Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-02-19
A SERIOUS ERROR.

$500
from $4,000 to $4,000 Senator Knox,
of Pennsylvania. voted for tkg measure
and thus became disqualified, undez the
Constitution, from holding Cabinet posi-
ton This was not discovered until after
: Mr.. Taft had settled upon Senator Knox
that be thed SET work to devise some
means of getting around the constitutional
prohibition, and decided upon reduction
of the salary of the Secretary Of State, as
if such course would alter the fact that
Mr.. Knox had voted for the increase. A
measure known as the Knox Eligibility bill
was hastily framed and Introduced in Con-
gress. reducing the salary to $4,000.
Party lines were swept aside in the
House of Representatives few Gays ago
when the so-called eligibility bill was passed
by vote of 173 to u.s. Thirty Democrats
voted with the Republicans in favor of the
measure and 20 Republicans Joined the
Democrats in opposition. At this writing
the bill only needs the signature of the
President to make it final.
The vote came practically at the end of
day devoted to parliamentary tactics TO
avoid the question being put to the House.
Denied unanimous consent to consider the
bill under suspension of the rules. and
then voting down motion to the same
end, the House was compelled to submit
to gag rule specially framed for the &C.
casion by Speaker Cannon and John Dali
zell. of the Rules Committee This rule
allowed but 40 minutes of debate, 20 on
each side. The Democrats, even those who
favored the passage of the bill, voted
against the rule. which. however, was
adopted.
Representatives DeArmond and Caul-
field. both of Missouri and both members
of the Judiciary Committee. took opposite
sides on the question in the final debate.
DeArmond took stand against his COL
leagues, and Caulfield, right under the dis
approving eye of Uncle joe" took the
independent ground that the law of the
land should not be changed for the benefit
of any one person.
Representative Olmstead. of Pennsylva-
mia, argued for the passage of the bill,
being the only Republican to take the floor
for this purpose. Champ Clark. of Missouri,
and John Sharp Williams. of Mississippi,
were the Democrats who spoke against the
proposition.
During the preliminary discussion of the
matter Representative Mann, of Illinois,
personal representative of the Speaker on
the floor of the House. broke loose from
his moorings and declared he would not
be party to conspiracy designed to yio-
late the provisions of the Constitution.
Il cannot bring myself, said Mr.. Mann,
Ito be party to conspiracy arranged
for the purpose of violating the Constitu-
ton and to allow the next President of the
United States, Immediately after taking
the oath to support the Constitution. to
violate one Of the provisions"
The passage of this bill recalls the story
of eood-natured member of Congress from
New York who applied to President Cleve-
land for special official favor of some
kind.
I'm sorry" said Mr.. Cleveland, but l
cannot do that
why not 7" asked the good natured Con-
gresham.
Because it would be contrary to the
Constitution" was Mr.. Cleveland's answer.
"Oh. Mr.. President" exclaimed the anx-
ious lawmaker in a pleading tone. What
is the Constitution among friends ?"
The unconscious humor of this appeal
well serves to show how thoughtless and
selfish men may readily bring themselves
to the point of carelessly or ignorantly
trifling with the most sacred interests of
this Republic.
This Knox bill. which has been passed
entirely in the interest of one mans ele-
walton to Cabinet position. and is much
in the nature of personal favoritism in
wolves. to say the least, a fragrant evasion
of the Constitution of the United States.
The action taken does not actually remove
the disqualification of Senator Knox He
should not consent to become the benefi-
ciary of such a law. Roosevelt should not
approve it, Taft should not have urged
its passage. The whole proceeding is an
egregous mistake, serious error, charge
able to all who had any part or parcel in
the outcome.
Sad sad is the day when the organic
law Of the land can be lightly set aside on
mere subterfuge and makeshift, in the
interest of any man or set of men or fer
the accommodation of any administration
in any set of circumstances that may be
brought about. Grave danger turks in the
slightest deviation from the strict letter
and spirit Of our Federal Constitution.
Since the foregoing was put in type
Messrs. Taft and Knox have both given it
out that the Pennsylvania Senator will 90
into the Cabinet as Secretary Of State. No
sooner was this announcement made than
another disqualification was discovered for
Mr.. Knox in the legislative appropriation
bill already passed by both houses of Con-
gre3s at the present session. The entire
matter is now in confusion worse con-
founded" and but for its deplorable char
acter would constitute a comedy of errors
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