The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-12-31
ASHURST IDEA
OF RIGHTS Is
CAUSE OF TALK
Senator'S Attempt to
'Rush" President i
Being Questioned.

N0en TEeSl0eI1I u
Being Questioned.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.)
Washington, Dec. 81. = Senator
Ashurst Of Arizona, who paced the
White house grounds impattently
and finally insisted upon an audi
ence with President Wilson In the
executive mansion. has started q
discussion 10 to where the rights
of a United States senator begin
and end and when the privacy of
the president of the United States
and his constitutional rights may
be invaded.
The Arizona senator was natur-
ally anxious for Mr.. Wilson to act
promptly on the mining bill be-
cause it affects SO vitality his con-
stituents back home but whether
or not he adopted the proper
course TO compel early action is
being debated privately by his col
leagues and officials generally.
Right Is Questioned.
The position taken by many is
that q United States senator has
no more right to force the presi-
dent OF the United States to say
when he will sign or veto bill
than q senator has the right to in
sist upon word from the supreme
court of the United States as to
what its decision will be In any
pending case. Moreover, those who
defend Mr.. Wilson declare that the
senate has been very jealous Of ita
prerogatives in the past and any
attempt on the part of the presi-
dent to ask the senate formally
what action it would take on a
pending bill would be resented
The most a president can do is to
recommend" to congress and the
most senator Or member of con-
gress can do about bill at the
White house is to urge" or "rec-
0mmend."
He Wanted to Know.
Mr.. Ashurst insists that he was
not trying to influence the presi-
dent but simply to find out whether
Mr.. Wilson would sign or veto and
when he would take action. Strict
ly speaking, officials say Mr..
Ashurst had a right to cool his
heels at the White house ofnces
and wait there all day II he liked
as a protest against ihaction on
measures which he wanted pressed
but to 60 unlimited beyond the Of.
fees into the privacy Of the exec.
utive mansion where the president
makes his residence is invading thu
domain Of the executive.
The Arizona senator went to thu
front door of the White house aft.
er he had found no one at the ex.
ecutive o11ces from whom he could
get information. Tho president.
secretary was away for lunch and
the attaches in charge couldn't en-.
tighten Mr.. Ashurst as to the status
Of the bill. When Mr.. Tumulty die
get back he began tracing the min.
ing bill and gave Senator Ashurst
! assurances that that action would
be hastened.
Must Take Regular Course.
The truth is the president al.
ways wait for a report from the
secretary of the department affect.
ed by any bills passed by congress
before approving or disapproving
The mining bill would affect the in.
terror department. Secretary John
Barton Payne happens to be out ol
the city and will not be back be.
fore tomorrow. Just as soon as thu
president gets into communication
with MIR. Payne and finds ou,
whether the latter thinks it oush,
to be signed, there will be action
This is the normal course in hand
ling legislation. And Mr.. Wilson
is given 10 days by the constitu
tion to make up his mind what t.
do shout bills passed by congress-
Cart Stampede Wilson.
He has until Jan. 4 to decid,
and knowing the Temperament O
the president, there are those whit
think that unless regrets are 4ex
pressed by certain senator from
Arizona 1t is likely to be midnigh
OF Jan. I before action is taken OF
the bill. MIR. Wilson is not the kin,
who is stampeded into action o,
anything.