Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-11

TO escape the obvious constitutional
Limitations placed upon him, it is re-
ported that Senator Knox will not take
the Cabinet position offered him by
Presideut.elect Taft 10 view OF recent
developments. At the meeting Of the
Senate judiciary committee today Sena-
tors Kittredge aud Overmsn voiced
their doubts as TO the prepriety as
we'll ss The constitutiOnaliiy of pass
ing the proposed legislation repeating
the incresss in the salary Of the secFe-
tary of state. Some other senators, how
ever, ere understood to be prepsred to
make argument against the proposed bill.
As;re-drafied by the judiciary committee
today the bill offered by Senator Hale
has been changed 30 that it definitely
So, 600 as the "emoluments" Of the Of
fee OF Secretary of STATE. 1t is the
opinion of the mtjorily of the commit
tee that this would make Kuox's ap-
poiutment constitutional and legal.
Warren s. ST. Se, grbrd chief of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers,
dropped bomb into the meeting of the
Council of Labor at the Department of
Commerce and Labor today by declaring
that the work of the Division Of IpfOr-
nation ia useless. This branch of Sec
refary Straus' department is attempting
to bring The jObless men and the men
less Jobs together, and it was TO discuss
ways and means for extending its use
fulness that Mr.. Slraus called the coun'
Gil together. President Valentine of the
Iron MouldeIs Union created another
sensation by denouncing the present i'm
migration laws and asserting that the
business of the country, as reflected in
iron and steel business, is worse right
now than it was In the middle Of the
panic last year.
President Roosevelt was today rebuked
by the Senate committee on approprla-
lions for his assertions that the restric-
tions placed upon the indiscrimiuate use
Of secret service men has been "Of bene-
fit only TO the criminal classes" A sub
committee of the sppropr atoms COM
mittee has been investigating the sub
iect for some weeks and today made
its report. Among other things it
says: "If the amendment to the sundry
civil bill for the current year 1909 has
operated as a restriction upon the use
of secret service employees, such re-
striciiOn is 80 technical and limited In
character that it does not appear suffi'
Gent to warrant the impugning of the
motives of Congress adopting the amend
ment. No Co-grss in the history OF the
government has so literally supported The
executive branch of the government By
appropriations to aid In the execution Of
laws as has the Sixtieth Congress. "
After quoting from tue testimony given
by Attorney General B)naparte, Secre-
tsry Garfield, and Chief Wilkie OF The
secret service, to show that these officials
we're OF the opinion that the amendment
to the sundry civil bill referred to in the
presidents recent message had in no
wise hampered the work OF their depart
ments, the report goes on to say; at
ba9 never been theintsntioD Of any Con
gress to build up spy system. There
Rave come to the attention OF the COM
mitee alleged cases Of misuse ADD
improper official conduct of secret
service employees, but the committee
has not had time nor opportunity 10
verify these, as we'll IS many other re-
ports converting alleged information re-
Istiug to the subjsc contemp a'ed by
The resolution" The committee which
is composed of both republicans and
democrats, recommends that the in-
gestlgation be continued after the
present session ends so IS to enable it to
secure complete details of The charact'
of services performed not only by secre
service meo, but all special sgents, it.
spectors, and other employed in the
various executive departments for the
detection and prosecution Of violations
of the law. 1t 10 expected that The in
vestigsion, il continued will last year.
This was the day set by the House
committee on census for action Oh the
presidents veto Of the census bill. The
committee met, bat the meeting wes
brief and no action was taken. 1t may
be that the matter will be taken up a,
the next session, 10 which case Judge
Taft will have an opportunity to declare
whether he would prefer to have the
census taken by employees appointed
under the strict civil service system or
through noncompetilive examination,
which practically would leave the ap-
pOintmeDt open to congressman and the
census officials. No time has been set
for the next meeting of the House Gen.
sus committee. Il ia doubtful that the
census bill will figure again in the pro-
ceediDgs OF the House this session. Il
is even more improbable that the meas.
ure will be passed over the presidents
veto. As the bill now stands, 1t is par
adoxicslly slye and yet dead.
Dispatches from Commissioner Buch-
snsn to the 6iats Department today
indicate that progress is being made
toward the adjustment of the difficulties
10 the way of the settlement of the
American claims against Venezuela.
Though Secretary Bacon refuses 10 state
Just what the difficulties are it is assert
ed that they are being minimizsd
gradually and that complete sgreem mt
may be expected before many days
One OF the last official acts of Presi-
dent Roosevelt before he left at noon
today for the Lincoln Day celebration at
the Lincoln farm in Kentucky, was to
prepare a proclamation making Friday a
legal holiday in the District of Colum-
bis aud the territories, and calling upon |
the governors of the various States to
urge a general observance OF the Lincoln !