Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-11
ISSUE is WITH CONGRESS
Proceedings By the Government
Dependent Upon That Body.
CALLERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Representative Pearre Defends Col
lector Stone of Baltimore-Plea
for Raising Maine Wreck.


do so, President Taft will use the legal
machinery of the government To bring
suit to test the constitutionality of the
act of 1916 by which a portion of the
District of Columbia was retroceded to
Virginia. If Congress does not wish this
done, the President will probably take no
action, although he would like to see
the question cleared up.
The President has directed Attorney
General Wickersham to prepare joint
resolution for submission to Congress
giving the direction of the national legis-
lative body for such suit on the part
of the government. 1t is thus up to
Congress to determine whether it wants
the United States courts to finally and
definitely determine the much-disputed
question.
lawyers in Congress have told the
President that they believe the retro
cession was unconstitutional, but there
does not seem any deep interest on the
part of congressman generally in legis-
lation looking to a final test. For
that reason there Is some doubt whether
a joint resolution will pass. The Presi-
dent is too much employed on legisla-
ton of greater Importance to personally
direct movement to awaken interest
in Congress in the subject.
Defense of Collector Stone.
| Representative Pearre of Maryland. who
has not always been in agreement with
Collector William F. Stone of Baltimore,
told President Taft today that the attack
upon the collector was entirely unjusti-
fed, and that those back of it were en-
titled to no consideration. Mr.. Mulhali,
the man who is back of these charges
against Mr. Stone, is a renegade labor
agitator,' said Mr.. Pearre. He was
once in sympathy with the Federation OF
Labor, but is now understood to have
gone over to the Van Cleave Association
and is fighting his former labor friends.
He tried to get Collector Stone to agree
to his nomination for Congress in Balti-
more, but Mr.. Stone would not do this.
Another man engaged in this attack is
David T.. Dick, former naval officer OF
the port of Baltimore. He was summarily
dismissed from his position by Secretary
Shaw upon charges filed at the Treasury
by Collector Stone. These charges did
not show Mr. Dick in a favorable light.
Collector Stone is too well known for this
attack, especially from this source, to
have any effect.
President Taft wants to give the in
stigators of the charges every opportu-
nifty to show what they have in the way
Of proof and has requested the chairman
of the committee on commerce of the
Senate to hold up action until there has
been a full and free investigation, which
is being conducted by the Secretary of the
Treasury. Those making the attack upon
Mr.. Stone will appear before Secretary
MacVeagh tomorrow and present what
ever facts they have in their possession.
Federal Judgeship Discussed.
Representative Pearre conferred with
the President about the new federal
judge to be appointed in Maryland and
again urged the nomination of Justice
Gould of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict. Mr.. Pearre told the President that
while Judge Stockbridge of the Baltimore
city courts is an able man, it would be
unwise to take him from his position and
give the democrats chance to elect a
Judge in his place. Judge Stockbridge,
he said. was popular in Baltimore and
could be returned TO his position as a
republican
retain DIR. Robert A. Ravenscroft as sur
yeyor of customs in Baltimore.
Favors Raising the Maine.
President Taft agrees with the New
York council of the Spanish war veterans
that the battleship Maine should be
raised from Havana harbor. Resolutions
favoring the raising of the Maine adopt
ed by the New York council, We're pre-
sented to the President by committee
headed by Charles H. Stephans, past
commander Gen. Nelson A Miles and
Col. NJ. E. Urell of this city accompa-
MED the committee. Mrs. Bernard Wall
of New York, wife of the past cOmman-
der of Manhattan Camp, gave the Presi-
dent a ribbon, which enrolls the Presi-
dent as q member of the association or
ganized to erect monument to the men,
ory of the Maine dead. Admiral Sigsbee
is president of this organization.