they in
volve general legislation. Without con-
Guiding the debate, further considera-
ton of the amendments was postponed.
Private bills had their inning in the
House of Representatives, almost the
whole session being given up to their
consideration. Many were passed. I'm
der a resolution offered by Mr.. Gaines
of Tennessee the judiciary committee
was directed to report within ten days
upon the question of the right of
George l.. Lilley, Governor of Connect
cut, to retain his seat as a member Of
the House. The subject occasioned
good deal of debate, which at times
waxed warm.
| -
The entire session of the Senate Sat
urday was devoted to a memorial SER
vice for the late Senator William Pink
ney Whyte of Maryland. After the
adoption of suitable resolutions of re-
spect the Senate adjourned. An elab-
crate analysis of the Sherman anti
trust law by Mr.. jenkins of Wisconsin
was the feature of the House session.
The pension appropriation bill techni-
cally was under consideration, but the
time was all given to general debate.
Other speakers were Mr.. Nye Of Mime
sofa. who entertained the House with
an address on law and lawmaking; Mr..
Douglas of Ohio, who advocated au-
tomony for the Porto Ricans, and Mr..
Burton of Delaware. who made a plea
for postal savings banks.