Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-02-20
COOLIDGE REFUSES
To DISMISS DENNY
President Cites Rights After
Senate Asks Secretary's
Resignation.

hington.-Presdent Coolidge on
Monday night fatty refused to dismiss
Secretary of the Navy DENLY at the
behest of the senate.
BY vote of AZ to "a, the senate late
In the afternoon declared it the sense
of that body that the President imme-
diately should call for the resignation
of Mr.. DENLY because of the leases of
navy oil reserves that the navy secre-
tary and Albert B. Fall, the secretary
OF the interior, had made to e. L. Do
heny and Harry f. Sinclair.
A few hours later President Coolidge
issued formal statement announcing
that he would ignore the senate reso-
luton, which he pronounced an inva-
sion of executive functions.
Presidents Statement.
President Coolidge issued the fol-
lowing statement denying that the SEN
ate has the right to force the resigna-
ton of an executive officer:
NO official recognition can be given
to the passage of the senate resolution
relative to their opinion concerning
members of the cabinet or other Off
GERS under executive control
AS soon as special counsel can adj
wise me as to the legality of these
leases and assemble for me the peril
nent facts in the various transactions,
l shall take such action as seems es-
sentfal for the full protection Of the
public interests. l shall not hesitate
to call for the resignation of any Off
cIal whose conduct in this matter in
any way warrants such action upon
my part.
is an Executive Function.
THE dismissal of an officer of the
government, such as is involved in this
case, other than by impeachment, is
exclusively an executive function. l
regard this as vital principle of our
government.
In discussing this principle. Mr..
Madison has we'll said: 1T is laid
down in most Of the constitutions or
bills of rights in the republics of
America; it is to be found in the po-
l1tical writings of the celebrated ci-
Villains, and it is everywhere held as
essential to the preservation of liberty
that the three great departments of
government be kept separate and dis
tinct.
President Cleveland likewise stated
the correct principle IN discussing re-
quests and demands made by the SEN
ate upon him and upon different de-
partments of the government, in which
he said:
"They assume the right of the SEN
ate to sit in judgment upon the exer-
else of my exclusive discretion and ex-
ecutive function, for which 1 am solely
responsible to the people from whom
have so lately received the sacred
trust of Office.
My oath to support and defend
the Constitution, my duty to the
people who have chosen me to exc.
cute the powers of their great office,
and not to relinquish them, and my
duty to the chief magistrate, which |
must preserve unimpaired in all it's
dignity and vigor, compel me to refuse
compliance with these demands
Won't Sacrifice Innocent Man,
"The President is responsible to the
people for his conduct relative to the
retention or dismissal of public Off
calls. l assume that responsibility.
And the people may be assured that as
soon as can be advised so that I may
act with entire justice to all parties
concerned and fully protect the public
interests / shall act.
'In the meantime such steps have
been and are being taken as fully to
protect the public interests"