Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-13
President Taken to Task Tor
Language to the Senate.
CONTROL OF THE RECORDS
Directions to Attorney General to
Withhold Information.
COMPLAINT OF THE EXECUTIVE
Hale Declares That Right to Direct
Transmission of Papers Was
Not Denied.

Senator Bacon today introduced in the
Senate resolution declaring that ANY
and every public document, paper or rec
ord or COPY thereof, on the files of any
departrNn of the government relating to
any subject whatever over which Congress
has any grant of power, jurisdiction or
control under the Constitution, and any
information relative thereto within the
tossession of the officers of the depart
ment is subject to the call or inspection
nf the Senate for it's use in the exercise
pf its constitutional powers and jurisdic-
ton
Taking tile floor to speak to his own
resolution. Mr.. Bacon said that 1t was OF
sneciaI inheritance because of the recent
message of the President, in when ne
stated he had directed the Attorney Gen
pral not to give information as 10 WHAT
lie had done in the bringing or SUIT
against the United States Steel Corpora
ton for it's absorption of the tennessee
Coal and Iron Company.
COMPLAINING that the language OF the
President in his steel corporation nessase
lad not been distinguished by It's eN-
tIsme courtesy" Mr.. Bacon proceeded:
This is the first time that the denial OF
the right of the Senate has ever been
made in such unlimited and empnatlc
language as that now employed by the
President"
Right Not Questioned.
Senator Hale expressed the opinion that
the President had not taken a square
ground upon the right OF Congress to d.
rect the transmission of papers by the
heads of departments. Il do not, SAID
Mr.. Hale, know that that right has been
questioned, and hope it never will be-"
Mr.. Bacon said that the President did
not stop at questioning the Senates rea-
sons for it's inquiries. but that he had
said that the heads of executive depart
ments were subject to the Constitution, to
the laws passed by Congress and to the
direction OF the President of the United
States land to no other direction what
ever" THAT said MIR. Bacon. lis as
broad as human language can make it.
Does the senator think from that Ian
guage that the President has committed
himself to the proposition that Congress
cannot call upon the head of a depart
ment for information and for papers and
documents in Department. inquired
Senator Hale, who added: Il hope the
President has not committed himself to
that proposition
Bacon's Contention.
IT understand that language" said Mr.
Bacon. plainly implies that the President
recognizes but three authorities by which
the direction may be exercised over the
leau Oh an executive uepditIieHt.
Senator Hopkins challenged Mr.. Bacon:
contention on the ground that not Con
gress. but the Senate alone. recently asked
for the information regarding the actor
of the Attorney General, and Mr.. Lodg'
asked whether Congress. in the judGmen
of the senator from Georgia, had q RICH
TO demand papers from the State Depart
nent.
LAS an absolute right Mr.. Bacon re
piled. yes. But. of course. while Con
gress has the right, it exercises its disere
ton in such matters.