The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
KNOX BILL READY
FOR VOTE IN HOUSE
Republicans Favor Removing
Barrier to Cabinet.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE MEASURE
Declare Constitutional Instability to
Accept office Cannot Be Removed
by Act of Congress, and that the
Question should Be Referred 10
Judiciary Committee for Opinion.

Five members OF the House Committee
on the Election OF President, Vice Presi-
dent. and Representatives in Congress.
four Of them Republicans and the other
q Democrat, submitted to the House yes
terday favorable report from the com
mittee on the bill TO decrease the salary
Of the Secretary Of State 10 sSo9. with
the idea OF removing the constitutional
disability under which Senator Philander
c. Knox is unable to enter Mr.. Tsft's
Cabinet
Three Democrats. composing the minori-
" Of the committee. submitted a. report
commenting adversely on the bin. and
recommending that It should not pass
Those who signed the majority report
Of the committee were Representatives
Gaines OF West Virginia, SullOVay OF
New Hampshire. Norris Of Nebraska
FOcht OF Pennsylvania, Republicans. and
IsassiteT Of Virginia. Democrat. Repre-
sentatives Burke of Pennsylvania. and
Jackson OF Maryland. both Of whom we're
absent. asked that they be recorded for
the bill The minority report was signed
by Representatives Rucker OF Missouri
Hsckett Of North Carolina. and Gillespie
OF Texas
Reference Is Questioned
a mild effort to have the measure for
Mr.. Knox's relief considered by the Ju-
dietary Committee instead Of the Com
mittee on Election Of President. &c.
was made by Representative Henry. OF
Texas. a Democrat. He asked Speaker
Cannon 10 inform him as TO what com
nittee the Senate bill TO remove Mr..
KnOx's constitutional disability had been
referred, and made known that he want
Cd il referred 10 the judiciary Committee.
After some discussion as 20 the pro-
priety Of the present method Of referring
bills, Speaker Cannon held that he DOS
sessed the sole power 10 refer, and had
referred the Senate measure to the Com
mittee on Election Of President. which,
he explained, was already considering a
House bin Of the same character, intro
duced by Representative Gaines, Of West
Virginia.
In their minority report the three Demo
cratic members Of the Committee on Eiec-
ton OF President made a statement which
has caused much comment among Demo
Gratis and q good deal OF amusement
among Republicans.
William II. Taft viii be elected 10 sue
ceed himself as President, and, coming
as II does from Democratic members Of
the House in an official report, its signiR-
cance IS not being overlooked.
Could Restore salary.
The three Democrats say:
The Office OF Secretary Of state viii
probably be held for eight years by lis
next incumbent, and designing Senator
could reasonably anticipate that. although
his salary would be temporarily reduced
in the closing years Of his Senatorial
term, at the expiration Of that term II
would, through his influence, be restored -
The three Democrats hold thar Mr
kRcx's present constitutional disability
cannot be removed by legislative enac-
ton. and that the question Of a consti-
tutional Interpretation should be referred
70 the Committee on the judiciary for its
Ouiui0D